Johnny Cash : A Definitive Portrait

I should begin by saying that I knew precious little about Johnny Cash, other than he was a country singer with a gravelly voice and that there’s been a recent film about him – Walk the Line - starring Joaquin Phoenix, which I haven’t seen. But after seeing Johnny Cash : A Definitive Portrait I’ve discovered why he’s become such an icon, and have been seduced into finding out more about him.

This collection of black and white images -  some of which have never seen the light of day until now -  show subject and photographer working together in perfect harmony. They’re intimate, honest and, as a set, capture not only Cash’s career but an era on the cusp of rock’n’roll, hope and change.

The pictures , taken by Marvin Koner, Danny Clinch, Paul Natkin, Andy Earl and  Leigh Wiener  show Cash from his early days as ( it has to be said ) a drop-dead gorgeous and enigmatic young talent to the ground-breaking man that inspired a legion of fans and has earnt him a place in American music history as a trailblazer.

Unlike many country singers, Cash didn’t sing with sentiment: his music wasn’t caked in apple pie or cotton candy. Instead, it was gritty, real. He performed – against the wishes of his managers, Sun Records, who also looked after Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins – in Folsom Prison, campaigned for the civil rights of Native Americans and for prison reform.

He also battled with booze and amphetamines, which could have destroyed him, were it not for his wife June Carter, who actually wrote the lyrics to his hit Ring of Fire and sang duet with him on If I Were a Carpenter  and  Jackson.

And if there’s one thing missing from this exhibition, it’s June. For all of Johnny’s charm and talent, he probably wouldn’t have had such longevity without her. The saying “ behind every great man is a great woman,” is definitely true in his case, and it’s a shame there isn’t at least one portrait of the couple.

That said, the exhibition is great, and it’s clear why June fell into the ‘burning ring of fire.’

Loma-Ann Marks

Johnny Cash: A Definitive Portrait at Proud Central, 32 John Adam Street, London, WC2N 6BP, until 14th September, Admission : Free. www.proud.co.uk