there was also a hint of danger in the music.... stripped down. Not sure of itself. No violin, no backing vocals except maybe the hum, like the hum in the background of Stanley Brothers, "Rank Strangers." Just pure, basic, stripped down performance.
I remember one Saturday or Sunday evening. Maybe 1957 and he was on Ed Sullivan or maybe Steve Allen or Parr or someone... doesn't matter who. And my uncle announces, he's the new Elvis. I respected my uncle because he was the one who introduced me to Benny Goodman. I still listen to Benny. But Johnny was never going to be Elvis.
Johnny's stuff was too serious to be Elvis. Even in "Mean Eyed Cat". there is a hurt and search for something.
Ira Hayes. Or the cut about Custer's Last Stand. Elvis could never have done those.
I remember reading a local version of his obituary. He was contracted to play at a theater in Easton, Pa. The venue was not full and it was clear that the promoter lost money. Johnny took the check for the second half of the evening's performance and returned it to the promoter.
His last album. The one where he had lost June and he knew he was near his end. There was no longer any power in his voice. I bought the cd. Played it once and I could never bear to play it again. It's up in the attic somewhere.
If I had the invitation to spend time with Johnny ..... well I recall hearing that Dylan would visit him and the two of them would sit on the porch, neither, saying a word for hours. I could have spent hours with him..... not saying a word and walked away filled.
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