Chapter 17: Man in Black

Fri, Dec 5, 1969

And now for a Joke.

Queen Elisabeth’s Husband, Prince Philip said to a guy he hated that was at a Party he hosted:

“What are you doing here?”

“I was Invited, Sir.”

“Well you didn’t have to come.”

It was great to Ride Central Park with our Bike Buddies again. They all thought we were lucky to be Learning to Fly.

After Breakfast, we headed to TEB for more Flight Lessons. I was again with Angel, & today we were Flying to the West, mainly in Pennsylvania & Jersey. I even got in my 1st couple Hours True Solo Time. I had some Solo Time before, but the Instructor was with me. He was just a Passenger though, & would step in only if I was messing up.

The more I was around our 4 Instructor Pilots, I knew they were the perfect Partners to start an FBO. Their Hanger was already in the perfect Location at TEB, wedged between the Main N-S Runway 1/19, & the Angled Crosswind Runway, 6/24.

That location would eventually be Developed into a 10 Hanger Complex, pretty much in a Square. It was run by Jet Aviation, a Swiss Company, that handled lots of Airline Service Contracts in Europe. They were founded in 1967, but hadn’t expanded to America yet in 1969.

At TEB, they eventually would become the largest FBO, probably the Biggest in the country. I think they 1st opened at TEB in 1972. I lost count of the amount of Planes parked within the Complex on Bing Map’s Birdseye. There were at least 80, not counting any inside Hangers. Most were Gulfstreams, Cessna Citations, & Prop-Jet Beech King Airs. There were a few small Prop Planes & Helicopters too. They were parked all over, mostly in clumps. Those Parked for a few days were buried behind those Leaving sooner.

I liked the Name Jet Aviation & the way they operated. Since they hadn’t expanded to America yet, I thought I’d reach out for a Partnership. I’d get North America & they could get the rest of Urantia. I’m sure we could help them with Cash Flow too.

I wanted to be Proactive, once again, & start our own FBO. An FBO stands for Fixed Base Operator. It’s basically a Gas Station & Repair Shop for Airplanes. The Planes I was planning on Servicing were the hundreds of Corporate Planes, mostly Jets, that fly in & out of NYC every day & night.

I had dreams of Opening an FBO at every Major A/P, especially those used by Corporate Planes.

We landed back at TEB at 6:30pm, meaning we had to rush to get to a Show at Madison Square Garden that night. I knew it was due to be an historic Show, as the Man in Black, Johnny Cash was performing there. It would be the 1st time a Country Artist had crossed over to a more Mainstream Audience at MSG.

Yuki was waiting for us, as all 4 of us were continuing to Fly the 172’s each day. It didn’t take long to freshen up back at the St Regis, then we headed down to 33rd St at 7th Ave, where MSG was located. It was 2 Blocks West from Harry Helmsley’s Empire State Building, & 1 Block West from Macys. It was where the Rolling Stones Performed Thanksgiving Night.

I had gotten with Martin Scorsese & the USC-5 to Film the Show. I would also use them later that month for the Jimi Hendrix, Band of Gypsys Concerts at the Fillmore East.

I would continue to Film & Record the best Concerts I wanted to be at. Most were from my Record Collection’s Live Albums that I had as Ralf. This time, I wanted to Film them too. Martin assured me the USC-5 were up to speed, & would do a great job from then on without him there. From my working with them nightly during the Stones’ Tour, I thought so too.

We Shot in both Low-Light Color, or in Black & White. We ended up Shooting in both each time. B&W is much Sharper than Low-Light Color, which tends to be Fuzzy. Otherwise, using regular Color Film, you had to really crank up the Spotlights, which made the Performers really sweat. It also killed the Vibe. Sure we did that some each Show to get better Color for a few minutes each Gig, but it was mostly Low-Light or B&W. We always had great Sound, of course.

Johnny Cash loved the idea of Filming the Show, as he was so nervous he probably wouldn’t remember much of it.

Shel Silverstein, 39yo in 1969, who wrote, A Boy Named Sue, was there. I loved the Songs he wrote for Dr Hook, especially, The Cover of Rolling Stone.

Carl Perkins was there, Opening for Johnny, as were the Statler Brothers, & the Carter Family.

