Book Review: Johnny Cash (1997) by Frank Moriarty
Johnny Cash is from Frank Moriarty, an author of many biographies from musician Jimi Hendrix to Ford automobile engineer John Colleti. His Cash book was published in 1997.
The version of the book I read was published in a large, coffee table style book. My expectations weren’t particularly high going in, and I was really expecting a book heavy with glossy photos and light on biography. Moreover, Johnny Cash published his second biography the same year that this was released, and it is easy to see how this minor biography could get overlooked.
But I was pleasantly surprised. Moriarty’s writing is completely engaging as he swiftly chronicles the major notes in Cash’s life. If someone wanted to understand the trajectory of Cash’s career by reading for no more than four or five hours, this is a great way to accomplish that.
While I couldn’t detect much that was wholly unique in the story, some of the sources used (like testimonials from Clive Davis of Columbia Records) provided fresh anecdotes. Davis, for example, would frame a portrait of Cash in rooms where new musical talent would vie for a spot on the label in order to help impress a sense of just how significant Columbia Records was. In case they missed it: Columbia employed giants.
The pictures were not dominant over the biography, but thankfully they were just as engaging. To this fan’s eyes, a majority of them are uncommon, some perhaps making their debut. Moriarty also respects Cash as an artist and writer. Interestingly, while Cash’s songwriting isn’t really explored here, there is high praise (and use of) Cash’s album liner notes and some attention given to Cash’s sole novel of Paul the Apostle: Man in White.
The narrative concludes on a high note. Cash is enthusiastic about his song “Rusty Cage” and his second American album, Unchained. This was an enjoyable read and a great book for those wanting an “essentials-only” look at Cash. His life, with such highs and lows, naturally reads like a storybook.
