Legacy deserved

I have been a fan of Johnny Cash since I was about 15, and I still remember the first time I purchased one of his albums -- this was, by the way, in about 1982.

I greatly appreciated your honesty regarding his voice and health condition as of late.

As he has aged, his voice has changed, and yet, he still has great things to say to all of us through his words and his interpretation of what others have written.

James Winker

Freeport, Ill.

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I grew up in Texas, where my brother played Johnny Cash, my dad loved Hank Williams and Jimmy Rodgers, and I usually gravitated toward Bob Dylan records and the old blues redone by the Animals or the Rolling Stones.

Reading your piece on Johnny Cash -- stopping to rest, talking about the Virginia house and his musical plans -- and June Carter Cash -- showing you the graves of her parents, even the vision of her eating cornbread and milk late at night like my own parents used to do -- I came away with a deep regard for this first family of country music.

Your piece was warm, bright and intuitive.

The respect you have for the man, his wife and his legacy is obvious. He has always deserved good things. Thank you for allowing us a glimpse.

John Edmiston

Houston

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Thank you for the article on John and June.

I had the pleasure of working with them on the ABC show for all three seasons and also spent another few years working with John on over 100 commercials for the Standard Oil Co. in the mid-’70s.

The TV show was a most extraordinary experience. Having Eric Clapton and Merle Haggard working in the Ryman Auditorium just couldn’t have happened without the catalyst known as Johnny Cash.

We did the show live before an audience and also played all of the music live -- full orchestra -- no lip sync or singing to a prerecorded track. Unique for it’s time. Thanks again for the update on the Man in Black.

Phil Olsman

Burbank