The Man in Black

[stoney]

It was September of '72, my first Time in Indiana and my only time at Notre Dame University. As you see it was very long time ago and my memory is fading but I do have a few key points about this concert.
Being at young man at the time with a very narrow view of music, my thoughts at the time did not reflect what I saw.Johnny Cash was seen
weekly on his TV show so he was somewhat overplayed at the time. But
there were elements of the show that did strike a Chord with me and that
I will not forget. As I write this now and look back I now realize how
tremendous this show was as to how it ,over the years compares with other
perfomance I attended.

The show opened with The Carter Family including Maybelle Carter. They
performed all their well known tunes.From the wind torn dustbowls of
Oklahoma in the depths of dispair they sang songs of hope,faith and love,
and while I may not have understood at the time they sent a chill down my
spine that I will never forget. This was no show of a opening act
preparing the crowd for the main event but two distinct and equally well
peformed shows bonded by the love a two great performers June Carter and
Johnny Cash. Like a revival the Carter Family brought everyone to their
feet, assending to heights of joy and promise.Johnny Cash & the Tennessee, that was the billing and as many looked back on Johnny's life after he passed on, they always refered to him as an approachable country star who never had security gurds but on that night he was definately surronded by so many guards I could hardly see his entrance to the theater. I was confused about the name Tennesee two as there were many more supporting musicians than the two but hey who is counting? from "I walk the line" to,Ring of Fire", "Folsum Prision Blues" to a "Boy named Sue" to songs of the road and life he carried on like no other. Joined by his wife June they sang "we got married in a feaver hotter than a pepper sprout", I can still hear their harmonies ring out as I type this bringing shivers to my old bones.He was a giant to all performers and stood proudly on the stage with his true soul-mate June at his side. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To top all this off, for the finale, the Carter family joined Johnny and June singing an extended "Will the circle be unbroken". The crowd was at awe as I was and did not want this to end or them to leave the stage as the would break the circle. That was 35 years ago peopel , I have seen many performers, many shows since but nothing, absoluetly nothing of any Genre' will top that show in South Bend,Indianna that night in Septemebr of 1972. My words do not even give this show justice it deserves, I will never forget it.