Who Did Johnny Cash Know From Sweden

Were Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash friends?

They were part of the ‘Million Dollar Quartet’, which was an impromptu jamming session between them and Jerry Lee Lewis in 1956, at the Sun Record Studios in Memphis, Tennessee.An excerpt taken from the Elvis archives Johnny Cash Remembers Elvis PresleyHe and I liked each other, but we weren't that tight - I was older than he was, for one thing, and married, for another - and we weren't close at all in his later years. I took the hint when he closed his world around him; I didn't try to invade his privacy. I'm so glad I didn't, either, because so many of his old friends were embarrassed so badly when they were turned away at Graceland. In the '60s and '70s he and I chatted on the phone a couple of times and swapped notes now and again. If he were closing at the Las Vegas Hilton as I was getting ready to open, he'd wish me luck, that kind of thing - but that was about the extent of it.So it might seem that even though they weren’t close but they were friendly with each other. And they were perhaps more colleagues than friends as they expressively admired each other and would sing each other’s songs occasionally.Elvis Presley Stuns Audience With Surreal Johnny Cash ImpressionMillion Dollar Quartet - Wikipedia

Why did Johnny Cash fight for prison reforms?

A recent BBC article examines the singer’s passion for those behind bars, and the efforts he made to change the way prisons were run across the country. The article reveals how Cash related to prisoners, and how his Christian faith fueled his efforts. Johnny Cash: Prison Reformer - Prison FellowshipCash’s classic albums recorded at Folsom Prison and San Quentin are well known, but few are aware that these were just two of many prison concerts he played over three decades.Cash's experiences in these jails turned him into a passionate prison reformer who donated his own money to the cause, took a released prisoner into his own home and even met President Richard Nixon to force the issue. It was a myth that Cash served hard time, he was only ever in a police cell overnight but he did see the insides of some of the toughest prisons in the world.Presenter Danny Robins uncovers two lesser known but intriguing prison concerts – Cash’s 1969 appearance at Cummins Prison in Arkansas, and his 1972 concert at Österåker Prison just outside Stockholm in Sweden, the only prison gig Cash ever performed outside America. What Johnny Cash did for prison reformDanny Robins reporting for a two-part Your World documentary for BBC World Service: Johnny Cash and the Forgotten Prison Blues. You can listen to the part one, and part two on iPlayer.

What is your favorite song cover that isn't Hurt by Johnny Cash or All Along The Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix?

Satisfaction – Devo (Rolling Stones)It’s a cover that is hypnotically weird on it’s own and sounds almost nothing like the original, but in that process makes a statement about modern rock and roll.Jim Dandy – Black Oak Arkansas (LaVern Baker)A fun little folk-ish ditty that got loaded with swagger by the lead singer of the band, who also took the name Jim Dandy. He’s the guy in the evolutionary chart of classic frontmen just to the left of David Lee Roth.Breadfan – Metallica (Budgie)The mighty Metallica cranked up the intensity and power on this already catchy song, and got me on the road to discovering all the NWOBHM goodness I’d missed out on.Her Strut – The Hellacopters (Bob Seger)I like Seger’s more down and dirty sound of the original, but the guys from Sweden give it a more manic sexual energy.Dissident Aggressor – Slayer (Judas Priest)Slayer’s version just sounds more true to the title of the song, and using pinch-harmonics as a substitute for Rob Halford’s high-pitched wails gives it a more menacing sound.This could go on for days, so I’ll end with a weird, little known song from 1968 recorded by a British band named Gun. Race with Devil has got a super-catchy riff and has been covered by no less than four bands – Judas Priest, Black Oak Arkansas, Girlschool and Church of Misery (though I’m not wild about CoM’s version).

How well did Elvis get along with Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis?

Elvis and Carl Perkins swapping autographs,Memphis, June 1956.My guess would be Elvis knew they were all from the South like him, Jerry from Louisiana could play better piano but apparently disliked Elvis' fame, both had young girlfriends/wives.Carl Perkins band with his two brothers, and a third member on acoustic (right).Elvis born Tupelo, Mississippi 1935 and Johnny Cash, born in Kingsland, Arkansas 1932 travelled alot on Jamboree shows operated by Hank Snow & his one time partner, Colonel Parker, an illegal Dutch immigrant. Elvis admired Johnny's singing as told by Johnny's bass player and manager Marshall Grant, born Bryson City, North Carolina 1928 in his tell all book ‘I WAS THERE WHEN IT HAPPENED', Grant also lived in Memphis Tennessee, Elvis adopted hometown.Johnny Cash and Elvis PresleyCarl Perkins, born 1932 in Tiptonville Tennessee lived in Memphis too and Elvis knew he was a great guitar player, when Perkins (no relation to Luther Perkins born Como, Mississippi, Cash's guitarist) wrote and recorded ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ it became popular but when out doing shows with his two brothers promoting the song, they had a car smash which hospitalised Carl for several months, during which time Elvis recorded his song and made a monster hit rock and roll record out of it. Perhaps Carl was bitter himself but the royalties he gained from it helped him alot.Jerry Lee Lewis & Elvis (superimposed photo)Cash later asked Carl Perkins to play guitar in his band after Luther Perkins tragically died, until a teenaged girl with her boyfriend went backstage at a Johnny Cash concert and told Cash that her boyfriend, Bob Wooton could play guitar just like Luther, Cash auditioned him on the spot, employed him and kept Carl in his travelling show for many years.Carl Perkins & Johnny Cash (below)

What is the Swedish TV show "Melodifestivalen"?

The swedish tv show melodifestivalen (the melody festival) is a competition between musicians for representing sweden in the eurovision song contest.Melodifestivalen is a huge event in sweden (although im not a fan of it at all) and almost all participating songs make it to the swedish top 50 chart.

Do Swedes look up to any other country?

Swedes tend to admire the United States and UK, but I’d say US takes the cake.It is very common to see Swedes wearing American-themed clothing, especially clothing that has the American flag on it, whether it’s t-shirts, sweaters or pants. They will also wear clothing that says the names of US cities, like Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Malibu, etc. Note, Swedes tend to not even wear clothing featuring the Swedish flag, or any other flag really.There is also much interest in classic American culture in Sweden. Car shows are common throughout Sweden, where classic American cars are the highlight. While the cars drive by it is likely you will see American flag pillows, air fresheners, etc. There is a “rockabilly” lifestyle throughout the country where Swedes will dress in classic American clothing and listen to classic rockabilly music, even as far north as Gällivare. There is particular admiration for American musicians like Johnny Cash, Elvis and Dolly Parton.One of the main channels provided by the government, channel 6 (often called “The American Channel”), features primarily American TV shows, such as the Simpsons, Family Guy, Seinfeld, Kings and Queens, and more. It features an American movie nearly every night. Other national channels (government operated) will feature Swedish shows that are almost exact copies of American shows, whether it’s cooking and make up competitions, or trivia similar to ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire?’ A program occasionally plays on national TV that features a Swedish country singer who replanted in the South in the US and shares her life of living abroad.In conversations about travel, America tends to be a country that peaks the interest of the average Swede. Young Swedes who have not traveled will often say they hope to visit the US someday, more so than other countries.