Notebook

Johnny Cash, 71, Legendary Songwriter and Performer

John R. Cash died in Nashville on September 12 at the age of 71. The passing of Johnny Cash, after a nearly fifty-year career, was a staggering loss to American music. Cash represented to his countrymen, and to much of the world, what America sounds like. An unforgettable performer, Cash was also a songwriter who created numerous classics, including "Folsom Prison Blues," "Big River," "Don't Take Your Guns to Town," and his longtime signature song, "I Walk the Line."

The Kingsland, Arkansas native rose from an impoverished childhood picking cotton to become a superstar. He began writing songs during service in Europe in the U.S. Air Force. Upon his return to the states, Cash married and settled in Memphis. With a band he put together, Cash successfully auditioned for Sam Philips' Sun Records and, by 1955, enjoyed the first in a string of country and rockabilly hits for Sun, "Cry, Cry, Cry." Other early Sun hits would include "Get Rhythm," "Hey, Porter," "Folsom Prison Blues," and "I Walk the Line." In 1958, Cash began a 28 year association with Columbia Records, where he recorded albums of country, gospel, folk, patriotic songs and rock & roll. In the 1960's, Cash began touring with Maybelle Carter and her three daughters, Helen, Anita and June. He married June in 1968 after she helped him overcome substance abuse problems. Their relationship was known as one of the great love stories in country music. She wrote (with Merle Kilgore) the song, "Ring of Fire" about her romance with Johnny, which became one of his greatest hits. She and Cash also scored a major hit with their duet rendition of Billy Edd Wheeler's "Jackson."

Over the years, Johnny Cash would eagerly champion songs by country outsiders, including American Indian folk artist Peter LaFarge, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen and Bono. He hosted the fondly-remembered network variety program, "The Johnny Cash Show" in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, where his opening line, "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash" and black clothes became legend. Two of his former sons-in-law, Rodney Crowell and Marty Stuart have become major country performers and songwriters, as has his daughter Rosanne Cash.

Johnny Cash was a regular presence on the country charts throughout the '60s and ‘70s. In the 1980's, Cash began participating in the on-and-off country supergroup, The Highwaymen, with fellow icons Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and the late Waylon Jennings. And in 1994, after several years of recording uncertainty and flagging sales, Cash enjoyed a popular and critical revival when he signed with rock/rap producer Rick Rubin's American label for a series of stripped down, high-quality recordings that resonated with a multi-generational audience. Cash was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was the recipient of eleven Grammy Awards.

On his passing, ASCAP President Marilyn Bergman said, "Johnny Cash was among the greatest of all American singers and songwriters and one of the most instantly identifiable entertainers of the past 50 years. His songs and performances touched millions of individuals from every walk of life. Johnny may have been best known as a Country artist, but his music cut across genre and generational lines to encompass Folk, Gospel and Rock, as well as fans of all ages. The world of American music has lost a true giant."

June Carter Cash, 73, Songwriter and Performer

Country music great June Carter Cash passed away on May 15, 2003 at the age of 73 in Nashville from complications following cardiac surgery. She gained fame as the wife and collaborator of Johnny Cash, and as a member of the illustrious Carter Family. Less known was the fact that June was a talented songwriter and multi-instrumentalist in her own right, as well as a Grand Ole Opry comic and film and TV actress. As a songwriter, her most enduring composition (co-written with Merle Kilgore) is "Ring of Fire," a song inspired by her romance with Johnny Cash. Originally recorded by June's sister, Anita Carter, "Ring of Fire" became one of the biggest career hits for Johnny Cash in 1963, reaching #1 on the Country chart and #17 in Pop. Other notable June Carter titles include "The Kneeling Drunkard's Plea," a 1960 hit for the Louvin Brothers, and "Wall to Wall Love," a hit for Bob Gallion.

June Carter Cash was born to a musical heritage -- her mother was Maybelle, an original member of the Carter Family, whose historic recordings remain a cornerstone of country music. June and her sisters joined their mother on tour in the ‘40s following the original group's break-up. A multi-instrumentalist, June specialized in the autoharp and served as the act's resident comedian. The Carters became regulars on the Grand Ole Opry, where June met her future husband, Johnny Cash in 1956. In the early 1950s, she married country star Carl Smith. Before that marriage ended in divorce, it produced future country singer-songwriter Carlene Carter. June's 1968 marriage to Johnny Cash resulted in the birth of John Carter Cash, a songwriter, performer and record producer, who produced his mother's final album, Wildwood Flower (Dualtone), released this past summer to great critical acclaim.

