In 1963 Johnny Cash had two major hits: "When I Walk The Line" and "Ring of Fire." But a year later when he tried to get airplay on what could arguably be called the first "concept album," few if any radio stations would play any songs from "Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian." According to Stephen Pevar of the ACLU, "When Cash learned of all the opposition, he made it his mission to get the record out there. He bought back thousands of copies of the record, penned a protest letter that he placed as an ad in Billboard magazine, stuffed the letter inside each record, and traveled around the country hand delivering the record to radio stations and asking them to give it a chance. A line from the opening paragraph from the letter says it all: 'DJs, station managers, owners, etc., where are your guts?'”
One of those songs called "Drums" inspired the picture above. I believe those "drums beyond the mountain" are beaten by the New Seminole, their sound rising with the smoke from the burning Everglades.
One of those songs called "Drums" inspired the picture above. I believe those "drums beyond the mountain" are beaten by the New Seminole, their sound rising with the smoke from the burning Everglades.
To read the inspiring article and to understand the times Cash lived in (which sadly aren't that much different from today since the rise of Trump and his Repug enablers), please click here.
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