The Statler Brothers weren’t brothers, & none named Statler. No, it’s much cooler than that.

They formed in Virginia in 1955, calling themselves, The Kingsmen. But in 1963, a Garage Band from Portland, OR, also named The Kingsmen, hit it big with Louie Louie.

The guys decided to change their name to the Statler Brothers. Where did they come up with their new name? They saw it on an off-brand Tissue Box. It was the Statler Tissue Company.

They guys grew up on Southern Gospel, then combined that with Country. That’s cool, because both tell Stories.

There is a great Scene in the Biopic of Ray Charles, Ray. WW2 had just ended, & he was in the Back of a Greyhound Bus, as in 1945 in the South, where else would he be? Anyway, a Blind Ray hears a few White Soldiers in the Back Row of Seats, Singing while one Strums a Guitar. They can’t remember all the Words to a Country Song, when Ray sings it for them. They invite him to sit with them, asking how he knew a Country Song, as they assumed only Whites would like it.

Ray said, “It’s about the Story, boy. It’s always about the Story. Country Music tells Stories.”

A.P. Carter created a Dynasty with the Carter Family. He wrote, Can the Circle be Unbroken (Bye & Bye), which morphed into, Will the Circle Be Unbroken? Another favorite of mine is his, Gospel Ship. The funniest Title though is, I’ll Aggravate Your Soul.

A.P.’s mom, while pregnant with A.P. inside her, was Struck by Lightning! Both Mom & Fetus survived, but it’s been surmised that is why A.P. had a Tremor in his hand. It didn’t hinder his Fiddle & Guitar playing though. A.P. died in 1960.

June Carter isn’t A.P.’s daughter, but his brother, Ezra’s. Ezra’s Wife was “Mother” Maybelle Carter, & is the Mother of June Carter Cash.

Johnny had tried to date June for awhile, but she rebuffed his attentions. She finally saw the Scared, Little Boy, in Johnny, which broke her resistance to him. She was told by the other Carter Family members that Johnny was bad news, which he was, but she didn’t care. The Family finally came around & embraced Johnny. I think his success may have helped their attitude some.

Johnny would get Strung Out on Amphetamines & Barbiturates though, finally beating them & Booze. In 1969, I’m pretty sure he was still using though.

Uppers & Downers. It’ll keel ‘ya.

“Mother” Maybelle Carter, 60yo in 1969, developed a unique Guitar Style, which she called Chicken Scratch. She was also the 1st to use the Guitar as a Lead Instrument, as before, Guitars were part of the Orchestra, but not Featured.

Before they Invented Electric Guitars, it was hard to hear Guitars amongst Horns, Drums, etc. Since the Guitar evolved from previous Stringed Instruments, the goal was always to make it Louder, Louder & even more Louder please.

Maybelle’s unique Style had her using her Thumb on the Bass Strings, Playing the Melody; while using her Index Finger to fill out the Rhythm.

Carl Perkins was 37yo in 1969, having been born in Tiptonville, TN. He’s been called the King of Rockabilly. He’s best known for, Blue Suede Shoes & Honey Don’t.

His Family were Sharecroppers, which meant they were pretty much Slaves. Carl started working long days in the Cotton Fields at 6yo!

They were so poor, when he begged for a Guitar, his dad made him one from a Cigar Box. After a neighbor saw it, he gave Carl an old, worn out Gene Autry Guitar. Carl loved it though, playing it until the Strings would Break.

He couldn’t afford new strings, which caused him to Tie them together! There were so many Knots, he started to cut his Fingers on the Knotted Strings. This caused him to create a unique style of Playing. To avoid sliding his Fingers along the Strings like many do, he started to just reach in & Pluck or Pick an individual String, as well as Bend it. He could mimic a Pedal Steel Guitar, too.

Another thing he did was called, Palm Muting. This had you place the Side of your Hand across the Strings very near the Bridge, then Picking individual Strings. This Muted the sound.

Carl wrote, Let Me Take You to the Movie, Magg. Sam Phillips heard it & Signed Carl to a Record Deal. That was at Sun Records in Memphis, TN.

