Red headed stranger or the man in black?

Good question. I very much enjoy and respect each of them. However, at the end of the day, my nod goes to Johnny. The man is a rock. And Johnny Cash, more than any other singer that I can think of, has a sense of timing with his vocal delivery that really contributed to, if not drove, the overall rhythm and meter of a song.

My one regret is never having seen him in concert. I guess that I'd better go out and see Willy while I still can! I do make sure to catch BB King whenever he comes around. At 78 years old, we may not have him available to us (live) for much longer.

Again, really good comparison.

Tom.

Tom,
I highly recommend seeing Willie in concert. I have seen him twice and he is very good. He has amazing energy for a man his age, he often goes from one song right into another without pause, and will do it for hours.

I think there is some sensory balance between Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson - you can't do without either of them! Willie Nelson jumps on the "live it up" wagon before anyone. I just saw him at Neil and Pegi Young's Bridge Concert. He performed with just his harmonica player and Neil Y. joined on a few. Timeless! Johnny Cash wrestled with the demons on the other side. If you want to be hit with a sledgehammer, buy his American IV: The Man Comes Around. There's a DVD included with Cash doing the Nine Inch Nails song "Hurt". It is the most powerful video ever created. The whole record is outstanding too.

I've been a Cash fan since I was a kid, it started with "A Boy named Sue." His country music as well as his Folk music in latr years crossed many boundaries in my life and I don't even particularly care for country.

I can't find much interest in Nelson. He is more of my parents music. I admit he is unique but it all sounds the same to me. I will however go and try his music out again!