Download Instrumental    I was in what I’m pretty sure was an awful rock band in high school.  Then helping pay for college playing restaurants and Holiday Inns.  The Air Force found me playing dinner music on a white grand piano in the Officer’s Club.  Then it was a wedding band for eight years – next a jazz band for seven more.  South Florida next – cruise ships and fancy country clubs.  Finally the Gulf Coast in beach bars and honky-tonks for nearly ten years.  Not once during all that time did I ever play a Johnny Cash song – not once!  Why?  I honestly don’t know.  Just never occurred to me.

So what’s wrong with Johnny Cash?  Nothing really, other than he couldn’t sing.  Neither can I, so that’s no excuse for ignoring Johnny for 40 years.  I think it had something to do with every song sounding alike.  Except this one.  “Ring of Fire” has trumpets – I love trumpets.  So, in order to make things right, I’ve arranged this one to suit me and, hopefully, you other singers out there.  This one belongs in your set list.  And when you perform it, apologize to Johnny for me.