The Wounded Warriors

On June 19th The Tennessee Three received the greatest honor of their lives. They performed at Walter Reed Medical Hospital for the Wounded Warriors.  This has been the most humbling experience of our lives and it has also taught us what true exceptionalism and courage is. We met so many wonderful people and would like to personally thank Colonel Russell and all the fine staff that made Saturdays event so special.
We were touched by all the service men and women and it was the greatest concert we have ever been a part of.  At the end of the show Colonel Gene Russell and Master Sargent Martin  took the band to meet three young men that were not able to attend the show. These guys are in Special Operations and had come home as Wounded Warriors. The first young man is Shane....Shane makes Rambo look like a Barbie Doll!  Shane had been hit with an IED and suffered extensive wounds.  His right ear had been operated on for a perforated ear drum. He had lost his thumb and forefinger on his right hand and his left leg had been shortened and they had something like a cage around his legs with screw that had to be turned ever so often to make his leg grow.  All Shane could think about was getting back to his buddies in Irag. He told us he was left handed so he could still shoot his gun.  We had prayer with him and told him how much we appreciated his sacrifice.
The next young man was Adam....Adam had stepped on a pressure plate that took his legs from him....Adam is 21 years old and his fiance was with him in the room.  His eyes sparkled and he couldn't wait to be back with his buddies when he gets his new legs!  I looked at this handsome young man and thought ....He could be my son!  We had prayer with him and thanked him and went to the next floor.
This young mans name was Chris....He had just came from Afghanistan where he had been involved in some kind of hover craft crash. He was the lone survivor.  He asked Master Sargent Martin to thank us for coming but he wasn't up to seeing anyone.  We understood and thanked him from outside the door.
I am telling you all this because these kids need to be in our prayers and thoughts every day!  These are the true heros of this nation....The very best of what this Country is all about.
So the next time you think you are having a bad day or maybe you just want to fuss about something not going your way....Remember the story above and then get down on your knees and thank God above for these young men that give you the privilege of having that bad day!
God bless all our Military men and women and your families....You are in our prayers and The Tennessee Three support you in anything and everything you ever do!

2010 RFD Hot Country Music Awards

 The Tennessee Three would like to say Congratulations to Bob Wootton on his nomination for International Artist of the year!  Bob will be on hand for the Award show Monday and will be featured singing a song as well!  We are all very proud of him for being nominated....Good Luck Bob!

Montana and Daisy Rocks!

The TN3 are proud and excited for our youngest member....Montana Leigh!   Montana is the newest artist endorsed by Daisy Rocks Guitars in California.  Montana has become a wonderful songwriter and singer and is quickly blazing her own trail.  Check her out at www.Montanaleigh.com or www.myspace.com/montanaleighmusic

Again, The TN3 congratulates Montana Leigh!  You rock girl!!!!!

Happy Easter

Let me start this letter off by wishing everyone a very blessed Easter week-end!  The Tennessee Three thank God for all his blessings and for keeping us safe with all of our travels. The beauty we have been blessed to see around the world constantly reminds us of just how awesome God really is!

It has been a long Winters nap for the band and we are now ready to get back on the road. They say this has been the worst Winter on record for Tennessee and we certainly believe it!

There will be a couple of big tours overseas this year and we are all very excited about that!  We have made very dear friends in England and Scotland and we look forward to seeing them soon.  We will also be making a couple of exciting annoucements in the not too distant future that I am sure all of our friends will find very exciting! 

Now everyone get ready and lets have some fun this year!  Lets sing, play music, laugh and cry together and maybe make a few memories to carry us through another wonderful and blessed year.

We can't wait to see you all out on the road!

TN3

Hard Rock Guitar Smash in Nashville, TN

 Bob Wootton was invited to be a special guest at the re-opening of the Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Bob along with Scott Borchetta of Big Machine Records, Cowboy Troy, Allison DeMarcus, Rodney Atkins, Bucky Covington and the Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders were there to help with the Guitar Smashing!
38 Guitars that were in very poor condition were smashed to pieces. Gibson Guitars will donate brand new guitars to three different charities in Nashville so children will know how it feels to play a new guitar.
Bob was honored to be a part of the event and will be there tomorrow night as a special guest for the New Years Eve Party.

Merry Christmas and God Bless!

