  Johnny Cash I have the most wonderful childhood memories of listening to the music of my parents and grandparents. I realize that most of it is not considered much, if it is considered at all, these days. Kids today are not rushing out to ensure their CD collections include the greatest hits of urlLink Credence Clearwater Revival , or the two-record set of urlLink Jesus Christ Superstar . No one is impressed that I know all the lyrics to Johnny Horton's version of urlLink The Battle of New Orleans , but I could belt it out with the best of them when I was 7. My family's musical tastes could be described as eclectic. urlLink Bing Crosby ? Check. urlLink Joan Baez ? Check. The Amazing urlLink Wilson Picket ? Check. There are a few artists in my childhood repertoire that were undeniable masters, The Beatles, Elvis, and (one of my favorites) urlLink Johnny Cash .
Cash's beloved wife, June Carter Cash, died last week from complications following heart surgery. In the 2002 liner notes from his current hot album, urlLink CASH he wrote, "I am persuaded that nothing can separate me from the love of my God, my wife and my music. Life is rich when I can come home, after hours in the studio, feeling as frayed as a hundred Big G strings, and curl up to June Carter. She's a soft, fluffy Mama Bear. That's when I give God a 'Thanks a lot, Chief. ' " Combined with her haunting appearance in his video for his cover of NIN's Hurt, the depth of his love for her is clear.
I feel so sad for our tough and tender Man in Black. I'm sure I can't imagine the grief of such a loss. I've been slowly introducing Kate to the eclectic variety of my musical tastes. She is trying valiantly to learn all the lyrics to urlLink A Boy Named Sue , she requests to listen to both the Beatles, and Elvis, and she sings along to "Down to the River to Pray" from the urlLink O Brother Where Art Thou Soundtrack with the same blissful enjoyment as she enjoys when she sings along to the latest from Britney Spears or whatever other hollow pop dance track is popular with the kids these days. This is one family tradition I'm pleased to carry on. 
