Folk Music

» woorama - Was Johnny Cash Indigenous?

I have often heard (only on the oral grapevine) that Johnny Cash was a Native American. Can anybody confirm this?

If so, then why was his ethnicity silenced in all of his publicity, including in the recent film about his life?

Tyson Yunkaporta, Aboriginal Rights Suite 101.

-- posted by woorama

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» shoutinthestreet - Was Johnny Cash Indigenous?

In response to Was Johnny Cash Indigenous? posted by woorama:
After some nifty internet research, I discovered (on the Internet Movie Database of all places) that in his youth, Johnny Cash believed that he was at least partially of Native American ancestry. However, while investigating later in life, he discovered that his background was more or less completely Scottish. Nevertheless, Cash was a life-long supporter of aboriginal rights and charities. Also, if you've never heard his version of "The Ballad of Ira Hayes," you are definitely missing something. As far as the movie goes, I would say that this element of his career was probably ignored, not in any grand conspiracy, but because of space constraints. After all, they did cram 55 years of a legendary musical career into a few hours of film. But, lover of conspiracies as I am, I would also say that this topic does not exactly fit with the whole "great American hero" image of the movie. Let me know what you think...

-- posted by shoutinthestreet

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» GermanSpectacle - Was Johnny Cash Indigenous?

In response to Was Johnny Cash Indigenous? posted by shoutinthestreet:

I think conspiracy would be a stretch. Johhny Cash as a "supporter of aboriginal rights and charities" just doesn't make for good entertainment.

Speaking of crappy films about cool people, has everyone been following the buzz surrounding the movie about Bob Dylan? The film is called I'm Not There, and stars Julianne Moore, Richard Gere, and Christian Bale from American Pyscho. Apparently, each plays a separate part of Dylan's pysche. What team of syphilitic monkeys thought this one up? Something tells me Cameron Crow (Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous) is responsible.

-- posted by GermanSpectacle

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» GermanSpectacle - I almost forgot

Johhny Cash and Bob Dylan play leap frog at Aquarium Drunkard: http://aquariumdrunk.blogspot.com/2006/0...

-- posted by GermanSpectacle

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» shoutinthestreet - I almost forgot

In response to I almost forgot posted by GermanSpectacle:
I think I heard about this, and Cate Blanchett is supposedly going to play Dylan as a young man. Lord help us... I'm sure this is being slapped together because biopics are the "in" thing right now. Read about this particular travesty as it unfolds http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368794/. Okay, here's my question, though. How much do you think Bob Dylan is involved in these sort of things? Obviously, when he dies, there will be an endless stream of posthumous releases like with Cash, so how much is he taking control of his own legacy? How much is he succumbing to crass consumerism and greed? Thanks for posting.

-- posted by shoutinthestreet

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» GermanSpectacle - I almost forgot

In response to I almost forgot posted by shoutinthestreet:

He's not succumbing to "crass consumerism" as much as he is selling it. But isn't that the nature of the beast? Isn't that how she goes? What does Captain Jack Sparrow say in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean? "Take everything you can, and give nothing back." Dylan always wanted to be a rock star. That's doesn't just mean plugging in. It means Cadillacs, lots of women, drugs, and anything else money can buy.

I think it's important to remember -- and this comes up in Scorcese's bioepic -- that Bob Dylan was/is an extreme opportunist. Take for example his foray into satellite radio. This thing is still in its infant stages, and he's already on the groundfloor. It's the American way. (And it makes me want to vomit.)

-- posted by GermanSpectacle

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