Folsom Untold: The Strange True Story of Johnny Cash’s Greatest Album (by Danny Robbins)
Folsom Untold: The Strange True Story of Johnny Cash’s Greatest Album is an Audible Original I received through my Audible membership. It was produced very well with the British author, Danny Robbins, traveling around Tennessee interviewing people who were present during the making of the album and family members of Glen Sherley. I don’t refer to myself as a Johnny Cash fan; I respect his music and legendary status. Growing up, I spent time in Nashville visiting family, so I appreciate Cash’s reputation and understand the history of country music. I recall my Nashville relatives driving my parents and I around pointing out the mansions of famous musicians…including Johnny Cash’s home. So, when Folsom Untold became available I clicked ‘Add to Library’; I figured I would learn something interesting about Cash. Plus, prisons have always been intriguing and I was curious why Johnny Cash chose to play at Folsom.
Danny Robbins narrated the audiobook with a lot of passion and enthusiasm for his story. He opened with explaining how Johnny Cash came to play music in Folsom and with the help of his interviewees, made plausible suggestions to answer the why. It was interesting that Cash developed a friendship with former Folsom inmate Glen Sherley and that he went to great lengths to help get Sherley released from prison. I find it very generous that Cash took Sherley into his home once he was released and helped him get established in society and the music industry. I agree with Robbins, that Cash’s history of drug abuse likely fueled his generosity to help Sherley. How Glen Sherley lived his life after prison and the decisions he made were both interesting and sad. Sherley’s children are interviewed and share their perspective of Glen. Robbins also interviewed a former prison guard who worked at Folsom when Cash played and the last surviving band member that played with Cash. Robbins really did his homework and put forth a lot of effort to find people from this time period that would help answer his questions. I enjoyed listening to the author’s energetic telling of this story. You won’t find a fairytale ending though. It’s a story about real life…a hard life, in fact.
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