The TN3 would like to wish all of our many friends a very blessed Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  2009 has been a super year for us and we were truly blessed in the UK and Scotland and with the honor or playing Canada's prestigious Grey Cup Festival.  Everyone knows that TN3 are huge football fans! 
We look forward to all the great shows in 2010 and getting to see each of you personally. We also look forward to meeting many new friends.
Our prayer for each of you is that you enjoy your family and friends during this blessed season and remember why we celebrate Christmas!
The TN3 wish you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Seymour Duncan Endorses Bob Wootton

Bob Wootton and Seymour Duncan team up with rockin' pickups! Check 'em out soon on Bob's new guitar!!

England and Scotland Rockin!

The TN3 just wanted to take the time to let all the fans in the UK know how very much we appreciate them. They have made us feel truly special and we will forever be greatful.
The crowds are phenomenol and the enthusiasm for the music is almost overwhelming!
We just want you all to know how very much you mean to us and we look forward to meeting each of you!
We also want to let everyone know that the tour for next year is already being lined up so we are already preparing for that.
We look forward to the remainder of the shows in Scotland and having some fun playing the music we love for the fans!
God bless you all!

TN3

The Grey Cup Championship 2009

 TN3 are honored to have been invited to play at "The Grey Cup Championship 2009" in Calgary, Alberta this year.
While this is during the wonderful holiday of Thanksgiving. We will truly be giving thanks for all the wonderful people in Canada that have made this possible.
We want you all to know that we love you and we are truly blessed for this honor that you have given us.
God Bless each of you and may the best team win!

TN3

Laughlin, Nevada

Hello Friends!  The Tennessee Three have been at the Riverside Resort in Laughlin Nevada since Tuesday and will be here thru Sunday night.  The shows have been great!  We give it 100% every night on stage and then we play during the day too.  We play on the Colorado River and Bob and Derrick stay at the car show.  They marked off one of the parking lots and have all these old cars in. Bob is in Heaven walking around and seeing all those 50 model cars. Derrick is just as bad. He and Bob just walk around wishing they could drive one home.
Lisa has really been playing that ole bass. Some might say she has been making it talk!  Lisa gets really happy on certain songs and her feet just can't be still so she has to do a little jig. We don't mind as long as she keeps that beat. lol
Scarlett, Montana and Vicky have been having fun doing some wonderful Carter Family songs. This is really the first time that Montana has been on stage with us and she is nailing her part of the show. Montana loves Taylor Swift as you can tell by her guitar so she sings one of Taylors songs each night. Scarlett does a wonderful rendition of Hurt. She also does a song she wrote called Revenge that the audience really enjoys.
Barney has his own room this trip and we are not sure that he likes it. He go and see him several times during the day and play fetch with him. I think he is developing a complex. He knows we all love him and miss him being with us. By the way, Barney is Montana's little shiamalt.
Bob says he is really loving being on the road right now.
Any way, We just thought we would give an update on what we are doing. We will be adding a new page soon. It will be a page of photos showing what we all do on the road. Where we stop, what we like to look at and find amusing. You never know when a fan might just show up on this page. So stay tuned and we will keep you posted.

Canada in September

Well we just crossed back into the U.S today from Canada. The tour was absolutely wonderful. The people of Canada are always great! They love the music so much and they know every word to every song.
The reason this trip was so special is because last October while in Canada Bob became very ill and we almost lost him so this trip meant the world to us.
We started off in Winnipeg at the Club Regent Casino. Kelly, cher and all the people there always make us feel special and we truly appreciate them. After Winnipeg, We moved on down the road a little to Winkler. We played the P.W.Innis Centennial Hall. Again, this is one of the best venues in Canada. It is a very old church that has been renovated into a great concert hall. We want to thank Deb , Dave and Jim for making it a great event. Last but not least we moved into Saskatchewan to Yorkton. We played at the new Painted Hand Casino. John and Freedom Sound was there and we were so glad to see them. Melanie and all the people at the Casino could not have been nicer. We look forward to being back next year. Adele , Thank you for all the help you were to me.
We had the best time. We saw old friends and made a lot of new ones. Neil and Marty it was great seeing you and we will be looking for you in Nashville. Be sure and tell Shirley we missed her.
Lisa Horngren and Derrick McCullough drove the musical train on down the track with a rocking steady beat. Scarlett, Montana and Vicky sand the harmonies great! Scarlett sang a rocking rendition with Bob of Get Rhythm that all the fans really loved. Montana showed them all that the talent is still being passed on and will surely not fade away.  Bob is the man!  You can hear the admiration in his voice for the man he called his friend....Johnny Cash.  No one can carry on this legacy with the love and respect like Bob Wootton does. You can tell he gaurds it and watches it like it was one of his children.
The band is back in the states now getting ready for a show in Melrose, Minnesota and then a day off for repacking and then back on the road to Nevada.
The TN3 are keeping the train on track and keeping it Simple!

