One was not a surprise, and one certainly was. Today, the Fates dealt us an unwanted twofer in taking away both Johnny Cash and John Ritter. Although they couldn't have been more different, they both have left indelible marks on our popular culture, and both were seeing a recent revival in their careers that were well-deserved.
Johnny Cash had recently garnered renown for a couple of albums of covers of other people's songs, some of them seemingly a real stretch, until you actually heard his interpretations. I don't suppose anyone would have considered that Johnny Cash could have interpreted anything by Nine Inch Nails, but not only did he ably interpret "Hurt", he may very well have made it impossible to ever think of it as belonging to anyone but him ever again. The accompanying video was so poignant, so rawly honest and introspective, it was nominated for six separate MTV video awards. Of course, the short-sighted, tits and ass, drugs and dough powers-that-be at MTV saw fit to award this singular piece of work in the most ridiculous category possible, given that the video is largely comprised of film clips from Johnny's career (it won for cinematography, of all things), but MTV's shortsightedness does not detract in the least from the power of the work. Do yourselves a favor and go view it at
http://www.cmt.com/av/videoplayer.jh...0x240_full.rm.
Johnny Cash overcame poverty to emerge in the nascient rock and roll era alongside Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, and the many other heralds of modern music that were launched to legendary careers by Sam Phillips' Sun Records. Johnny poured out hit after hit, embedding many of his songs in our American cultural memories. "I Walk the Line", "Folsom Prison Blues", "Jackson" (with equally talented wife June, who also died this year), and yes, even "A Boy Named Sue". Hear a few notes of any of these, and you find yourself tapping your foot and singing along. Johnny did songs that we *know*.
Johnny was a bit of a hellion, falling victim to the excesses of success early on. His tales of incarceration were written from experience rather than fiction. I think the greatest thing Johnny Cash gave to his audience, perhaps more than any other contemporary artist, was *honesty*. His songs were not excuses for his life, they were explanations, confessions, apologies, insights. It is difficult not to be moved by that quality in an artist. It is impossible to not want to acknowledge them.
Johnny and June are together again, and the Summerland Goodtime Band just keeps getting stronger and stronger.
The passing of John Ritter is also worthy of note. John Ritter (son of country legend Tex Ritter) was best known for playing Jack Tripper in "Three's Company", the harbinger of raunchier, sexier ensemble comedy shows of today such as "Will and Grace". His career flagged a bit after a long run with 3C, but he was still out there doing good work.
Of particular note is his performance as an alcoholic, womanizing writer who longs to be a piano player in the little-known but hyseterically funny Blake Edward's film "Skin Deep". Many of you may know this one, as it contains the legendary glowing condom duel in the dark. It also contains the single best bit of physical comedy in the last twenty years (IMHO), something for which director Edwards is renowned, and which Ritter carries off in side-splitting, almost Keatonesque, fashion. Emerging from an unfortunately excessive electromuscular treatment at the hands of an ex-girlfriend (who had already burned down his house), Ritter's character undergoes violent, unpredictable muscle spasms as he attempts to walk back to his car, with results so humorous it still leaves me gasping for air, even after many, many viewings.
One of the saddest things to me about his demise (other than his relative youth, passing at age 54) was the fact that his career had been recently reignited thanks to the family-friendly and quite funny ABC series "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter". The show was tailored for John's easygoing, half-straight man, half-comedic schlub manner. Playing well off of Katey Sagal (late of "Married With Children"), John has never been more likeable on screen. As with Roy Orbison, it is especially difficult to see worthy performers who have resurrected a sagging career get struck down just as things are getting good again.