In 1954, while Johnny was serving in the U.S. Air Force in Germany, he made a 78 recording for Vivian and mailed it to her… and today it has been unveiled on spinner.com / AOLMusic…. definitely check it out!

On one side of the record, Johnny tenderly speaks to Vivian, professing his love for her… and on the other side, he plays his guitar and sings a song (ironically, a song put out at that time by Carl Smith - who was married to June Carter at the time!). The recording has never been made public until now.

Click here to listen to both sides of the recording.

Hi all,
Remember the San Antonio RiverWalk bench where Johnny carved “Johnny Loves Vivian” in the seat…. the one that the City of San Antonio promised to give to Vivian, and then changed their minds and locked it away in a warehouse? Well, Tuesday night in my own tribute to Johnny and Viv, I defaced ANOTHER public sitting place (with the exact same sentiment - “JOHNNY LOVES VIVIAN”). Let me explain…

Night before last, I had the pleasure of spending the evening at a (terrific!) bookstore in Blytheville Arkansas called “That Bookstore in Blytheville” (John Grisham’s favorite bookstore, by the way) to talk about and sign “I Walked the Line.”

Among the attendees was the mayor of Dyess, the town where Johnny grew up (and it’s pronounced “Dice”… not “Dy-ess” I’m told)… as well as several of Johnny’s fans and people working hard to preserve Johnny’s history in the area, and also women just plain interested in Vivian’s story. Anyway, we all had a wonderful discussion of the book, of Johnny and Vivian, of Johnny’s long career, his growing up in “DICE”… and also got to talking about the San Antonio bench. At the end of the evening, with everyone’s support and encouragement (including the Mayor!) with a magic marker, I wrote in all CAPS on the front of one of their chairs, “JOHNNY LOVES VIVIAN.” I don’t think THIS ONE will be locked away!

Appearance at the Davis-Kidd in Memphis. 6pm

Perkins Road Extended
Memphis, Tennessee

Appearance at David-Kidd in Green Hills with Kathy Cash. 6pm

The Mall in Green Hills
Nashville, Tennessee

I’ve received dozens of emails from those of you who appreciated Kathy Cash’s comments on Amazon’s review section (in response to one ugly post - that has since been removed, by the way). I will be sure to pass along your thoughts and comments to her, and I know she will appreciate them! I am just as proud of her, as you are. She has always been unwavering in her support of her mother, and doing the right thing. Kathy’s comment:

Kathleen Cash-Tittle (Tennessee) - See all my reviewsOkay, I realize you may think I’m prejudiced, but I WAS THERE and also lived this story. (more…)

Here’s a “hello” out to Amazon.com users out there, as we go live on AmazonConnect! Let’s see if this thing really works…

Just returned home tonight from Phoenix where last night I was at the most fantastic bookstore I’ve been to in a long while… Changing Hands bookstore in Tempe AZ. Definitely go out of your way to visit this store, if you’re ever passing through the area. It’s well worth it! I’m a connoisseur of stores and shopping… trust me. Anyway, the books, the store, the management, and the visitors to my “talk” were the best. Several of you who were there last night promised to stay in touch with me here on this site. Thanks! I’m looking forward to hearing from all of you! Gotta go get some much-needed sleep now… zzzzz

Of all the music-related memoirs due this fall (the release date is Tuesday), Vivian Cash’s is liable to be the most surprising. With abundant evidence to make her case, Vivian Cash, the first wife of Johnny Cash, explains how her role in his life was expunged by the mythology that sprung up around him. Her book, put together with the help of Ann Sharpsteen, vehemently corrects the impression created by “people of the Nashville mind-set, who prefer that I be written out of Johnny’s history altogether..” (more…)

Advance praise for “I Walked the Line: My Life with Johnny” by Vivian Cash

“We all thought we knew everything about Johnny Cash, but this book clearly reveals more secrets than ever before. In an age of email and IMs it is sweet to read the tender love letters a heartsore young man wrote to his very young girlfriend. They are full of tenderness and sweetness and caring. It is sad to see how once success, alcohol, and drugs enter the picture, everything changes. We live through the heartaches of their shattered marriage, his addictions, and a turbulent life. Vivian, the first lover and wife of this musical legend, tells the tale in a powerful way, and I am sure that all the readers will get as much from reading it as I did.” — Ivana Trump (more…)