Everything Nac

     John Carter Cash, son of the man in black, Johnny Cash, will be coming to Nacogdoches to host a three-hour workshop with local singer and songwriter Kasey Lansdale. The workshop is designed to give performers, producers and songwriters a unique learning experience.

     The workshop will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. followed by a book signing from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and then a performance from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., February 18, at the Nacogdoches culture shop, The Runaway Mule located on the brick streets downtown.

Kasey Lansdale, singer and songwriter

     Cash’s production career includes material for Loretta Lynn, Josh Turner, Brooks & Dunn, Laura Cash, Elvis Costello, George Jones, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Kris Kristofferson, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Earl and Randy Scruggs, Rosanne Cash, John Cowan, Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill, Tony Rice, Sheryl Crow, Miranda Lambert, and John Prine among others.

     Cash is also a multiple Grammy Award winner.

     Cash’s most recent work is authoring his mother’s biography, titled, “Anchored in Love.” His first children’s book, entitled, “Momma Loves Her Little Son,” was released March 24, 2009, published by Simon and Schuster. In early May of 2010 John Carter ’s second book in the series was released, this one titled “Daddy Loves His Little Girl.” John Carter’s third children’s book, “The Cat in the Rhinestone Suit,” is slated for release spring of 2012. John Carter Cash owns and operates the Cash Cabin Studio near Nashville, Tennessee. Songwriters, performers, and producers at all levels will benefit from the critiques and experience of working with Cash.

     Advance reservations are recommended as space is limited. Workshop fees are $125 per person. Performance fees are $50 per person including a limited edition workshop t-shirt. To attend only the book signing, purchase of one book per person is required. For more information and to make reservations, please contact 936.645.9800 or email info@kaseylansdale.com.

     All workshop attendants will receive a FREE pass for book signing and into the acoustic performance of John Carter Cash and Kasey Lansdale for the evening of the Workshop.

     All others interested in the performance or signing only, please contact info@kaseylansdale.com.

Here is a closer look at John Carter Cash.

Who have been your biggest influences in the field of music and literature?

I have listened to many types of music through my life. I was greatly influenced by my father’s music early on, hard rock and roll in my teens, artists like Elton John to Tori Amos in my twenties, and later on I discovered a great love for the Carter Family and Jimmy Rogers. As far as literature, I would have to say the King James Bible is my favorite book. Influences on my writing are also varied. I love John Steinbeck, J. R. R. Tolkien, Stephen King, and Ray Bradbury among many others.

What made you want to write a book about your mother and what were some of the most rewarding aspects?

When my father and mother passed it became my responsibility to go through their storage vaults and catalog and sift through a massive amount of material. In all these things there were great treasures—from old saddles to hundreds of reels of audiotapes. But the greatest of these treasures were my father’s hand written documents, letters to my mother, others, and myself. These held the greatest value to me. It became my mission to share these things in a way I feel my father would have liked to have them shared with the world.

Did you face any unforeseen challenges when writing the book about your mother? How did you overcome them?

I knew that there was to be a biography written about my mother and when I weighed it out, I felt I could offer a true and loving portrait of her. I also knew that if I were to write it, the process would be tough. I did however find it more than cathartic than painful.

What other books have you written?

I have two published children’s books on Simon and Schuster, Momma Loves Her Little Son and Daddy Loves His Little Girl. My third book with S & S, The Cat in the Rhinestone Suit, is coming out this April. I have also written a novel entitled Lupus Rex. It is to be released in the Spring of 2013.

Your father is one of the most well-known names in the music world; in what ways has this been an advantage and disadvantage in your career?

I have had to find my own path. For many years I searched for that path, trying to find what I really loved. Now I feel I have found that. I follow my heart and wherever it may lead. In this I have discovered my peace.

Was your father’s career the reason you became interested in music, or was it only a factor?

Being surrounded by music all my life most definitely directed my love and interest in music. But I was just as greatly influenced by my father’s career as by my grandmother Maybelle’s and my mother’s.

What made you also take an interest in writing literature?

I have always been a lover of books; it’s in my very blood. Pursuing writing is another instance of simply following my joy.

What’s the most important thing you could tell someone who wanted to write music?

Write from the heart. Don’t try and sound like anyone at all but yourself.

What mistakes have you been able to learn from in your career which might help someone else down the line?

The most valuable lesson I have learned in my career is that of persistence. Never stop reaching for your goals. We may stumble and fail, even do things that in retrospect we are not proud of, but do not stop. Keep moving forward and always know that what you dream of may be only one step away.

What can fans of your work look forward to in the future?

I will continue to follow my heart. There will be more music (both things I have produced and of my own), books, and maybe even a screenplay or two.