Supporting Age Concern/Age UK in Essex
Johnny Cashbox - A Man In Black
Johnny Cashbox is a tribute to an american icon. After Johnny Cash died on 12th September 2003 Ralph started receiving more requests for songs originally associated with "The Man in Black" than any other artist in country music Although Johnny Cash had performed solo over the years it was the unique style of his recordings with the Tennessee Three that most people think of as being the authentic Cash sound.
Even as a one-man band, (albeit with occasional backing from a modelling amplifier), Cashbox produces a full well rounded sound. These are honest interpretations, not impersonations.
"Johnny Cash was a unique and wonderful artist, who to me personifies in all the positive ways what it means to be an American. We each have our own struggles and I can identify with his empathy for the unvoiced and disadvantaged, but possess neither his voice or his physical appearence. Rather I hope to capture something of the essence of what Johnny Cash symbolises; if you like by paying homage to a great artist rather than by trying to copy his work slavishly. "
In 1960, Johnny Cashbox became the youngest Sheriff in the country 
These sentiments are borne out in the various interpretations of Cash's work.
For example, Cashbox's version of "Folsom Prison Blues", is driven by a percussive telecaster sound weaving in, out and on top of the of the drumbeat and really nails the song.
In contrast, "I Walk The Line", complete with five key changes, often accompanied only by a Martin acoustic places Cashbox's rich bass-baritone centre stage, each verse revealing a different timbre to the voice and complimenting the lyric perfectly.
Similarly "A Thing Called Love" features a deep vocal peformance with subtle reverb and delay added only to the guitar part giving the song a soft sentimental feel.
"Sometimes I perform with just an acoustic guitar and no amplification whatesoever. On other occasions I am singing through the house PA with my guitar amp turned up high. You have to be practical and versatile, so I tend to keep the effects down to a minimum."
Johnny Cashbox "Man In Black" CD 2005
Track Listing :
1) Man In Black, 2) Folsom Prison Blues, 3) Walk The Line, 4) Ring Of Fire, 5) A Boy Named Sue, 6) A Thing Called Love, 7) Cry Cry Cry , 8) Hey Porter, 9) Get Rhythm, 10) Ghost Riders In The Sky, 11) I Still Miss Someone, 12) Highwayman & A Man In Black (Sampler album - not available for purchase)
Most of Cashbox's gigs take place in clubs, day centres and small theatres where audiences generally like to hear a clear strong vocal with the musical backing at a sensible volume. This suits the "less is more" philosophy of both Johnny Cash and Johnny Cashbox.
Cashbox the guitar slinger, live in Colchester, May 2009
There are occasions, of course, when he can be more adventurous and the Johnny Cashbox tribute sometimes features songs never recorded by Johnny Cash. Ralph explains why
"During his life Johnny Cash embraced music that he felt offered something irrespective of its origins. His later recordings of "In My Life", "The Mercy Seat". "One" and especially "Hurt" bear testament to that fact. Johnny Cash could take any song and make it his own. But he also had a sense of comedy; it is evident in his impressions of Elvis on stage when he would wiggle his hips and immediately pretend to get backache. It's also there in his choices of material such as "A Boy Named Sue", "Starkville City Jail and "One Piece At A Time." I thought it would be nice to bring that element of his personality to gigs by performing unlikely requests. I am pleased so say that it is proving quite popular"
However unlikely as some of these choices may first appear, within each lyric you will find elements that are developed Cashbox style. Alcohol rehabilitation, drug abuse and murder to name but three topics covered in some very familiar material.
Amy Winehouse's "Rehab" is given the cold vulnerable acoustic quality through which the narrator of the song is forced to face the sources of his addiction.
Similarly Cashbox's reading of Lou Reed's classic "Heroin" follows the protagonist on a roller coaster ride to oblivion that ultimately leaves him only feeling momentarily "better off than dead"
"It would make a very interesting project doing a whole album of Lou Reed and Velvet Underground songs Johnny Cash style. In so many ways they are poles apart but in others they touch a common ground; namely that capacity within mankind to destroy the outsider or the weak. I would love to have heard a Johnny Cash recording of "Last Great American Whale" or "Xmas in February" from the "New York" album." "Incarnations" will be the realisation of this idea, but due to other commitments is on hold at present.
Cashbox's reworking of Freddie Mercury's "Bohemian Rhapody" is both the furthest away from the original and most remarkable of all the covers. Reducing Queen's operatic masterpiece to an acoustic murder ballad Johnny Cashbox's reading connects with the confusion and contradictions of a man who having initially calmly killed a man passes through a range of emotions as he prepares for his own inevitable end.
Listening to these performances live it is possible to believe that the songs could easily have been selected by Johnny Cash during his later collaborations with Rik Rubin on American Records.
The majority of recordings of Cashbox are taken from live performances, but he is working on a collection of Murder Ballads for possible release.
"Although I have written many songs over the years, when I started down this road, it was not my intention to inflict original material on the unsuspecting public. However, some of these vignettes are just asking for a Cashbox interpretation, so I am considering this quite seriously."
Johnny Cash is not the first musician Ralph has portrayed
Test picture for John Lennon in "Bobby Wants To Meet Me" (BBC Television) (Private Collection)
Based on performances and requests from clubs and day centres, below is the
Johnny Cashbox Top 10
01 Folsom Prison Blues
02 I Walk The Line
03 Ring Of Fire
04 A Boy Named Sue
05 A Thing Called Love
06 San Quentin
07 Sunday Morning Coming Down
08 Big River
09 Hey Porter
10 Get Rhythm
Visit the Cashbox Clips page to hear some examples
Ralph Morse is a member of Artslink, Colchester