Johnny Cashbox 

Ralph Morse and Les Mason at the British Museum 

(Some would say the best place for them)

Ralph has performed music, in one form or another, for most of his life.    At around the age of twelve his voice started to "break" and by the age of thirteen he found he had a depth and resonance to his singing that most people twice his age did not have.   Once cast by Victor Moll, his drama teacher, as Captain Corcoran in Gilbert and Sullivan's "HMS Pinafore",  Ralph became greatly interested in the rest of the comic operas and was soon heard singing some well known bass and baritone arias whilst doing his paper round.   Not holding back, these were performed with aplomb and and at some volume.   Yet, considering the time of day, he only ever received one complaint, and even that was not of the type he might have expected. 

"My boss, got a call from a customer who complained that he had overslept because he hadn't heard my singing one morning.  He said I was generally more reliable than an alarm clock.  On this particular day I had been unwell and the customer was consequently late for work."

Ralph's individual approach to light opera earned him the title of "the singing paperboy" and he was subsequently the topic of a number of newspaper articles and received invitations to sing at functions and offers to join local operatic societies.   He even considered becoming an opera singer but decided against it. 

"I was advised that if I were to take up singing seriously the training would not only be rigorous but also restrictive.  I used to put on funny voices, do impressions and also sing rock and roll and was warned that to continue to do so could at worst seriously damage my voice or at the very least undermine my potential."

Attitudes have changed in the intervening years and there are now a number of highly successful "crossover" artists.   As it was Rose Bruford College developed Ralph's vocal talent to serve an area for which it is eminently suited; musical theatre.    Roles in the professional theatre as diverse as Caiaphas "Jesus Christ Superstar"  and the MC ("EmCee") in "Cabaret"  have allowed Ralph to maintain his musical roots throughout his acting career.   indeed it

is the the combination of acting and music that has informed some of his most endearing creations.   

A journey that has included a vast array of contrasting characters, but one thread has remained a central theme to much of his writing;  Outer Space !!!.   At the age of fourteen Ralph wrote his first song, "Space Baby".   It tells the story of a teenage boy's imaginery fantasy, a beautiful futuristic siren that only he can see, and Inspired, no doubt, by television series like Star Trek and Dr Who or the film Barbarella.   The space race of the 1960s, the Gerry Anderson themed sci-fi marionette and live-action series would all fuel that part of Ralph's imagination.  A quick look at his imdb entry clearly shows the number of sci-fi related movies and television series he was involved in during the late 70s and early 80s.  When "The Delegation"  formed during this period it was inevitable that he would write "Starfighters Hit Zero" and "The Journeyman".   

Ralph as Austin Powers

In the 1990s,  Ralph's wife Carole and her business partner, Anneka formed "Main Station" a fancy dress emporium in the very heart of Colchester.  It very quickly gained an excellent reputation for the range of costumes and the quality of service.   When the film, "Austin Powers, Man of Mystery" was released it was instantly popular and facsimiles of the colourful suits worn by Mike Myers in the film soon made their way into the fancy dress market.   On one occasion Ralph dressed up as Austin Powers and adopted the persona of the character so effectively that a representative of "Smiffys" the costumier invited him to appear in role for a trade fayre at the NEC in Birmingham.

This meant adopting the character's very un-PC code of behaviour, in a public place, surrounded by scantily clad models who were very much in the moment with him.  

This was quite a liberating experience and he would appear at "celebratory" events in the Colchester area subsequently.  This raises the question -

Is this where Johnny Cashbox got his mojo ?

The Coven Club performing at the Conway Walls, London in 2000

Ralph and Les Mason, first met in 1987 at the "Hole in the Wall" pub at the top of the Balkerne Hill in Colchester.  Ralph was playing a short lunch-time set and Les was at the bar.  They became friends and have remained so over the intervening years.  In the late 1990s they formed "The Coven Club" and in 2010 "TheDragonflyRising."   By that time Ralph had already been performing as Johnny Cashbox for seven years.   

Johhny Cashbox began his own journey in 2003.   At that point Ralph was performing as "Outlaw" in clubs, residential homes and small theatres.   When Johnny Cash sadly died in September of that year,  Ralph started getting many requests to perform the great man's songs.   He initially considered becoming a tribute artist, but two factors would change his mind.   Firstly, Ralph realised that although he could cover Johnny Cash's songs effectively,  there were others who could do it far more accurately and secondly, he started receiving approaches from an entirely different quarter; the sci-fi community.       

Johnny Cashbox - Universal Superstar

The evolution of Johnny Cashbox into the guitar-slinging, time-travelling space cowboy we know today, once instigated was fairly rapid.  As much an acting role as a musical one,  he is a multi-layed character, that on the surface seems mildly comic,  but that would be an over-simplification.   In "Universal Superstar" he is both the narcissist of the title, but also the victim of the underlying satire, in lines such as, "Some doctor says I'm deluded, well he can go to hell, but if I were deluded, I'd be the best at that as well".

Many of the songs are tie-ins to conventions or festivals at which he appears, especially "Invasion Colchester"  where his humorous exchanges with cosplayers and members of the public dovetail into songs that either parody or compliment the genre.                         

 "Am I All That Is Left of An Empire?", appears to be about an imperial stormtrooper, but could apply to any military officer.   "I Shot A ... Jedi" on the other hand is Johnny's one joke signature song.  Elsewhere "Blue Angel" explores rascism through the landscape of outer space.   These songs and many others are available to view on the Youtube JohnnyCashbox channel.   In 2017 Johnny woud make another "giant leap" when he became part of "The Secret - A Star Wars Story", which kick started the Bicentennial Eagle element of his journey... one that continues .... 

Johnny Cashbox - Commander of the Bicentennial Eagle

In his jouney through time and space, Johnny has embraced comedy, often at his own expense, but like all good comic roles also has a serious side to him,  often reflecting upon the issues that impact on our humanity.   His jump from a miscreant of the Star Wars universe to Earth's protector evolved quite naturally.  Similarly, his exchanges with NASA moved from being simple comic interludes to becoming an aspect of his identity.   At the end of "The Secret",  Johnny was given custody of the Bicentennial Eagle, and with it, the ability to travel through the "Vespa Corridor" that separates our universe from a "...Galaxy, far far way!"   With the adventures that have followed his influence has increased, and his appointment to Commander, a logical progression.   He hasn't lost his capacity for arrogance and delusion,  (for that is part of his charm), but he is a much more complex and deeper a personality than he may first have appeared.  This is reflected in his music.  Not just in the lyrics, but in his performances that take him away from the musical comfort zone that initially defined him.   He is maturing nicely.

Johnny Cashbox - A Real Man

(pictured with a very special fan)

Throughout his career, audiences have mostly accepted Johnny for the person he presents himself to be.  Occasionally someone has not completely comprehended him, but trust that Johnny has always treated everyone with equal respect. 

There are many types of stage persona. 

For many, integrity within the art itself is most important, irrespective of how an artist presents themselves. 

In "V For Vendetta" there is a line that is particularly pertinent;

"Artists use lies to tell the truth, while politicians use them to cover the truth up"   

Artists make the unreal seem real through a temporary reality they share with their audience.   We all leave the theatre or cinema from time to time thinking,  "that was so true"

Human artists now share the world with artificial artists.

That is a reality in itself

May AI enhance and inspire human creativity, not stifle or destroy it.

Johnny Cashbox is a real man !

Johnny Cashbox - Action Figure

Johnny has certainly created his own comic and musical niche in the Star Wars universe