(Johnny Cash official website) - At the U.S. premiere of the
Johnny Cash biopic, 'Walk the Line,' in New York City on November 13, 2005, the black carpet included many country stars and music legends including The Tennessee Three- Johnny Cash's original band. W.S. Holland (drums) and Bob Wootton (guitar), the legendary band members, got their chance to view the biopic for the first time. Although skeptical about what they would see, the two men who have made it their life's work to be the men and music behind the man in black were pleasantly surprised with the film.
The film tells the love story between Johnny Cash and country sweetheart June Carter, played by Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon, directed by James Mangold. Bob Wootton and W. S. Holland (of TN3) maintained a 30-year plus relationship with Johnny Cash and were thrilled to be invited to attend the NYC film premiere at New York's Beacon Theater.
'I went into the screening as the world's biggest critic, but I walked out as a fan,' says Bob Wootton, whom provided the famous boom chucka boom sound that made Cash's music known worldwide. 'The film did not use The Tennessee Three for the music, so I was not sure what to expect. I was surprised at how good the music was in the film- Joaquin did a great job. The performances gave me chills.'
W.S. Holland who remained Johnny's drummer and road manager up until the day he retired in 1997, adds, 'There were some parts of the film that were out of sequence, but overall it was a great film.'
The Tennessee Three played from one end of the world to the other with Johnny Cash. They have played for royalty in foreign countries, to command performances for four standing presidents, to Folsom and San Quinton prisons. They were the first country artists to take their show to Carnegie Hall. Without question, for decades Johnny Cash and his band, The Tennessee Three, have been one of the most popular music groups in history.
It is without a doubt that Johnny Cash would want W.S. Holland (drums) and Bob Wootton (vocals, guitars) to carry on the legacy of the unique sound and keep the show alive on the road. That is exactly what they have done, even though after Johnny's death they never did have the intention of playing again. The fans still wanted that 'Johnny Cash' sound and so The Tennessee Three resumed their touring career. They now travel around the world, bringing the same style of show, even to the point of keeping Johnny's chair on stage with the black Fender guitar on it that he used to play. In July 2004 W.S and Bob went into to the studios to record an album titled appropriately, We Still Miss Someone. It is a treasure trove of timeless Johnny Cash hits and features many of the hits on which they both instrumentally created, as well as a few original songs.
Their next album, Guaranteed Cash, is due out in stores February 2006. No doubt there will be many tributes to the late and great Johnny Cash, but The Tennessee Three is a legendary experience and a concert with the original sound that changed the history of music.
