Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash (b. John R. Cash 26 February 1932 Kingsland, AR - d. 12 October 2003 Nashville, TN) was an influential American country musician and one of the most influential country singers. Due to his outlaw image (always dressed in black, hence his nickname The Man In Black, he was also accepted by the rock crowd. Cash covered songs (among others by Nick Cave, Tom Waits and Nine Inch Nails), but also wrote original material. Among his hits were Folsom Prison Blues (1955), I Walk the Line (1955), Ring Of Fire (1963) and A Boy Named Sue (1969). He famously performed concerts in prisons too, with At Folsom Prison (1968) and At San Quentin (1969) risen to classic status.
Johnny Cash and Zappa
In 1988, Cash was supposed to perform Ring Of Fire with Zappa, but since his wife got sick, he could not make the show. Zappa therefore covered the song with his band, as heard on The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life Mike Keneally would parody Cash's voice. He is heard during Sunshine Of Your Love, where Ike Willis asks him: "Ain't you the man in black?".
