Every singer/songwriter strives for a unique sound, but invariably gets compared to somebody famous.  It doesn't necessarily mean one is great, it only means folks have a need for a frame of reference in which to make sense of an artist's work.  I've had a few Bob Dylan comparisons, a few Mick Jagger, one or two Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins) comparisons, but the rest all involve one man, The Man in Black.  Though I am clearly unworthy of such comparisons, at least in my own mind, I constantly get compared to Johnny Cash. 

 



Three such comparisons stand out in my mind, because they have come from highly respected sources.  One was from Buck Owens (in a conversation with Jim Shaw in the late 90s after Buck heard a song of mine), one is from Bakersfield Californian writer Robert Price (actually he alluded to Cash, didn't directly compare me to Cash),

Robert Price article

and one from music, book and DVD critic, Michael Dalton,

Michael Dalton review of Billie Jean

You might think that these comparisons or allusions would go to my head.  They haven't, although you might find a little more black if you look in my closet these days.  That's only because I'm becoming a greater Fan in Black with every passing day.  Do you need proof?   Check here and you'll find that I wrote and recorded a whole album of original songs that celebrate the life and music of Johnny Cash:


Official Dr BLT website   Heck, I even wrote a song called Fan in Black. 

If there's one thing I've learned from Cash, besides how to turn music into art, it's the importance of maintaining a constant state of humility.  No, I'm not nearly the Man in Black, and could never do justice to him, or even come close to approximating his accomplishments, but I did call myself the Fan in Black in the song, and in terms of my own comparisons of myself to Cash, "fan" is as far as it goes. 

If Buck were here I thank him for discovering the Cash influence on my music.  I do want to thank Robert Price and Michael Dalton for noticing and commenting favorably on my countrified cover of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean.  But I can't take all of the credit for either the duet version of the song, (the one that Robert Price commented on after it aired on KWMR), or the second version, the solo version with beefed up back-up vocals.   Without Penny Marie, the first version wouldn't have been a duet, and she certainly added star quality to the song.  Without Kim McAbee or Jerry Rothberg, I'm not sure the second version would have made quite the impact it did either.  And I can't say enough about Reggie Langendorfer, who played guitar on both versions, or Pat Frase, my good friend who plays drums on both versions.  

These good reviews are ours to share, not mine alone, and if the Cash comparisons ever start going to my head, I want all of you musicians to remind me of all of your sizable and noteworthy contributions.  Without you, I would sound like the Man in Blah.  So thank you, thank you, thank you.  Oh, and did I say thank you?


Jerry Rothberg (sings on 2nd version of Billie Jean remake)