Rosanne Cash

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On a cool drizmally Sunday night, under Pat & Don’s tent canopy, we watched and listened to Johnny’s daughter -- September 3, 2017, Labor Day weekend at the 29th annual Rhythm and Roots Festival in Ninigret, Rhode Island. Someone thought to bring Drambuie.

Our daughter Kezia is a fan. Sandy bought Rosanne’s book and asked her to sign it as a gift. The name of the book is Composed. I am reading it now, in my casita. The first house that the Cashes lived in in California was at Casitas Springs. It was a large ranch style, with adobe and redwood shingles.

My personal favorite that night was “Tennessee Flat Top Box.” John Cash wrote it in 1961. “In a little cabaret in a south Texas border town ….”  It made Bob’s CD years ago. Hardly a CD is made without a John Cash tune. He liked to be called John, not Johnny.

John Stewart, in 1987, wrote “Runaway Train.” John was with the second Kingston Trio. Do you know his big hit “Gold?”

When the lights go down

in the California town,

people are in for the evening.

Well my buddy Jim Bass

he’s a working pumping gas

and he makes two fifty for an hour.

He’s got rhythm in his hands

as he’s tapping on the cans,

sings rock and roll in the shower.

Rosanne became a friend to John and used “Runaway Train” on her album “King’s Record Shop.” The store was in Louisville but, like so many records stores, is gone now. Do you remember Laflem’s Record Store in Adams? Google didn’t know it either. So don’t feel bad. When I was in 7th grade, I would stop in every day and browse. Do people still browse? Richie Valens, Rick Nelson, Little Richard, Fats Domino.  Mostly 45’s as I remember. That album, “King’s” was big for Ms. Cash. She had four hits off of it. Maybe the biggest was “Runaway Train.” King’s Record Shop was her sixth album.

John Stewart was a favorite of Kezia’s. While she was attending Hampshire College, Kezia went to his concert in Hartford. Hartford is a city in Connecticut. She introduced herself. John asked if she was coming to his next concert at Johnny D’s in Somerville, Massachusetts. She said no. He asked why. She said she was under 21 and could not get in to a club that served liquor. John said, “Come as my guest. You can handle the sales of my CDs.” She did. This led to John calling every time he was in New England. Sandy and I went to a concert of his out in Westboro, at the Old Vienna Kaffehaus and we became fans. Michael & Trysha Lynch know the Old Vienna.

Kezia went to a Rosanne Cash concert. When she introduced herself, Rosanne, being a good friend of John, said, “So you are Kezia.” Pretty cool. But then again, reading her book, you sense that she is very down to earth.

Last night in the book, a guitar player joined her on tour. His name is Vince Gill. He played with Pure Prairie League. Remember them?

I will keep you posted on the rest of the book. You do not have to thank me, but thank you for listening.