It was August of 1968 and Johnny Cash was considering quitting the music business. His close friend, Luther Perkins, an original member of the Tennessee Three and originator of the legendary "boom chick a boom" guitar on Cash's early hits had been tragically killed in a house fire. It was to perhaps be his last performance, in Fayetteville, AR when a young lady got June Carter's attention and told her there was a man in the audience that could play every song Johnny performed just like Luther. Cash gave the young man a try right on the spot -- no rehearsal, and was throughly amazed. From that day forward and for the next 30 years, whenever Johnny Cash performed Bob Wootton never left his side. Devastated by Cash's illness and death, Wootton didn't perform for several years. Today, however with wife Vicky Wootton, once a member of the "Carter Family," daughters Scarlett & Montana, Shawn Supra on the doghouse bass and drummer Rodney Powell, Bob Wootton is touring the world, keeping the tradition of the Cash/Carter Family alive. The title of their CD says it best: "The Sound Must Go On."
And went on it did. As the familiar opening chords of "Folsom Prison Blues" ran thru the air, the big audience cheered, clapped, hollered and whistled as Bob Wootton, resplendent in a long black coat, much like the man himself, took the stage and began to sing. The outward appearance (anyone who doesn't see the resemblance is blind), the vocals (they sound so much like JC that it's almost uncanny) and of oourse the great music he played for so many years made us feel we were in a familiar place, one that we had thought we could never return to. Next up was the 1958 release "Guess Things Happen That Way," followed by "All Over Again," "Give My Love To Rose," "Big River," "I Was There When It Happened," "Luther Played The Boogie," "How High's The Water Momma?" "Orange Blossom Special/Old 97" medley and Kris Krisofferson's "Sunday Morning Coming Down."
After Scarlett sang one of Cash's last recordings "Hurt" and 11 yr. old Montana performed "I'm Not Your Princess," Bob returned with the classic "Ghost Riders In The Sky," "Walk The Line," "Get Rhythm," "I Got Stripes," "Delia's Gone," "Suppertime" a great duet of "Jackson" with wife Vicky, "Ring Of Fire" and "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" with Vicky, Scarlett & Montana. After a thunderous standing ovation, the Tennessee Three returned to the stage, Bob singing "Daddy Sang Bass," "Home Of The Blues," "You've Got The Ways Of A Woman In Love," "San Quintin," "Long Black Veil," "The Ballad Of Ira Hayes," "Folsom Prison Blues" and an audience request of "A Boy Named Sue."
We had a nice visit with these folks after the show and understand they are heading for a couple of dates in Texas before heading home to Tennessee for a few days of well-deserved rest. Daughter Scarlett keeps the group's myspace site up to date http://www.myspace.com/TennesseeThree and the group has it's main website at http://www.tennesseethree.com. Log on if you'd like to know more about this fantastic group. (Below) The Tennessee Three - front row-Scarlett & Montana Wootton back row-Shawn Supra, Rodney Powell, Vicky & Bob Wootton
