Face of Music City - He looks like Johnny Cash

The outside looking in: Face of Nashville… He looks just like the late Johnny Cash and he use to sit on Broadway and play older Cash songs like The Ring of Fire.

"The taste of love is sweet
When hearts like ours meet. 
I fell for you like a child
Oh, but the fire went wild. 
I fell into a burnin' ring of fire

I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns, 
The ring of fire, the ring of fire."

While some may not know it, the song “Ring of Fire” was written by June Carter Cash and Merle Kilgore and recorded by Johnny Cash.

It was originally recorded by Junes sister Anita Carter for her “Folk Songs Old and New” album in 1963 and later that year mastered by Johnny Cash (March 25, 1963). It went on to become one of the biggest hits of Cash's career.

The song was basically about June falling in love with Johnny, which was indeed happening at the time when she wrote it.

Street music with rockabilly style

Two of the four rockabilly Outlaw Rituals in Chattanooga, TN.

“The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.” ― -Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, widely recognized as one of the greatest composers in the history of Western music (1856-1791)

Organ grinders and accordion players

Organ grinders and accordion players are scattered throughout Mexico City. They can often be found in front of restaurants and sometimes, even inside. In the slums and the rich areas alike, music fills the air.

Music and art are two things that Mexico City has a lot of. While the city is filthy throughout, it is also artistically rich. Graffiti can be found on every corner… some good and some simple gang markings. 

The city has well over 100 art studios, galleries or museums. 

The city also has an exact replica of the Empire State Building. Well, maybe not exact. While it looks the same, it is considerably shorter than the real deal. The building in Mexico City is 44 stories tall and the real building in New York is 102 stories tall. 

The Original Spoonman from 1957

William Boyd, who is almost 70 years old, performs on the streets almost nightly. He plays real silver spoons that he stashes away in his bag when he retires for the night. In fact, he even has a fork that he plays.

He has called the long term recovery program at the Room In the Inn of Nashville home for the past 3 years and is overwhelmingly thankful for it. Prior to that, he was on crack. But, he has been clean from that bondage for 9 years now.

Before he sought help, he was in and out of jail for a number of offenses that included alcohol and theft. However, that is no longer an issue as he has found his path… Making others smile. To do that, he sings and plays his silver spoons.

Boyd is 67 now, but he started playing the spoons, forks and butter knives in 1957 at age 8. His mother took him around town when he was a child to sing or play the spoons at different locations throughout Tennessee.

He still has a goal… to get noticed and get into the music business. He said three times, “I’m on YouTube – look me up.” He says, “I haven’t given up that dream, I still want to be a singer.”

“Hold fast to dreams, For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird, That cannot fly.” ― Langston Hughes (1902-1967)

Louis Armstrong in Nashville?

While only 2 people were before him on the streets of Nashville he said, “Okay folks, one more song is what we’re gonna do, then we’re gonna take a little break.” I was standing before Louis Armstrong reincarnated, in 2016.

It was as if he was standing before a huge crowd with Dean Martin by his side in an underground night spot of New York City in the 1920’s. Of course, that was the prohibition era and underground is where the party and music were huge, at a speakeasy.

As he sang, he would use a white towel to wipe his face… Which is exactly what the original Armstrong did.

"Hello Dolly, ......well, hello, Dolly
It's so nice to have you back where you belong
You're lookin' swell, Dolly.......I can tell, Dolly
You're still glowin'...you're still crowin'...you're still goin' strong
I feel that room swayin'......while the band's playin'
One of your old favourite songs from way back when
So..... take her wrap, fellas.......find her an empty lap, fellas
Dolly'll never go away again" – Louis Armstrong (1901-1971)

Louis Armstrong was born in 1901 and fell into the modern music era in the 1920’s. It was a time of change and new record labels were popping up throughout the United States. ASCAP was established and commercial radio began a new chapter of paying royalties to play recorded sounds of artist. ASCAP stood for “American Society of Composers.

Young Drummer Hitting a Lick

He looked as if he were maybe 10. As for his drum set… It consisted of buckets that once contained pickles, chlorine and more. Of course, it is not the drums that make the artist.

“Stamina is the force that drives the drumming; it's not really a sprint.” Neil Peart (Rush)

No one listening

No one was listening, but he was drumming away. "Prince the Mystic Drummer" was also singing and singing well. This was shot on a New York subway platform. 

Some of the key songs he focuses on included: Three Little Birds by Bob Marley, Night Nurse by Gregory Isaascs, Pimpers Paradise by Bob Marley and Sex Machine by James Brown - just to name a few. 

Legendary drummer Neil Peart of the group RUSH once stated, "To me, drum soloing is like doing a marathon and solving equations at the same time."

The Grumpy Musician

I thought to myself, “How can you play beautiful music on the saxophone and be so miserable?” As I walked past him I thought to myself, “I only have a $20 and I need to get some change to give him.” I was on my way to a small eatery to buy a homeless man something to eat as I snapped the photo of the saxophone player in Chicago.

After I took the picture my intent was to come back and give him a few bucks. However, he changed those intentions quickly as he put the saxophone to the side and yelled while pointing at his case, “Hey, you better put some money in here – I’m not shittin’ ya, you better pay!” I smiled and continued to the eatery.

As I walked back by with food in my hand I smiled thinking, “I would have given you a few bucks if you did not have the outburst.”

I wonder what he is going through? I will never know. Sometimes, stories are not meant to be told. 

"You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger." Buddha