The day I met Johnny Cash
One evening in the bleak December back in the 1970’s I was sitting in one Louisville’s famed dens of iniquities, Rhiney’s Go Go Bar and Lounge. The Rick Hipple Duo was playing for our listening enjoyment. Rick Hipple was on the the organ and sang vocals while his partner Lou Stanfield played the drums. I was there with my girlfriend, Lynn of the pretty green panties.
The band had just finished playing a rousing version of Dixie, Of course back in those days whenever a band played Dixie everyone stood up took off they hats and put their hands over their hearts.
Lynn and I had just re-seated ourselves and I was trying to get the waitress’s attention for another round of drinks when the door of the establishment flew open and out of the cold night a man dressed in black and a whole entourage of people trailing behind him filed into the bar.
The man in black approached the bandstand and wrestled the microphone away from ole Rick Hipple and said into the mic with a bit of a slur, “Hi, I’m Johnny Cash, how do you do!”
He looked back at the astonished face of Rick Hipple and said, “Orange Blossom Special,” which Rick commenced to playing.
Now these were the days before Johnny was acquainted with June Carter which is to say he was still a pretty wild character. And that character was on full display that night. He was all liquored up on that roadhouse corn and he stood there swaying in the spotlight slurring his words and trying his best to get through that song.
“Well, I’m going down to Florida and get some sand in my shoes…”
Well, that was the night I met Johnny Cash. A night I will never forget.
Ghost Dog 
What an interesting tale! I love it! One of my all time favorite singers!
Dwight
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Mine too! Glad you enjoyed it!
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A well-made story, in which I can hear Cash at the harmonica.
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Thanks for your response!
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Tjis was a fantastic true story and you are so lucky to have been in the right place at right time.
The Orange Blossom Special is great!
I love the song, “Ring of Fire” and actually liked the Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon film a lot, Benn.
My children went to a place, a campground called Ponderosa Park. They heard the Carter sisters sing. My parents had a membership called the Good Sam Club. My Dad didn’t like country except Elvis, the Carter sisters and Johnny Cash. They didn’t have Johnny alive then, so they nodded their heads and swayed to the old fashioned tunes. My parents loved their grandchildren, as well as they loved them! 🙂 💞
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Yes, I was in the right place at the right time, that’s for sure! Ring of Fire is one of my favorite songs by Johnny Cash, Also, I Walk The Line. I loved the Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon movie too!
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I came back and found lots of posts, Benn. Wow, I used to be able to wait a month or more to visit. Teasing you but also guilty of not checking in on you!
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Stop by anytime you are always welcome.
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Woahh man!! Brilliant peace of writing. This blog is 💯💯💯❤.please visit my too it will be my pleasure that gr8 bloggers you visiting. But still dude you rock. 🙇🙇🙇🔥
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Reblogged this on From 1 Blogger 2 Another.
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I live 80 miles from Nashville. Johnny Cash is in our blood.
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Mine too!
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Reblogged this on Grano Rojo and commented:
Es un “Azahar Especial”, esa musica que vibra como el aroma de los naranjos y ese sentir en el campo cuando florecen los nranjales.
Una noche en la parte posterior diciembre sombrío en la década de 1970 yo estaba sentado en uno de los famosos antros de Louisville iniquidades, de Rhiney Go Go Bar y Lounge. El Rick Hipple Duo estaba jugando para nuestro disfrute de audición. Rick Hipple estaba en el órgano y cantó mientras que su compañero Lou Stanfield tocaba la batería. Yo estaba allí con mi novia, Lynn de las bragas bastante verdes.
El hombre de negro se acercó al quiosco de música y agarró el micrófono de ole Rick Hipple y dijo con un poco de insulto, “Hola, soy Johnny Cash, ¿cómo se hace!” Volvió a mirar a la cara de asombro de Rick Hipple y dijo, “ Orange Blossom Special ”, que comenzó a Rick de juego.
Esos eran los días antes de que Johnny se familiarizara con June Carter; es decir, aún era un personaje bastante salvaje. Y ese personaje estuvo en plena exhibición de la noche. Todo alicorado, en el bar de carretera y él se quedó balanceándose en el punto de mira arrastrando las palabras, y haciendo todo lo posible para conseguir a través de esa canción.
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I actually found a Rick Hipple and Lou Stanfield signed album “Rock around the clock” at a Goodwill. Searching online I can not find that album for sale anywhere.
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Wow! That’s amazing!
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I’m so happy I stumbled upon this blog post, my father was Rick Hipple.
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Wow! That’s amazing! I’m glad you like the post. That was quite a night!
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I have enjoyed all of the interesting post of Rick Hipple and Lou Stansfield. I met Rick and Lou in early 70’s when they started at the Robert E Lee Inn. Became close friends with them and eventually became Ricks technician building a new B3 and toy counter and player piano. We then bought and rebuilt the old Hill Top tavern to become the Cabaret. Still see Lou on occasion. Feel free to contact me if you wish to share information. Thanks, Don
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Hi Don! Thanks for your comments. Always glad to make contact with folks from back in the day!
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