The Johnny Cash Connection

 Mike Horan has been a devoted Johnny Cash fan since the 1960s. While his friends were listening to the Beatles, Mike was listening to the Man in Black and his legendary recordings at Folsom and San Quentin prisons. Over the years, he saw Cash in concert nearly 50 times, including a memorable 1999 performance at New York City’s Manhattan Center.

Mike also had the privilege of meeting Cash on several occasions. As a young boy, he met Johnny outside his driveway as he was leaving with June Carter. Years later, while working for a radio station, Mike had the opportunity to sit backstage and simply talk with the man whose music had meant so much to him.

That lifelong admiration led Mike to create one of the early websites honoring Johnny Cash recognized by Yahoo Online as one of the best on the web.. He later became a featured DJ for an online radio show on JohnnyCash.com, sharing favorite recordings and lesser-known gems with a listening audience of more than half a million people. When the Johnny Cash Museum was being established, Mike spent a year in Nashville helping set up its technology—bringing his knowledge and enthusiasm to a place dedicated to preserving Cash’s legacy.

Along the way, Mike developed friendships with members of Cash’s longtime musical family, including Bob Wootton, W.S. Holland, and Earl Poole Ball, and had the thrill of performing with them several times. Playing alongside the musicians behind that unmistakable sound was something he never took for granted. W.S. Holland became an especially close and dear friend. Before his decades as Cash’s drummer, Holland played with Carl Perkins at Sun Studio, including on the classic “Blue Suede Shoes.”

In 2005, Mike organized a special three-day event in Memphis, Tennessee, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two’s first record release. Fans traveled from around the world to share their love of Cash’s music and honor this milestone. The celebration featured performances by members of Cash’s band and his brother, Tommy Cash, with Cash family members also attending. One of Mike’s most memorable moments was sitting in with the band and performing alongside Tommy—a special opportunity to celebrate the music that had inspired him throughout his life.

Another unforgettable highlight was recording at Sun Studio himself, standing in the historic room associated with Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and B.B. King. For Mike, it was a powerful connection to the music that had inspired him since childhood.

It’s always a special night when Mike gets to play a few Johnny Cash tunes. Be sure to request your favorites—they’ll go straight to the top of his list!

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