ASCAP Latin Heritage Award Winner Celia Cruz, 77

Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Rita Moreno and Edward James Olmos at the Seventh Annual Latin Music Awards in 1999 where Cruz was honored with the prestigeous Latin Heritage Award.

Celia Cruz, the Grammy-winning queen of Latin music, died July 16, 2003, at her home in Fort Lee, N.J. She was 77. She was one of Latin music's most vibrant and influential artists with over 70 albums, including this year's Hits Mix, which hit No. 1 on Billboard's Top Tropical/Salsa Albums.

The Cuban-born singer had the charisma and pizzazz that could instantly light up any room with her powerful, raspy voice, sparkling outfits, and her trademark exclamation, "Azucar!" ("Sugar!"). Her infinite talent has earned her many honorary titles, including the Queen of Salsa, the Queen of Mambo, and the Queen of Latin Music.

Her numerous awards and honors include a Yale University doctorate, Grammy awards and nominations, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a statue in the Hollywood Wax Museum, and a major Miami street named "Celia Cruz Way" in her honor. One of her outfits is in the Smithsonian's permanent collection - a testament to her highly distinctive, outrageous sense of style, and she also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Smithsonian Institute. In 1994, Cruz was bestowed an award from the National Endowment of Arts by President Bill Clinton.

In 1999, ASCAP also honored Cruz with the Latin Heritage Award, one of the Society's most prestigious awards, celebrating her enormous contributions to Latin music and her tremendous success in introducing her wonderful music to millions of fans around the globe.

"Music is the only gift I have that was given to me by God," Cruz told ASCAP in 1999 when she received the Latin Heritage Award. "Unless He takes it away, I will continue to share my gift with everyone. It is what gives me pleasure. It is what brings me happiness. And that is my purpose in life."

Benny Carter, 95, Jazz Giant

Benny Carter, composer, arranger, bandleader, solo artist, music educator and one of the world's most respected jazz musicians, passed away on July 12, 2003, at age 95. He was among the last survivors of a jazz generation that also included Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Coleman Hawkins.

Throughout his amazing career of 80 years, Carter's talent was both vast and diverse. A distinguished artist on many instruments, Carter mastered the trumpet, clarinet, saxophone, piano and trombone. He was also well known as a musical mentor to many of the players who followed him into jazz.

The New York City-born Carter was inspired to pursue music by his neighbor, Bubber Miley, a trumpeter in Duke Ellington's band. Benny studied piano with his mother, and taught himself how to play the saxophone at age 13. By the time he was 15, Carter was already playing with bands in Harlem. Four years later, he landed a gig playing with Charlie Johnson's band at Smalls' Paradise in Harlem. In the ensuing years, Carter contributed arrangements to the orchestras led by Fletcher Henderson and Duke Ellington, served as leader of the notable McKinney's Cotton Pickers and his own big bands and played all over Britain and Europe. The 1930s found Carter creating many of the compositions and arrangements that became classics of the Swing Era, including "Blues in My Heart," "When Lights Are Low" and "Lonesome Nights."

In the early 1940s, he challenged himself even further by becoming a composer of film music. With the advent of his scoring career, Carter joined ASCAP in 1942 and quickly became an active and generous member of the Society. His film contributions include scoring and arranging for Stormy Weather (in which he also performed), The Snows of Kilimanjaro and The Flower Drum Song. Later in the 50s, Carter also began to score television shows, most notably, "M Squad," "Banyon" and "Ironside."

His stellar and impressive work in jazz, film and television music earned Carter numerous accolades including two Grammy Awards, induction into the Big Band and Jazz Halls of Fame and the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor.

Carter was the first Living Legend to be inducted into ASCAP's Jazz Wall of Fame, which was inaugurated in 1997. At the time, ASCAP President Marilyn Bergman said, "Carter is a giant in the world of jazz, and a major figure in film and television scoring ... A brilliant saxophonist, trumpeter, arranger and composer, the grace and poise of Benny Carter's music is matched only by his personal demeanor."

ASCAP DISTRIBUTIONS THROUGH NOVEMBER 2003

September 18 - Publishers' Quarterly BCO* Distribution for 1Q2003 performances

October 9 - Writers' Quarterly BCO* Distribution for 1Q2003 performances

November 20 - Writers' and Publishers International Distribution

*BCO: Domestic performances of Broadcast, Cable and Other surveyed media. Please note: dates are subject to change