JOHNNY Cash! Remember the American singer, songwriter, actor, and author who was considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century?

He exited mother earth on September 12, 2003 after several decades of prolific music career.

He was born on February 26, 1932. And his evergreen memory was relived last Saturday at Puckett’s Farm Equipment building, 2740 W. Sugar Creek Rd., Charlotte, North Carolina, United States of America.

Tagged 10th Annual Charlotte Johnny Cash Bash, four bands headlined the Saturday night gig. They were Jonathan Birchfied, Jem Crossland, the Bo-Stevens, and Loose Lugnuts. Out of these bands however, Bo-Stevens stood out in terms of musicianship and stagecraftmanship. This is expected anyway.

The group, popular for its honky-tonk country music, has distinguished itself, in the last one decade of existence, as one of Winston-Salem’s most beloved bands. Besides, the band, with Richard Boyd as leader, has emotional attachment, music wise, to Johnny Cash. It was even gathered that last February, at the Garage, Winston-Salem, the team hosted its yearly Johnny Cash Bash which paraded bands of all genres paying homage to country music legend.

Apart from using three songs: Wreck of the old 97, Mean eyed cat, Jackson from Cash’s repertoire as opening glee, Boyd stepped up the Cash affection by wearing a T-shirt with inscription: ‘Cash and King’. He would later confess to The Guardian, “it’s a reflection of the band’s deep attachment to Johnny Cash phenomenon.”

But how did the connection come about? And what has been the challenge(s) sustaining this attachment in the last 10 years of Cash’s exit?

With broad smile, Boyd says, “The attachment between Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley the ‘king’ comes from their start only a few months apart at Sun studio (a famous recording studio in Memphis, Tennessee). My connection to Johnny goes back to my childhood and my love of his simple yet powerful music. Yes, he has gone for 10 years. But it feels like his legend just continues to grow.”

The signature tune of the Bo-Stevens came alive in the offering, Honky tonk Saturday night, and admirers in the house couldn’t help but step forward to the dance floor.

The captivation heightened and funky moment descended with melodious tunes such as That was yesterday, Liquor and beer, happy faces, Gonna miss me when im gone, Gibbys hula, lukewarm beers and cold cold tears, and your crazy heart. There was plenty fun, indeed, and night crawlers were simply held spellbound.

Not a big party. The venue, really, has no facility for that. But the sizeable audience got satisfied, and Boyd topped up the mood with Sattisfied before he vacated the stage with This time you gave me a mountain, for Loose Lugnuts (the fourth and last band to perform) to complete the ‘rout.’

Another unique feature that is peculiar to Bo-Stevens is having Karrie Shechan, a female, in charge of drums.  What kind of message does this send to the band’s admirers? Boyd says, “I think it is entertaining and empowering. People love to see a girl on drums or Stand up bass, such small girls taking on the large instrument. While it is also empowering to other ladies to see that this isn’t  just a man’s world.”

Other members of the Bo-Stevens on duty that night were Jeff Shu (pedal steel guitar/mandolin); Greg Ball (guitar); and Lee Terry (bass).

Although Johnny Cash is primarily remembered as a country music icon, his songs and sound spanned other genres including rockabilly and rock and roll—especially early in his career—and blues, folk, and gospel.   This crossover appeal won Cash the rare honour of induction in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Cash was known for his deep, distinctive bass-baritone voice, for the “boom-chicka-boom” sound of his Tennessee Three backing band; for a rebelliousness, coupled with an increasingly somber and humble demeanor; for providing free concerts inside prison walls; and for his dark performance clothing, which earned him the nickname The Man in Black. He traditionally began his concerts with the phrase Hello, I’m Johnny Cash, followed by his standard Folsom Prison Blues.

Much of Cash’s music echoed themes of sorrow, moral tribulation and redemption, especially in the later stages of his career. His best-known songs included I Walk the Line, Folsom Prison Blues, Ring of Fire, Get Rhythm and Man in Black. He also recorded humorous numbers like One Piece at a Time and A Boy Named Sue; a duet with his future wife, June Carter, called “Jackson“; and railroad songs including Hey, Porter and Rock Island Line.

During the last stage of his career, Cash covered songs by several late 20th-century rock artists, most notably Hurt by Nine Inch Nails.