There is a famous, poor quality recording of 4 young greats, Tue, Dec 4, 1956. It inspired a Broadway Musical, The Million Dollar Quartet. Elvis Presley had left Sun Records by then, but had popped in to say hi. He did still live in Memphis, so I can see him doing that.

At Sun that day were 3 young guys, just about to pop. They were, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis & Johnny Cash.

Johnny Cash was 37yo in 1969. He was born in Kingsland, Ark. His opening greeting is famous. Do you remember it? OK, it’s, “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash.” I Know, original, but he did it in his Deep Southern Drawl.

His Come-Back Album, Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison, happened the previous year, Fr, Jan 13, 1968. It was Released, Mon, May 6, 1968. Johnny had to fight his Record Label to Release it, as everyone said it would Ruin his Career. Johnny just knew it was the way to go though & he was proven right. He didn’t Ruin it, but he did Resurrect it!

By Dec, 1969, he had reached a level of acclaim, to chance Selling Out MSG.

We were able to go Backstage to meet Johnny. It turned out Johnny was a big Baseball Fan, & was as happy to meet me, as me him. When we asked about his wife, June Carter Cash, we were told she was home, Pregnant. Ali had wanted to meet her.

For the Concert, Johnny did it different than most, as he mixed his Opening Acts throughout the Show, often having them Sing with Johnny & the Tennessee 3.

The Tennessee 3, were Johnny’s Band. They had been with him from the beginning. They had met at the Gas Station in Memphis where they all worked. Johnny met them when he got out of the Air Force in 1954, as his brother Roy worked there too.

Johnny Cash said he was the 1st American to hear that Joe Stalin was dead. He was a Morse Code Operator, in West Germany, where he Listened to Russian Morse Code Messages. He heard an internal Russian Message saying that Uncle Joe was Dead. I guess Morse Code is the same in any language.

Luther Perkins, 41yo in 1969, was from Como, MS. He has no relation to Carl Perkins. His dad was a Baptist Preacher. Luther played Rhythm Guitar, & helped create Johnny’s Trademark Boom-Chicka-Boom Style. He had a Simple, Sparsely Embellished Rhythm Style. He had taught himself, on an Electric Fender Esquire Guitar.

Marshall Grant, 41yo in 1969, was from Bryson, NC. He was 1 of 12 Brothers & Sisters. Just love that Rhythm Method. He Played Stand-Up Bass, then an Electric Bass.

W.S. “Fluke” Holland, 34yo in 1969, was from Saltillo, TN. He Played Drums with Carl Perkins, before switching to Johnny’s Band, completing the Tennessee 3. He got his nickname “Fluke” in 1954, when he Drummed on Carl Perkins’ Let Me Take You to the Movie, Magg, in the Sun Recording Studio in Memphis, just two days after starting to play the drums!. He was the Drummer on Carl Perkins’ 1955 Hit, Blue Suede Shoes. He was there during the The Million Dollar Quartet Session too, in 1956. He became Johnny Cash’s Drummer in 1960.

“Hello, Im Johnny Cash,” was the start of Tonights Concert, leading into:

Big River.

I Still Miss Someone

He talks about the time the Mississippi River Flooded his Home as a kid. When the Cash’s got back home after the Flood, it had inside it at least, 3 Feet of Mud, Chickens, Pigs, Dogs, & 9 Bullfrogs. That led into Five Feet High & Rising.

Pickin’ Time. He dedicates it to his Father, Ray Cash, who was in the Audience. It must have been a thrill to see Johnny up on Madison Square Garden’s Stage.

Remember the Alamo

Johnny told the crowd of his recent Tour of Vietnam. In response to a question, “Did that make him a Hawk?” His response was, “No, but it makes me a Dove with Claws!” That led into:

Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream, one of the all time great Protest Songs against War’s stupidity.

Wreck of the Old ‘97. I was a Railroad Man as Ralf, so it always sends chills down my spine.

The Long Black Veil. A great song about a guy who goes to the Gallows, instead of confessing to “Having been in the arms of my Best Friends Wife.”

The Wall

Send a Picture of Mother

Folsom Prison Blues. Johnny wrote it while Stationed in West Germany in 1953. He had just seen the 1951 Film, Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison.

