FOLSOM, CA – Imagine driving up to the gates of one of the most notorious penitentiaries in the United States and preparing to enter prison for the first time.  Your mind tries to ready itself to leave a world where a man’s free will reigns.  Soon you will be in a world where the will of men with rifles, handcuffs, and body armor dictate your every move.  In a matter of moments, the lieutenant at the front gate will receive you and check you in for your stay in prison.  Anxiety, fear, and remorse overcome you, but that wasn’t the case for a thirty-year-old James Garner as he stepped foot inside the gates of Folsom State Prison.  Rather, it was with excitement and reverence that Garner and The Cash Tribute Show band voluntarily checked themselves into Folsom Prison on September 20, 2008.

            Forty years earlier on January 13, 1968, a thirty-five year old Johnny Cash accompanied by the Tennessee Three, June Carter Cash, Carl Perkins, and the Statler Brothers drove through the very same gate to perform for the inmates housed near the American River.  Also along with Cash that winter day was producer Bob Johnston and his team of recording engineers from CBS’s Columbia Records.  They were charged with capturing a live prison concert on tape, an endeavor never undertaken by a recording company.  What Bob Johnston and his crew got on the reels that day was pure gold and very soon to be three times multiple platinum.

Johnny Cash’s “At Folsom Prison” album included his trademark humble self introduction, performances of hits like “Give My Love to Rose” and “Jackson,” along with the cheers of 1,000 inmates.  By the summer of 1968, “At Folsom Prison” was receiving international acclaim, landing in the number one spot on the country charts and number thirteen on the pop charts.  The album which included ballads of love, God, and murder resonated with country, folk, rock, and gospel fans.  Cash seemed to be one of prisoners that day and even preformed as his final number a song penned by one of his “honorary brethren.”  All of this history weighed heavily on the minds of The Cash Tribute Show band members as they drove their black Chevy suburban and matching black trailer through the gates of Folsom Prison at 9:41 that overcast Saturday morning.

Months prior to September 20, James Garner, Steve Hutton, Denny Colleret, and Jeff Jones received word they would be allowed access at Folsom Prison.  “Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would be excited to tell my wife that I was going to prison, but I was!” recalled Garner.  “Having the opportunity to play at any venue that Johnny Cash once did, let alone the one most famously linked to him as a musician, is a real honor,” said Garner.  The Johnny Cash tribute artist continued, “…and to be granted access to commemorate the 40^th anniversary of his biggest album was truly humbling.”

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Since their formation in March 2007, the Cash Tribute Show has worked to craft a show that honors and celebrates the life and music of Johnny Cash.  In that time, a diversity of Cash fans have come to their shows to hear the Man in Black’s music performed live.  “When I look out in the audience, I see folks who are young and old, rural and urban, white and black, middle class and affluent, and the list goes on,” says Garner.  He continues, “I think it’s remarkable that Cash’s music cuts across so many things that are used to divide us into neat little categories.”
            But as diverse as the audiences the Cash Tribute Show had played for, the audience on September 20 would have many things in common.  All would be wearing the same clothing, all would be men, and all would be serving time behind bars.  Mused Garner, “You talk about a captive audience, we had one.  These guys may not have all been Cash fans, but they were excited about having some entertainment and we were pleased to provide it.  But really the day was about honoring Cash and the history he made there forty years ago.”

For Garner, Hutton, Colleret, and Jones, honoring Cash’s landmark album meant playing the same songs that Cash and the Tennessee Three played at the prison four decades earlier.  At 10:32 a.m., Colleret’s Fender electric guitar rang out with the signature eight notes of the song named for the prison.  As Hutton and Jones joined in on drums and bass respectively, Garner stepped up to the microphone and decreed, “Hello, we love Johnny Cash and we hope you do to.  Here’s a song about a place you fellas might know a little bit about.”  And with that, the show was underway as Garner launched into the first verse of Folsom Prison Blues.  Recalled Garner, “The response was overwhelming.  The inmates hooped and hollered, clapped, and at times flat out screamed.  Receiving that first round of applause eased all of our nerves just a bit.”

None of the band members fail to admit that there were a few butterflies prior to the show.  Almost exactly an hour before they kicked off Folsom Prison Blues, Lieutenant Dave Zaniroli, Folsom State Prison’s Public Information Officer, had checked the band into the prison.  He had told the four musicians that prison officials would not negotiate for their release if they were to be taken hostage by the inmates.  The Lieutenant went on to joke that they had nothing to worry about because they had good snipers.  By 10:36 a.m., any feelings of uneasiness were doused and the band was into their next song, “I Still Miss Someone.”

While the band performed Cash’s songs with their normal attention to authenticity, the prisoners were doing their part too.  “It was almost as if they had just listened to Cash’s album minutes prior to our show,” said Garner.  “They yelled and laughed at nearly the same moments the inmates did in his show.  It was as if they were performing as well.”

Many aspects of the 1968 show, such as the inmates’ reaction, made Cash’s album one of a kind.  Another uniqueness was hearing prison officials interrupt the show to make announcements and the Cash Tribute Show experienced a bit of the same.  The prisoners were scheduled to report to their cells at 11:00 a.m. for a count, but a few minutes prior to the report time a guard bellowed, “We’re going to push the count back to 11:15 so you guys can enjoy some more music.”

            “The inmates went crazy,” says Garner.  “They were pumped to have a longer leash extended to them.”  The band rounded out the show with “Green, Green Grass of Home,” “Greystone Chapel,” and “I Got Stripes.”  The inmates responded with a big round of applause which was followed by guards herding the inmates back to confinement for their 11:15 count.  As the inmates filed pass the band to return to their cells, many paused briefly to say thanks.  “You could see in their eyes that they were sincere and so appreciative,” remembered Garner.

            During the bands tear down, several guards came to share their thoughts.  One said he didn’t even like Cash’s music, but said he thoroughly enjoyed the show.  Another who had been outside the show area and could only hear the music from where he was stationed was astounded to learn that it was performed live.  “I thought they were playing a Johnny Cash CD,” he said in a surprised tone.

            Once the band had loaded up all their gear, Lieutenant Zaniroli escorted them back to the front gate to be processed out.  There was just one more piece of business left to attend to – a trip to the Folsom Prison Museum.  “They had so much Cash memorabilia.  It was almost a museum to him,” said Garner.  After the band collected some souvenirs, they loaded up and left the grounds of the notorious prison.

            Reflected Garner on the event, “None of us will ever forget the experience.  We entered with a humble and reverent spirit and that’s the way we left.  We hope that Johnny was looking down on us and liked what he heard.”