Latest news with #JohnnyCash
Axios
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Axios
Your weekend plans: Music photography, baseball tournament, spring market
We're in full blown summer mode now. Make the most of these weekends. ⚾️ Baseball tournament — The Arkansas Razorbacks play against North Dakota State in the first game of the NCAA tournament at 2pm today in Fayetteville. Watch on ESPN. The Hogs are looking to have a full weekend of wins. See the tournament schedule. 📷 Photography exhibits — Two exhibits — "Front Row Center: Icons of Rock, Blues, and Soul" and "The Prison Concerts: Folsom And San Quentin (Jim Marshall's Photographs Of Johnny Cash)" are on display at The Momentary in Bentonville. Free. They're available until Oct. 12.
The Journal
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Journal
Quiz: How well do know these Junes, Julys and Augusts?
AS THE SUMMER season officially kicks off, we're turning our attention to three names that define the sunshine months: June, July, and August. While these names may have slipped down the baby name charts in recent years, they once had their moment – and have been worn by more than a few famous faces. Advertisement How well do you know your summer namesakes? Let start with June. Which famous singer married the 'Man in Black' Johnny Cash? Alamy Stock Photo June Carter June Porter June Meadows June Willow June Brown was a legacy actress on Eastenders, starring in the British soap for over 30 years. What was the name of the character that she played? Alamy Stock Photo Ethel Skinner Dot Cotton Peggy Mitchell Phil Mitchell June Shannon, known widely as 'Mama June' starred along with her daughter in the popular US reality show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. Which of these is NOT one of June's real daughters? Alamy Stock Photo Lauryn "Pumpkin" Shannon Jessica "Chubbs" Shannon Maddie "Baby" Shannon Anna "Chickadee" Shannon June Lockhart is a retired American actress. Which of these films did she NOT star in? Alamy Stock Photo T-Men Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea She-Wolf of London The Snake Pit Turns out there aren't a lot of famous Julys. We found one though - which of these Julys is a well-known American director and author? Miranda July Sarah July Rebecca July Fortha July July was named after Roman leader Julius Caesar. What did the month used to be called? Alamy Stock Photo Quintilis Sextilis Quinctus Solaria August Alsina is best known for his career in which field? Alamy Stock Photo Football Stand-up comedy R&B music Fashion design August Oetker is the famous founder of frozen food brand Dr. Oetker. Which of these is not a product that they sell? Alamy Stock Photo Pizza baguettes Baking sprinkles Pain au chocolat mix Stretchy slime mix Actor August Maturo is best known for his role in which Disney Channel show? Alamy Stock Photo That's So Raven Girl Meets World The Suite Life of Zach and Cody Good Luck Charlie Finally, a very Summery name - Summer Phoenix is an actress and the sibling of Joaquin Phoenix. Which actor was she formerly married to? Alamy Stock Photo Chris Pratt Matt Damon Casey Affleck Jon Bernthal Answer all the questions to see your result! You scored out of ! Summer expert Share your result: Share Tweet You scored out of ! Summer star Share your result: Share Tweet You scored out of ! Summer novice Share your result: Share Tweet You scored out of ! You tried your best Share your result: Share Tweet Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
News24
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News24
Weekender playlist: From Hendrix to Nirvana, Whitney to Winehouse... some iconic song covers
In this edition of The Weekender's playlist, Joel Ontong has you covered. He takes a look at some of the best and most iconic covers of all time. When Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor first heard country legend Johnny Cash cover his song, Hurt, he said it was like 'someone kissing your girlfriend'. 'I knew where I was when I wrote it. I know what I was thinking about. I know how I felt,' Reznor told The Sun in 2008. 'It felt invasive.' But, after watching Cash's music video, Reznor was floored: 'It really, really made sense, and I thought, what a powerful piece of art.' 