Premiering In October On Bio Channel And Released On Cd/Dvd On October 28, 2008
Film features interviews with Johnny Cash, Cindy Cash, John Carter Cash, Al Gore, Bob Dylan, Sheryl Crow, Ozzy Osbourne, Snoop Dogg, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard and more
New York, NY – Musical icon Johnny Cash was the man in black but running through his blood was indisputably red, white, and blue. As the voice of those without a voice he became the most authentic representative of Americans that the country has ever seen or may ever see again. Perhaps that’s why every single President courted Johnny Cash during his lifetime, no matter what political affiliation. And while society became increasingly divided, Americans who agreed on little else agreed on Johnny Cash and still do today. He is a bridge
These ideas and more are explored in a new documentary airing on the Bio Channel on October 23rd and a DVD/CD package released by Columbia/Legacy on October 28th entitled Johnny Cash’s America. In the film, co-directors Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon delve into what shaped Johnny Cash into the influential American icon he became. This film evokes the question, “In losing Johnny Cash, has America lost the best advocate we had for those without a voice?” as he represented the poor, the downtrodden, our soldiers overseas, Native Americans, prisoners, the disenfranchised and the youth of today without losing his audience. He was the ultimate American who embraced all of America’s diversity without prejudice or partisanship. And although non-partisan his whole life, one can’t help but wonder, who would Johnny Cash vote for in this election?
KEY DATES:
October 4 – Premieres at the Woodstock Film Festival
October 11 – Screening at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville
October 14 – Screening at the American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood
October 15 – Screening at the Memphis Film Festival
October 17 – Screening at The Paley Center for Media in New York City (formerly the Museum of Television and Radio)
October 23 – Johnny Cash’s America premieres as a Bio Channel Special
October 26 – Johnny Cash’s America re-airs on the Bio Channel.
October 28 – Release of Legacy’s CD/DVD Johnny Cash’s America
The road through Johnny Cash’s America takes us on a journey of his career and personal highs and lows while unveiling never-before seen footage and unreleased music from Johnny’s vault. Footage highlights include interviews with Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Al Gore, Snoop Dogg, Sheryl Crow, Steve Earle, Kris Kristofferson, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, Sen. Lamar Alexander, Tim Robbins, Vince Gill, Johnny’s sister Joanne, and his children John Carter Cash and Cindy Cash. Additionally, the film shows the never-before broadcast pilot from the 1965 “Johnny Cash Show,” rare footage from a 1968 Canadian TV special, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan outtakes from “Eat The Document” and other sessions, unseen rehearsal for a Highwaymen recording session plus a rare BBC performance during his American Recordings comeback.
Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon are the filmmakers behind last year’s acclaimed PBS presentation, “Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story,” and the Grammy –nominated “Muddy Waters Can’t Be Satisfied.” Neville directed the Emmy-winning “Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues.” Gordon wrote and was a producer on “The Road to Memphis,” an episode of Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues. John Carter Cash and Lou Robin, of the Johnny Cash Estate, are Executive Producers of the documentary.
Highlights from the DVD include:
-Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan outtakes from Nashville Skyline and other sessions
-Never-before broadcast pilot of 1965 “Johnny Cash Show”
-Rare footage from a 1968 Canadian TV special, in 2-inch videotape color
-Unseen rehearsal for a Highwaymen recording session
-A rare BBC performance during his American Recordings comeback
The CD track listing is as follows:
1. Ride This Train (unreleased Hendersonville version)
2. Pickin’ Time
3. Five Feet High And Rising
4. Big River
5. Cry Cry Cry
6. All God’s Children Ain’t Free
7. Big Foot
8. Don’t Take Your Guns To Town
9. Folsom Prison Blues (Live At Folsom Prison)
10. Singin’ In Vietnam Talkin’ Blues
11. What Is Truth
12. Man In Black
13. Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord)
14. Children, Go Where I Send Thee (Live In Denmark 1971)
15. Ragged Old Flag
16. Song Of The Patriot
17. Hurt
18. This Land Is Your Land
19. I Am The Nation (unreleased bonus track)