Memories Of Johnny Cash In Chattanooga

The Johnny Cash Statue was unveiled Tuesday in Washington, D.C. The Arkansas native, with a guitar on his back and Bible in hand, is the first musician with a statue in our nation’s Capital.

Members of political parties, Cash’s family and friends gathered for the unveiling that included Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Governor Sanders said, “Growing up, it was God, Country and Johnny Cash.

The event brought back memories of when the “Man in Black” visited Chattanooga.

“Hello Chattanooga” by David Carroll says the young singer’s first performance at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium was Oct. 8, 1956, on a Grand Ole Opry Show with Hank Snow, Faron Young, Johnny Horton, and Sonny James.

Cash came back to the Memorial Auditorium two years later with Brenda Lee and Ray Stevens.

When Cash was arrested in Walker County, Ga. in 1967, he promised Sheriff Ralph Jones he’d come back and do a benefit concert for the Lafayette High School. 12,000 people showed up for the largest concert at that time in the history of Walker County, Ga.

The Johnny Cash Show came to the Tivoli Theater in the late 60’s and was welcomed by WDOD Radio. This writer was assigned to do a live broadcast before the show in the Tivoli lobby. As the concert began at 7:30 p.m., the Statler Brothers took the stage and started singing; but there was no sign of the “Man in Black.”

A few minutes later, the singer pulled up in front of the downtown Broad Street Theater, he got out of his Buick Riviera, grabbed his guitar and rushed inside to where this writer was standing. Cash handed me his car keys and said, “Earl, here’s my keys, please go park my car, (pause) tell me where do I go?”

I pointed Cash to the backstage door and only a few individuals knew he was a little late. Cash took the stage on schedule and sang to a packed house. Chattanooga Police Department Captain Euless Bettis was handling security so I gave him the keys and the officer parked Cash’s car. Cpt. Bettis said when he parked Cash’s car, the radio was playing WDOD and that’s probably how the singer knew my name. I was told he’d stopped to eat a hamburger and drink a coke at George’s Restaurant on Georgia Avenue, a few blocks away from the Tivoli. Several diners said Cash talked with them and signed a few autographs.

Carroll’s book documents several area performances by Cash, including a 1986 Calhoun, Ga. show at “Concerts in the Country.”

Most fans will remember Cash’s 1981 recording of the “Chattanooga City Limits Sign.” Cash was known for his life story experiences, both good and bad. This song tells of a man who had loaned a woman his car and she apparently was in Chattanooga. The man thumbed a ride and was let out on the roadside and arrested. When the man woke up behind bars, he asked the jailer why he was in jail. The jailer responded, “For stopping traffic while hugging and kissing the Chattanooga City Limits sign. Public Works Commissioner Paul Clark presented Cash (a replica) his own Chattanooga City Limits Sign.

The song, written by Bob Drawdy, was released as a single from the Columbia LP, “The Baron” and received a lot of national radio play.

WDEF radio personality Luther Masingill talked on the air with Cash about his visits to Chattanooga and receiving the sign.

In that interview, Cash reflected on his 60’s arrest in North Georgia. Cash gave Sheriff Jones a lot of credit for helping him overcome drug addiction.

Cash sent Luther an autographed copy of “The Baron.” When Luther asked Cash if the song about the Chattanooga City Limits sign was true, Cash responded, “Could have been.”

The world famous singer's daughter, Rosanne Cash, was one of about 100 family members who attended the Washington, D.C. event. She said her dad was a man of powerful Christian faith but respected everyone’s religious beliefs.

Monuments of civil rights leader Daisy Bates and Cash were chosen to replace the statues in the Capitol representing Arkansas.