'I never got to meet Johnny, but I'm happy I contributed the way I did. It felt like a warm hug. I have goosebumps right now thinking about it.' Cash's version of Hurt is hailed as one of the best covers of all time. What made it great was that he sang as if he meant every word, like it was coming straight from his heart. This raises the question: What makes a great cover? It's not better or more theatrical vocals or upscaled production, but rather the ability to make a song one's own and find ways to reinterpret, not just redo. News24's Weekender playlist looks at some great or notable covers. Another iconic cover is Jimi Hendrix's take on Bob Dylan's All Along the Watchtower. Hendrix's recording is the stuff of guitar legend. Midway through the song, he delivers arguably the greatest guitar solo put to wax. The song showcases what happens when cutting-edge guitar technology falls into the hands of a visionary. Plenty of Hendrix's peers had access to wah-wah pedals, reverb, and delay effects, but none of them could play like him. If Hendrix hadn't covered All Along the Watchtower, and Dylan hadn't written it, rock music wouldn't be the same. Dylan was also so impressed by Hendrix's version that he even changed the way he played the song live. READ | Weekender playlist: From Oklou, Internet Girl and Weed420... to prog rock by Pope Francis Sometimes, a bit of theatricality can help make an iconic cover – case in point, I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston, written by Dolly Parton. Parton's original is lovely, but Houston's version is monumental. Though the 1992 version is backed by a dated adult contemporary instrumental, Houston gives a vocal performance for the books. In the song's coda, Houston lets it rip, but not at the expense of emotional rawness. A similar case is Aretha Franklin's cover of Respect, originally by Otis Redding. In an era where everyone was covering each other's songs without really adding much, Franklin's performance defined the Southern Soul sound of the 1960s. Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson's cover of The Zutons' Valerie is, to many, the definitive version of the song. The Zutons might not have known it at the time, but Valerie was made for Winehouse. A great cover can also simply highlight great songwriting, especially when it's overlooked. When Nirvana decided to add David Bowie's The Man Who Sold the World to their MTV Unplugged setlist, they probably didn't put that much thought into it. Their raw and rugged rendition is simple but brilliantly highlights Bowie's compelling songwriting, much better than the original ever did. Mainstream jazz music has also been noted for artists frequently doing covers, and there are many great ones by the likes of Miles Davis, Bill Evans and Abdullah Ibrahim. For our playlist, we included John Coltrane's take on Sound of Music's My Favourite Things. It's a significant departure from the original, but it is one of the best cool jazz recordings ever. We also included two songs you might not have known were covers: I'm a Believer by Smash Mouth (used in Shrek) and Red Red Wine by UB40. Both songs were written by Neil Diamond and appear on his debut album.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Follow in the steps of Elvis Presley and Taylor Swift on a road trip through Memphis and Nashville
My journey begins with a fried peanut butter-banana sandwich and 'Burning Love'. The sandwich, served beside golden sweet potato pancakes and strips of crisp bacon at The Arcade, Memphis' oldest restaurant, was Elvis Presley's favourite order here. I sit at his booth, drink multiple cups of black coffee, and soak in the sound of his voice, as smooth as butter, with that distinctive vibrato that made millions of fans go weak in the knees. I am on a music trail through the gracious American South, travelling by road from Memphis to Nashville, to discover how soul music and the blues had an impact on rock and roll, country music, and contemporary pop. Many of America's most influential musicians performed and cut albums here. If you think this is just the music your parents listen to, remember that Justin Beiber, was born in Memphis, and Taylor Swift grew up, and was discovered in Nashville. Stax Museum for American Soul, Memphis Let me start by admitting I knew very little about American Soul. Fortunately the Stax Museum, which stands on the site where the influential Stax recording studios ran is a great place to learn about the 'Memphis sound,' shaped by race, religion, and the Mississippi river. This music, a lot of which was created at Stax, went on to influence the world through the creation of the blues, soul, and rock and roll, and took Stax recording from a tiny recording studio in 1957 to a multi-million dollar organisation. Performers here included Oris Redding, The Staple