He came up with the Line, I Shot a Man In Reno, Just to Watch Him Die, by thinking of what could be the worst thing to have done to be on Death Row for.

He 1st Recorded it at Sun Records, Memphis, TN, Jul 30, 1955. He did it without a Drummer! He instead Mimicked a Snare Drum, by weaving a Dollar Bill between his Guitar Strings, then tapping it to make a Snare Sound. Who would thunk it! At Madison Square Garden, he was with his longtime Drummer, W.S. “Fluke” Holland though.

Blue Suede Shoes Carl Perkins performed his masterpiece

Flowers on the Wall

Wildwood Flower. I always think Wildwood Weed & not Flower. “Mother” Maybelle Carter sang it with all her best Twang too.

Worried Man Blues

A Boy Named Sue. Shel’s best song. You should hear his own sequel though, but now from Sue’s point of view!

Cocaine Blues. Never a bad version, but Johnny lays into it, embracing it.

Jesus Was a Carpenter. I love the song, especially Johnny’s telling us that it was Christopher Wren’s 1st ever song. It tells a great story.

The Ballad of Ira Hayes. The sad plight of a Native American.

As Long as the Grass Shall Grow. Let it Grow! Reefer that is.

Sing a Traveling Song. Ya’ gotta Sing.

He Turned the Water into Wine. Johnny is great at “Just the Facts Ma’am.” He tells a good story, very clear messages.

Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord? Glad I didn’t get Popped Back That far!

Daddy Sang Bass. How Deep can You go?

Finale Medley: Do What You Do, Do Well>I Walk The Line>Ring of Fire>Folsom Prison Blues>The Rebel-Johnny Yuma>Folsom Prison Blues

Suppertime.

“Thank You NY, I take my hat off to ‘ya. June told me to tell you, that she apologizes for not being here, but she’s home with a new member of the family, due Mar 10, 1970.”

Johnny pulled it off! 20,000 + Fans were lucky to have been there, as Johnny that night crossed over into Mainstream.

We Hosted Johnny & his Band, the Tennessee 3, as well as the Carter Family, The Statler Brothers, Carl Perkins, & Shel Silverstein, at the St Regis.

All were on top of the world at the reception they had just gotten. Everyone knew that Johnny had just made it, as he would now be listed on a number of Charts, not just Country.

“We got both kinds, we have Country, but we also have Western too.”

Sat, Dec 6, 1969

We all got up early, Riding Central Park with my buddies again. Johnny & Crew went with us, then they traveled on.

Michael Lang called, asking if I had time today to scope out PTR’s new HQ in the Brill Building. He was also setting up BS Studios, NYC, there too. He said the Tall Ceilings were perfect. He was basing the new Studios around Studio J, already built. All the Edit Rooms worked fine too.

Bill Graham, Michael & Roger Lang, Ali & I spent the day, dividing up the Floor for Offices & Studios. We all couldn’t wait to work out of it.

Sun, Dec 7, 1969 (Pearl Harbour Day)

After a great extra long Bike around the Park, we just relaxed for the day. Actually, I got with Harry Helmsley & B-G.

I asked Harry if he would Partner with me in a new Real Estate Investment Company. I wanted to call it H&M Investments. The H&M stood for Harry & Me.

I couldn’t wait any longer to snatch up some fantastic Properties around Urantia. I guaranteed him all Properties would be huge in just a short time.

Harry gladly Partnered with me. He’d Front the Cash, with me Repaying him my 50% ASAP, in Mar, 1970. That’s when my 1st Big Win would Premier, the Woodstock Film.

I also went to see B-G. By now he had a relationship with both Yuki & Suki. Hey, who am I to judge. I thought the world of all 3.

I had remembered a Weekly Podcast from my favorite Comedian, Australian Jim Jefferies. His Podcast is called, I Don’t Know About That. I highly encourage all to watch it. He has well over 100 Episodes, all of them fun. Like some of my Readers, I also get bummed if he misses a Week or it’s a Short Episode. I’m addicted to it. Every week he has to guess the weeks Topic, giving hilarious, often crude answers. He’s had on Richard Hawkins about Evolution. Jay Leno on Cars. Watch those 1st.