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Johnny Cash

By: Robert Hilburn
Narrated by: Charles Pittard
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Publisher's Summary

People don't just listen to Johnny Cash: they believe in him. But no one has told the Man in Black's full story, until now. In Johnny Cash: The Life, Robert Hilburn conveys the unvarnished truth about a musical icon, whose colourful career stretched from his days at Sun Records with Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis to his remarkable, brave and deeply moving 'Hurt' video, aged sixty-nine.

As music critic for the Los Angeles Times, Hilburn knew Cash well throughout his life: he was the only music journalist at the legendary Folsom Prison concert in 1968, and he interviewed Cash and his wife June Carter for the final time just months before their deaths in 2003. Hilburn's rich reporting shows the remarkable highs and deep lows that followed and haunted Cash in equal measure. A man of great faith and humbling addiction, Cash aimed for more than another hit for the jukebox; he wanted his music to lift people's spirits.

Drawing upon his personal experience with Cash and a trove of never-before-seen material from the singer's inner circle, Hilburn creates an utterly compelling, deeply human portrait of one of the most iconic figures in modern popular culture - not only a towering figure in country music, but also a seminal influence in rock, whose personal life was far more troubled, and whose musical and lyrical artistry much more profound, than even his most devoted fans ever realised.

©2013 Robert Hilburn (P)2013 Hachette Audio

What listeners say about Johnny Cash

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What a fantastic story

Loved this from start to finish,it's refreshing to hear the full story, not just the usual fan fair but the entirety of the facts no matter how dark.

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true story of the man in black

I knew bits and pieces of Johnny Cash's story but this book was a rollercoaster of emotions. As the career of the man in black starts and blossom I found myself smiling and feeling good then the drug years and bad decisions which sounded more hellish than I ever imagined. Then it goes to June and Johnny's final years and there were times there that I was tearing up. There's no doubt that Johnny Cash lived one hell of a life and this book does an amazing job retelling it in fine details.

At first I thought the narrator was a bit monotone and not into it but the more you listen (only takes a few chapters) you realise that no. His voice actually works really well for this type of story.

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Inspiring,emotional and exellent.

this book has made me respect Johnny Cash so much more than I already did. I both laughed and cried right thru out the book. honestly the very best book I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. I wish it never stopped. honestly best read ever. never felt so many different emotions thru out a book. really feel so much stronger about the man and his life and family and had no idea just how much he shaped the music industry until now. thankyou so much for such an exiting biography.

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Great insights for the true Cash fan

Great story about a complex artist. Not for the casual fan, and probably best suited to those with at least a passing interest in the process of making records, touring and country music. Narrator was good, although there were some minor issues with some sentences and some obvious re-recorded sections which was a tad jarring. However that's understandable for a 30-plus hour story. Overall, a great story that is well told.

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What a ride

This book goes deep into Cash. You feel like you are there the whole time.

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