Sisters, and Aretha Franklin. Raw and authentic, the vocals are emotion set to rhythm, jazz, and gospel. I walk through exhibits that include vintage recording equipment, Tina Turner's bright yellow sequinned dress and Isaac Hayes' gold-plated, peacock blue 1972 Superfly Cadillac El Dorado. As an exhibit at the museum puts it: 'Soul music is a groove. And a groove that makes you move... Soul stirs your insides and shakes your outsides.' In the evening we walk down scenic Beale Street, the neon lit 'home of the blues'. Perched on bar stools at Itta Bena, we mop up bowls of steamy cajun shrimp with fluffy sweet cornbread as a pianist and saxophonist fill the room with that signature Memphis sound. Sun Studio Johnny Cash stood here. I pause and look at a X marked into the linoleum floor, along with a group of tourists who inspect it reverentially. BB King passed through these doors. Also Ike Turner, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and that young man who famously came in to cut a record for his mother: Elvis Presley. As we walk through the compact studio, bustling with tourists, a guide explains why this space is considered the birthplace of rock and roll. In the 50s, the founder Sam Phillips, offered recording services for professionals and amateurs, drawing an 18-year-old Elvis among other greats. Despite the vintage equipment, or perhaps because of it, this is still a working studio, and artistes come in at night to cut albums once the tourists go home. They are all seeking inspiration, and that signature Sun Sound, authentic and just a bit raw, a world away from the airbrushed images and slickly engineered music of today. (Vocal recordings for three hours start at $600) Weave carefully between the guitars and vintage piano, to grab a photo op with the historic, studio-original Shure 55-series microphone, used by all the greats. For a minute at least, you will be a part of history. Graceland, Memphis I did not expect Graceland to be so moving. The sprawling estate hosts about six lakh visitors a year, and from the looks of it, they are all ardent fans. And if my mother, an Elvis Presley loyalist, is anything to go by, they are all singing 'Hound Dog' in their heads as they explore the 17,500 square foot mansion and its lush grounds, punctuated with horses. The interactive iPad tour, led by John Stamos (who you may remember as the hunky uncle in Full House) takes you through the luxurious, quirky home, bought by Elvis in 1957, when he was just 22-years-old. He had eccentric taste, and the money to indulge all whims, so the interiors are a beguiling kaleidoscope of stained glass, joyfully bright wallpaper and sequinned cushions. I am especially fascinated by his Jungle Room, an unapologetically kitschy fever dream of green shag carpets, heavy curtains, and ornately carved furniture. Beautiful photographs of Elvis, Priscilla, and their daughter Lisa Marie Presley adorn the walls. Though the tour includes a look at his flashy cars, including a pink 1955 Cadillac, and planes, the most memorable part is the meditation garden, where visitors stand in hushed silence at the graves. Lisa's is piled with teddy bears, dolls, and flowers. Ryman Auditorium, Nashville This is considered the mother church of country music, and it feels suitably hallowed. Home to the Grand Ole Opry between 1943 and 1974, a live country-music radio broadcast, the Ryman has hosted practically all the biggest country music stars: From Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash in the past, to Luke Combs, Keith Urban, and Miley Cyrus. The imposing building was first built to be a church, and opened as the Union Gospel Tabernaclein 1892. As a nod to its past, stained glass windows in blue and red let in tinted sunlight. There are also still lovingly maintained wooden pews that fill the cavenerous room, along with a hardwood floor that contributes to its great acoustics. Along the walls, there are display windows filled with spangled vests and cowboy boots from past performers, including Don McLeans's (Mumford and Sons) gold buttoned oxford shirt, Ringo Starr's (Beatles) black T-shirt, studded with a metal star and Taylor Swift's black sequin-encrusted dress. To learn more, and see some very cool cowboy boots, head to The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, located in downtown Nashville, which features 3,50,000 square feet of archival storage and a performance space. Also check out the National Museum of African American Music,which explores the impact African American composers have had on