Bob Wootton
Encyclopedia
Bob Wootton is an American guitarist. He joined Johnny Cash
's backing band, the Tennessee Three
, after original lead guitar
ist, Luther Perkins
, died in a house fire.
One of the next performances, perhaps the most notable of Wootton's career, was at San Quentin State Prison
where Cash's live album was recorded.
Wootton continued in the band with only a brief respite until Cash retired in 1997.
From 2006 to 2007, he performed with Cash's original drummer, W.S. Holland, his wife Vicky and daughter, Scarlett Wootton, as The Tennessee Three. In 2006 the band released their first album since Cash's death, a loving tribute titled "The Sound Must Go On."
The Tennessee Three was scheduled to perform at Folsom Prison in January 2008, commemorating the 40th anniversary of Cash's Folsom show. Wootton eventually withdrew from the concert project, which was later scrapped following disputes between prison officials and show promoters.
Wootton continued his 2008 touring as the Tennessee Three with drummer Derrick McCullough,, Vicky, Scarlett, and Montana Wootton to appreciative crowds across the globe. The band continues to tour throughout 2009.
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
's backing band, the Tennessee Three
Tennessee Three
The Tennessee Three was the backing band for country music and rockabilly singer Johnny Cash for nearly 25 years, until Cash's reorganizing of the group and naming it The Great Eighties Eight in 1980....
, after original lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
ist, Luther Perkins
Luther Perkins
Luther Monroe Perkins was an American country music guitarist and a member of the Tennessee Three, the backup band for singer Johnny Cash. Perkins was an iconic figure in what would become known as rockabilly music...
, died in a house fire.
Biography
Wootton had been a lifelong fan of Cash's and played his songs religiously until he had perfected the boom-chicka-boom style known as Cash's unique sound. At one of Cash's shows, a flight cancellation left only Cash and drummer W.S. Holland onstage, and Wootton was asked to fill in. Wootton stunned the audience, particularly Cash himself, with perfect renditions of every song. Cash mentioned in passing that he might one day call on Wootton again, but within days asked him to join the tour as new lead guitarist.One of the next performances, perhaps the most notable of Wootton's career, was at San Quentin State Prison
San Quentin State Prison
San Quentin State Prison is a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation state prison for men in unincorporated San Quentin, Marin County, California, United States. Opened in July 1852, it is the oldest prison in the state. California's only death row for male inmates, the largest...
where Cash's live album was recorded.
Wootton continued in the band with only a brief respite until Cash retired in 1997.
From 2006 to 2007, he performed with Cash's original drummer, W.S. Holland, his wife Vicky and daughter, Scarlett Wootton, as The Tennessee Three. In 2006 the band released their first album since Cash's death, a loving tribute titled "The Sound Must Go On."
The Tennessee Three was scheduled to perform at Folsom Prison in January 2008, commemorating the 40th anniversary of Cash's Folsom show. Wootton eventually withdrew from the concert project, which was later scrapped following disputes between prison officials and show promoters.
Wootton continued his 2008 touring as the Tennessee Three with drummer Derrick McCullough,, Vicky, Scarlett, and Montana Wootton to appreciative crowds across the globe. The band continues to tour throughout 2009.