Johnny Cash Pleases Army of SPAC Fans

by Marilyn Nason, The Post-Star, June 21, 1971

Revival Time

It was revival time at Saratoga Performing Arts Center with the Johnny Cash Show Saturday night and more than 8,000 adoring fans of every age had a whale of a time.

If the worst depression ever hit the U.S., Cash could still pack a house at any ticket price, that’s the way his public
quite definitely feels as demonstrated Saturday night.

Talent Packed

The show, whether you are a country and western fan or not, was terrific, fast-tempoed, diverse and packed with super talent.

As has become the familiar pattern at SPAC in recent years with “name” performers, the entire first half of the show
was a potpourri of other acts, including Carl Perkins, “Blue Suede Shoes” man; Mother Maybelle Carter and daughters, Anita and Helen, and the Statler Brothers, all backed by the Tennessee Three.

As for the Statler Brothers, this quartet of young men was excellent, well worthy of having won four Grammy Awards recently.

As the second half started, Cash came onstage in his familiar black pants and black overblouse shirt, reminding his audience pointedly that “I’m the Man in Black, ” in song and comment, citing his views on Vietnam, segregation, prisons and the like.

To call Cash a showman is an understatement. He worked steadily for well over an hour, never lessening the tempo, doing all the expected tunes for which he is famous, many his own composition.

He introduced his wife, June Carter, dressed in a long white lace gown with tight, shirred waistline, and the Steve and Edye began. They work beautifully together.

Cash also introduced ex-Folsom prisoner for 14 years, Glen Shirley, who, Cash feels, is destined for stardom. Shirley proved a competent singer and guitarist at his best when he offered his own songs, *Greystone Chapel” and “Portrait of My Woman.”

Once Cash brought the entire troupe on stage, the spirituals and hymn sing began and this was by far the highlight of the show.

The best single number I have ever heard in six years of SPAC was “How Shall I Send Thee, Children?” done at whirlwind tempo, infectious and toe-tapping and lasting some 10 minutes as a single production number.

It brought down the house and Cash followed it with a clincheras closing number, “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Who could ask for more?

Cash did no encores but nary a customer felt shortchanged; Cash had given a full show and there’s little doubt he’ll be asked back another year at SPAC