Italy was a blast!

We just wanted to take a few moments and tell you about our trip to Italy. The plane ride over was not that good but we made it safe and sound.  Our luggage did not make it so the first thing we had to do was buy some clothes.  The food was equisite and the people superb.  I hope I spelled that right!  Anyway, We  have never had any finer Italian Cuisine in our lifes. I want to send out condolensces to all of those that got hurt...I want mention any names because you know who you are. lol  I do hope that you are feeling better and are healing.  To the fans of Italy you made the Tennessee Three feel truly welcome and we want you to know that we love you and we look forward to seeing you again real soon.  Dates are already being tossed and so maybe before long we will be there to laugh, eat and enjoy the show together. Thank you for all your kindness!

Share My Guitar.com Podcast

Bob Wootton recorded a pod cast interview for ShareMyGuitar.com that will be aired in July.  Be sure to check in to the site and listen for another great interview!

The Tennessee Three at The Boiler Room

by MDM Writer Josh Hogan
Show Date: 5/8/09
Bill: The Tennessee Three

Friday night at the Boiler Room was a very rare and special occasion, as it is not often that a band with such a rich and illustrious history comes through Denton. The Tennessee Three, the band that actually backed up the legendary Johnny Cash, made a stop here as part of their tour across the United States and Canada marking the fortieth anniversary of the epic Live At San Quinton Album. First and foremost, I have to give all due credit to The Boiler Room, who rolled out the proverbial red carpet for the band, and did a fine job in allowing such legends to play here in Denton. Despite the slightly odd sight of reserved tables surrounding the stage, the bar did a fantastic job presenting this band.

My only issue with the evening was the time at which it got started and ended. I arrived at the venue a few minutes after 10pm, a very reasonable hour to arrive on most nights at any venue in town if you want to catch most if not all of the bands playing. However, to my astonishment, I had already missed the opening band, and a great one at that, The AM Ramblers as well as about two thirds of the second band's performance. Ok, perhaps this is my fault. Perhaps I have become spoiled here in Denton to the point where I feel comfortable lollygagging around for a few extra hours before actually having to make my way out to a show. But none the less, I was pretty upset about not only missing out on the openers, but also the fact that the night was to end unusually early. As I sipped on my beer and gazed out into the crowd counting the amount of Wranglers and Stetsons in the room, the thought of disappointment flirted around in my head. But it's funny, how the sight of one of the most legendary guitarists of all time walking five feet next to you can change all of that.

After being escorted from the back of the room, through the crowd and to the stage, the renowned guitarist and lead singer for the band, Bob Wooton got the evening started for the headliners. It was a night filled with the hits you would expect to hear, like Folsom Prison Blues and Walk the Line, as well as some others from Cash's lesser renowned albums such as Give My Love To Rose which appears on his second to last recorded album, "When The Man Comes Around" as well as a two others from earlier in his career.

Overall it was a great performance from the group, and it was a pleasure to see them in Denton. Hopefully we can get that time situation worked out for the next time they come around (tongue in cheek) but until then, Friday's performance will do just fine for the folks who were there.

The Tennessee Three packs 'em in!

March 16, 2009

This past weekend The Tennessee Three packed out the 920 capacity showroom at Terrible's Lakeside Casino for four consecutive shows and the response was overwhelming!

From our mailbag:

"Want to thank everyone for the great time this last weekend. Like I told people while waiting in line, 'This is the closest you will ever get to Johnny Cash now'. I would wait in line and do everything over again. Thank you all for doing what you do!"

"I would like to personally thank you for playing at our casino. I am an employee here and your show is the best one I have seen in the 18 months I have been employed here. The insight into the past is great and I congratulate you on a wonderful performance. I look forward to seeing you again tonight. Thanks again."
We want to thank everyone who came out and we hope to see you all again in the very near future!

~TN3

Bracebridge Examiner-Gravenhurst Banner Interview

The sound of Johnny Cash heard once again
October 15, 2008 - by Karen Longwell

It is a show Johnny Cash fans will not want to miss.

The Tennessee Three, featuring Bob Wootton, a member of Johnny’s Cash’s band, will perform two nights in the Muskoka area, one at Gravenhurst Opera House.

Wootton was a member of Cash’s band The Tennessee Three from 1968 to 1997.

Reached on the telephone while on tour, Wootton said at the age of 66, he still likes touring. These days his whole family travels with him and plays music. His dog Cuddles, heard barking in the background, comes along for the ride.