music, from jazz to hip hop. Tour Historic RCA Studio B, Nashville You may remember 'I will Always Love You' from Whitney Houston's The Bodyguard, but Studio B is where it was first sung by Dolly Parton in 1983. This was Elvis Presley's favourite place to record, and he launched 240 songs from here. Nicknamed the 'home of a thousand hits,' the recording console used for thousands of sessions still stands at the studio: you may have heard some of them, including Jim Reeve's 'He'll have to go' and Roy Orbinson's 'Only The Lonely'. This is where the Nashville sound, which gave a pop spin to country music was born, making the city an internationally influential recording centre. There is a hushed silence as the guests 'assemble into a choir' following directions of the energetic tour guide, so we fit into the studio. As we enter the room, dominated by a 1942 Steinway piano, reportedly loved by Elvis, she dims the lights and plays one of his most memorable songs, created here: 'Are you lonesome tonight.' Broadway and The Bluebird Cafe, Nashville In the mood to party, we hit the Honky Tonk Highway: lower Broadway, which is a heaving party of screaming guitars, neon lights, and tourists in cowboy hats. Most of the bars offer live music, and we follow the sound of a violin to find ourselves in Luke Bryan's 32 Bridge, where performers in faded jeans and shiny, fringed cowboy boots sing to a packed audience. Next door a singer in an embroidered vest and leather pants belts out the Eagles' 'Take It Easy', to an audience dominated by a raucous bachelor party, which takes over the dance floor flashing six packs and waving their broad rimmed hats. Meanwhile, a 'pedal tavern' party bike flashed past, unsteady with happily drunk tourists. Bluebird Cafe, a packed listening room, has a completely different vibe. Do not be fooled by its unassuming appearance, people wait for hours to get into this space, which has hosted significant songwriters and artistes including the late Kris Kristofferson, Garth Brooks and Keith Urban. Taylor Swift first performed here when she was 14, and was later also discovered at Bluebird Cafe. The cafe is packed, but intimate. Drew Holcomb is performing with Madeline Edwards, KS Rhoads and Josiah Leming, and they settle in a circle in the centre of the room — there is no stage here. As servers take down orders for beers, nachos and cheesecake with quick efficiency, the performers start singing in turn, between chatting with the responsive audience. Singing 'songs that come out of hard places,' as Drew puts it, they laugh, they cry, they talk about love and loss. It is an unexpectedly cathartic session of group therapy. The writer was in Memphis and Nashville on the invitation of Brand USA
San Francisco Chronicle
24-05-2025
- General
- San Francisco Chronicle
Fatal crash damages historic California national park building linked to famous song
A truck driver died after crashing into the historic building where the Johnny Cash hit 'Ghost Riders in the Sky' was composed. A semitruck hit the former ranger station at Emigrant Junction in Death Valley National Park on Tuesday, a news release from the National Park Service said this week. The collision on California Highway 190 is believed to have occurred due to a brake malfunction, with no other vehicles involved. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the ranger station in the 1930s. Singer-songwriter Stan Jones wrote 'Ghost Riders' in the late 1940s during his time as a ranger, and Cash's 1979 version became the best known recording of the song. Hundreds of other performers have also recorded the song, including Burl Ives, Bing Crosby, Peggy Lee and the Outlaws. The truck struck the building's porch, destroying two stone columns and damaging the roof and windows. The building is not currently in use but has been maintained due to its historical value. The truck was destroyed in the collision and spilled dry sodium and diesel onto the road. Park service staff responded to the scene, along with the California Highway Patrol, Caltrans and the Inyo County Coroner. The section of Highway 190 between Stovepipe Wells and Towne Pass remained closed for 22 hours after a hazardous materials crew cleaned the area. Brake overheating can be a problem for semitrucks and other heavy vehicles that run through the stretch of Highway 190, where long, steep grades are common on both sides of Towne Pass. A contractor truck burned after descending from Towne Pass on April 9, and several commercial trucks caught fire in the area in 2024, the park service said.
