Anniversary of June Carter's Death
Walk the Line Film on June Cash Renews Interest in Appalachian Music
As the anniversary of June Carter Cash's death rapidly approaches, fans rediscover the haunting melodies of this Appalachian queen.
With the fifth anniversary of June Carter Cash’s death days away, a dedicated following is revived on the wings of a movie called Walk the Line. As Country music has deteriorated into Australian rock, comical songs of alcohol abuse, and descriptions of what constitutes a red neck, fans are found embracing the sweet hillbilly sounds of June Carter Cash.
Origins of the Carter Family Music Legacy
Artists hailing from Pennsylvania, Washington, Arizona, Alaska, and Michigan grace the current Country Billboard Charts. Few country singers today exemplify the Appalachian style the Carter Family perfected. Armed with old gospel tunes, and time-honored family songs, A.P., Sara and Maybelle created the Carter Family. During the depression, their tunes drifted over radios miles away, leaving listeners with stories of family, poverty and folklore- all things American. Their music painted a picture of Appalachian living that was previously unheard of. Years later, June Carter took her place in the family business by joining her mother, Maybelle, and sisters, Anita and Helen to create Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters.
"If I Were a Carpenter"
Her marriage to the “Man in Black” further cemented June’s seat as a country music legend. Her comical temperament mixed with Johnny Cash’s dark moods to produce an unstoppable duo. “Jackson” exemplified their playful nature, illustrating a couple on the brink of divorce. In the Carter family tradition, they harmonized over “If I were a Carpenter” and joined the Statler Brothers to sing “Daddy Sang Bass.”
Walk the Line, a biopic tale of Johnny Cash’s life, addictions and love, has brought the rockabilly and Appalachian sounds back into the hearts of music lovers of today. Oh Brother Where Art Thou has also aided in rekindling the spirit of bluegrass and folk. Lee Smith’s novel, The Devil’s Dream, gives readers a fictionalized oral history of Appalachian music. Charactures of many country music icons rest between the lines of this epic story.
Evolution of Country Music
As country music has evolved, so has its fans. The line between rock and country has blurred. The first step came when the Grand Ole Opry first allowed electric guitars and drums into the Ryman Auditorium. The thoery that all a country musician needed was a good picker became antiquated. Additionally, crossover artists such as Bob Dylan, Ray Charles and Olivia Newton John opened the door to a new style of music that wouldn’t be hampered by purist ideas.
Young people of today, however, are finding new excitement in these old, stoic voices. Fans need to look no further than Facebook and myspace to find forums to discuss their country heroes. A search of either musician provides hundreds of groups dedicated to the famous couple. June and Johnny may be gone, but they live on through the footprints created by their unforgettable melodies.
