Johnny Cash

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Lore & Background

Johnny Cash's presence at the December 4, 1956 session has been a matter of discussion. Colin Escott reports that according to attendee Bob Johnson, Cash joined Presley, Perkins and Lewis on "Blueberry Hill" and "Isle Of Golden Dreams." This was confirmed by Carl Perkins in a 1972 interview, who stated they did songs including "Blueberry Hill," "Island Of Golden Dreams," "I Won't Have to Cross the Jordan Alone," "The Old Rugged Cross," "Peace in the Valley," "Tutti Frutti," and "Big Boss Man"—of which only "Peace in the Valley" has been released. Cash wrote in his autobiography that he was the first to arrive and the last to leave, contrary to what has been written. Other reports, including one in Peter Guralnick's book Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley, suggest Cash stayed for only a short time and then left, possibly to do some Christmas shopping. Colin Escott also reports that Cash might have been brought in for the last part of the session, after Sam Phillips had decided to call the Memphis Press Scimitar.

In Their Own Story

Cash wrote in his autobiography Cash that he had been first to arrive at the Sun Studio that day, wanting to listen in on the Perkins recording session. Carl Perkins and others have stated that Cash was already at the studios when Presley arrived, with Perkins adding that Cash had stopped into the studios to "get some money." Cash himself, in his 1997 book Cash: The Autobiography, commented: "I was there—I was the first to arrive and the last to leave, contrary to what has been written—but I was just there to watch Carl record, which he did until mid-afternoon, when Elvis came in with his girlfriend. At that point the session stopped and we all started laughing and cutting up together. Then Elvis sat down at the piano, and we started singing gospel songs we all knew, then some Bill Monroe songs. Elvis wanted to hear songs Bill had written besides 'Blue Moon of Kentucky', and I knew the whole repertoire. So, again contrary to what some people have written, my voice is on the tape. It's not obvious, because I was farthest away from the mic and I was singing a lot higher than I usually did in order to stay in key with Elvis, but I guarantee you, I'm there."

Reader's Guide

His voice does not seem to appear on any of the released tracks from the Million Dollar Quartet session. The point at which Cash arrived has been a matter of discussion. Colin Escort reports that according to attendee Bob Johnson, Cash joined Presley, Perkins and Lewis on "Blueberry Hill" and "Isle Of Golden Dreams." Cash's presence for the entire session might be confirmed or denied by four pieces of "chatter" caught on the tapes. In his liner notes to The Survivors Live, a 1982 album that reunited Cash, Lewis and Perkins, Cash claims that Elvis performed "This Train is Bound for Glory" and "Vacation in Heaven" during the 1956 session, but neither track has surfaced.

Did You Know?

• Cash wrote in his autobiography that he was the first to arrive at Sun Studio on December 4, 1956, wanting to listen in on the Perkins recording session.
• Cash's voice does not appear on any of the released tracks from the Million Dollar Quartet session, though he insisted he is on the tape singing high to stay in key with Elvis.
• According to attendee Bob Johnson, Cash joined Presley, Perkins and Lewis on 'Blueberry Hill' and 'Isle Of Golden Dreams' during the session.
• In his liner notes to The Survivors Live (1982), Cash claimed Elvis performed 'This Train is Bound for Glory' and 'Vacation in Heaven' during the 1956 session, but neither track has surfaced.
• Cash wrote in his autobiography that 'no one wanted to follow Jerry Lee, not even Elvis.'