In 1969, photographer Michael Rougier captured one of the most intimate and revealing photo essays of Johnny Cash for LIFE magazine. Unlike the grit of the Folsom or San Quentin concert photos, Rougier’s work focused on Cash’s life during a massive career pivot.
This was a “rebirth” year for Cash. He had recently married June Carter, was celebrating the success of his live prison albums, and was filming The Johnny Cash Show at the Ryman Auditorium.
One of the most famous shots depicts Cash walking along railway tracks near his home in Hendersonville, Tennessee, carrying his guitar. He was also photographed posing in front of the historic Dixie 576 steam locomotive in Nashville.
Rougier documented Cash during recording sessions at Columbia Studio B in Nashville. The collection includes intimate photos of Cash with family and friends at his Tennessee home, as well as portraits with fellow artists like Glen Campbell.
Rougier was known for his “fly-on-the-wall” approach. Because Cash was notoriously guarded, these photos are highly regarded for their authenticity. They didn't feel like staged publicity stills; they felt like a window into the life of a man who was finally finding peace after years of drug addiction and legal trouble.
(Photos by Michael Rougier/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation)
0 comments:
Post a Comment