Country Classics: Catching up with Tommy Cash

Being the brother of country music royalty can be tough but Tommy Cash managed to not only surive as the younger brother of Johnny but thrive as he was able to carve out his own niche in music.  Here Tommy talks to Roughstock about his career and latest album.

Being the brother of country music royalty can be tough but Tommy Cash managed to not only surive as the younger brother of Johnny but thrive as he was able to carve out his own niche in music.  Here Tommy talks to Roughstock's associate writer Kathy Coleman about his brother and latest album "Fade To Black."

Kathy:  I have to say it's an honor getting to speak to you!  I suppose first I have to address the
elephant in the room - your late brother.  Your new disc is a tribute to Johnny as an artist, but
could you tell us a little about what it's been like, not only having an icon for a family member,
but really, what he was like as a brother?

Tommy:  The CD has a few Johnny Cash songs in it, but it is really a variety of songs I always
wanted to do. What was he like as a brother? Well, Johnny and I had to sleep together until I was 10
years old and then he left home and joined the U.S. Air Force. He took care of me and he made
me feel safe. So I tell my audience that, "I bet I'm the only one here today who used to sleep
with Johnny Cash. He used to take me places and he'd ride me on his shoulders. He made
chocolate fudge on Wednesday nights and always gave me the first piece."
As an icon, he achieved things that most of us only dream of. He changed our lives. We were not
so much individuals; we were Johnny Cash's family. People asked us questions about him
constantly. Are you really Johnny Cash's brother? Do you see him often? Why does he wear
black? And so on!

Kathy:  There have been a number of tributes of various kinds to your brother in the last several
years; do any of them particularly stand out to you?

Tommy:  Marty Stuart's CD of various artists singing John's songs.

Kathy:  I actually have written one of my own; my still-unpublished novel actually features
Johnny's passing as a major plot point.

Tommy:  He's a great subject for anyone. Good luck with your book!

Kathy: Thank you!  Your own recording career has been less storied, but certainly your work has
been excellent through the years. What are some of your own favorite works you've done?

Tommy:  Finding and recording "Six White Horses" was quite a thrill. Also, the album I did for
Epic in 1974 called "The American Way of Life" was some of my best work, but for some reason
was ignored by radio.

Kathy:  What made you choose to re-record "Six White Horses" now?  The message is
obviously timeless, but I'm willing to bet there are a lot of youngsters who might not realize who
you're singing about!

Tommy:  I asked Marty Stuart to sing a song in my new CD and he suggested we do "Six White
Horses." He also played some great guitar licks on it.

Kathy:  You obviously chose serious, roots-based artists to record "Fade to Black" with  - does
that speak of your opinion of the state of today's so-called "country" music?  Be honest!
Goodness knows I have been.

Tommy:  I think many of today's country acts are just great. Alan Jackson, Carrie Underwood,
Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Jamie Johnston, Trace Atkins, Brad Paisley,
Sugarland, Taylor Swift, just to name a few. It's true that many new acts sound alike, but these
folks are talented! I still love traditional country, which I sing mostly. But who cannot enjoy
turning on the CD player and listening to my brother Johnny or Merle Haggard of the Oak Ridge
Boys?

Kathy:  What was it like, working with folks like George Jones and Marty Stuart?

Tommy:  I have been friends with George Jones and Marty Stuart. I love singing with my sister
Joanne and my son Mark.

Kathy:  Is there anyone out there you particularly would like to sing with? 

Tommy:  Carrie Underwood.

Kathy:  Are there any of the young Americana and alt-country acts that you like? 

Tommy:  Deana Carter, BR549, Merle Haggard, Jack Ingram, Gary Allan, The Bacon Brothers.

Kathy:  I remember reading that "Skip A Rope" had originally been offered to Johnny and he
passed it to Henson Cargill; was that what made you decide to include it on this disc?

Tommy:  No. I do not believe the story about Johnny passing on the song and giving it to
Henson Gargill. I have just always loved the song and wanted to put it in this album along with
other standards.

Kathy:  Do you have a favorite track on the new disc?

Tommy: "Ramblin Kind" is the first song I ever wrote (1964)

Kathy:  You obviously don't plan on stopping any time soon.  What's next for you?

Tommy:  More touring, record a gospel CD, maybe a Christmas CD too.

Kathy:  Thanks for "talking" with me!

Tommy:  My pleasure!

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