Memories and Rosanne Cash's Inauguration Story

In January of 2009, as Barack Obama's inauguration approached, Rosanne Cash posted an article on Measure for Measure (How to Write a Song and Other Mysteries), a music blog from The New York Times.  Measure for Measure is now dormant, but you can still find Rosanne's wonderful and touching story on line, which features her father, Johnny Cash, as much as the inauguration.  The blog archive also contains pieces from other contributors such as Andrew Bird, Suzanne Vega, and Peter Holsapple.

In response to Rosanne's story, I posted the following comment, slightly edited here:

February 13, 2009 4:21 pm Link
Rosanne:
Read this on Inauguration Day. Tears. As so many have said, wonderfully written, evocative, from the heart.

Made me think of:

God only knows how many males have a crush on EmmyLou. I know there is Steve Earle’s story in the liner notes to one of his earlier recordings about singing with her on the album and sharing a hamburger and never being the same after.
Years ago, when we are all so much younger, she came to Baltimore and sang a couple songs in namesake part of a building called The Rotunda, to promote one of her early albums for a record store. Never the same after. Not that long after I remember buying the record “Seven Year Ache” at the same store (and I mean “record”; still have it). Never the same after that either.

A year or so ago, I heard a radio story about someone in Maryland who made reel to reel tape recordings of concerts in the 1950s. He still has the tapes, I think. In one of the interviews, he recalled how down to earth the whole thing was. Just a flat bed truck somewhere for the stage. Folks all brought food and had a picnic dinner. After they finished performing, the musicians, who included your father, would all come out and meet the audience and have something to eat.

Thanks for sharing.
— Robert Young