“Even got the dog with us,” said Wootton in a southern drawl.

Wootton said he was about to board a ferry near Nelson, British Columbia during the call. He said he is not real big on flying. The tour includes 46 dates across Canada, starting in Vancouver and ending on the East Coast in November.

“We are on a big old bus right now that sleeps eight people,” he said, adding that with satellite TV and Internet, it’s like home.

The show, which Wootton said is suitable for all ages, includes his family, including his wife Vicki and daughter Montana, 11.

His older daughter Scarlett opens the show with newer Cash tunes and some rock ’n’ roll music. Vicki, Scarlett and Montana also write their own music.

Wootton planned to retire when Johnny Cash went into semi-retirement in 1997. Cash died on Sept. 12, 2003.

But Wootton continues to play, he said, because the fans ask him to.

“They wanted to know if I would please come and let them hear the sound again,” said Wootton.

The “sound” started with Cash’s original guitarist Luther Perkins.

“It is a very distinctive sound that nobody else does,” said Wootton. “There are several Johnny Cash imitators, but they don’t have that sound.”

Perkins died in a house fire in 1968 and in September of that same year Wootton helped the band in Fayetteville, Arkansas, when the guitarist was delayed on a flight.

Wootton said the sound is distinct, yet simple — a sound other guitar players have yet to duplicate.

“I have had people say, boy, if I close my eyes I swear Johnny Cash was on stage, but I don’t get it because I don’t think I sound like him (when singing).”

Wootton believes the years he spent working with Cash rubbed off on him.

“I was there doing it with Johnny Cash and when you are with somebody that long, you kind of take on each other’s traits, I guess,” he said.

Wootton said he hopes to continue bringing the fans the unique sound for another five years.

“I would like to do it as long as I do OK, and don’t embarrass my family,” he said.

On this tour, fans can look forward to a mix of Cash songs and a few that Johnny Cash never released. Wootton said you can see how his writing changed over the years.

“You could almost tell when him and his wife were getting along or not getting along because of the words of the song,” he said.

Wootton said this is the eighth or ninth time he has toured in Canada.

“We have wonderful fans up here — they are very loyal. They seem to be very appreciative and we appreciate them.”

The Tennessee Three will perform on Oct. 26 at Algonquin Theatre in Huntsville and at Gravenhurst Opera House on Oct. 27. For tickets call 789-4975 in Huntsville and 687-5550 in Gravenhurst.

North Bay Nugget, Ontario Preview

Tennessee Three continue the legacy of their legendary leader, Johnny Cash
October 12, 2008

This is not a tribute band...

Although Johnny is no longer with us in body, his spirit will forever live in the music that he and his legendary band “The Tennessee Three” made. Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Three have been one of the most popular groups in country, pop, and rock music in our decade. From performing before royalty in foreign countries to command performances for a long line of standing presidents – their music is both historic and timeless.

When The Tennessee Three now take the stage, with the voice of Bob Wootton and his world famous guitar licks, you can close your eyes and imagine Johnny Cash still on stage with them. Bob sounds just like John when he sings.

Bob Wootton (listed in the top 1000 world’s greatest guitar players), lived and breathed the music of Johnny Cash. Today he is proud to carry on this historic and rich tradition to our stage on Friday, October 24, 2008 at 7:30 pm

Bob Wootton Concert Review - City Pages

Minneapolis, MN

Bob Wootton
Chambers Hotel, May 24 2008



It's not often that one gets the chance to hear the ghost of Johnny Cash channeled through the guitar of a living legend. Which is precisely why I jumped at the chance to see Bob Wootten play the Chambers Hotel; I never had the opportunity to see the Man in Black live, and Wootten provided fans with a strikingly familiar performance of Cash's best songs.

From 1968 to 2005, Wootten played alongside Cash as his main guitarist, providing the signature "boom-chick" sound that listener's associate with Cash's music. In addition to looking and acting like Cash, Wootten's smooth baritone voice was the perfect substitute for the late singer's, providing the small audience with a unique chance to hear Cash's songs performed almost exactly the same way they would have sounded had he been there himself.

"People ask why I'm still playing," Wootten commented between songs. "One reason is because I love it, the other is because I don't want these songs to fade away."

North Kitsap Herald talks to Bob Wootton

The Last Man Standing
Mar 28 2008

Of the legendary Tennessee Three, the famous band behind the country music icon Johnny Cash, one lone member still carries on the cadence in spades.

People say the songs played and sung by the last man standing, Tennessee Three lead guitarist Bob Wootton, sound almost exactly as they did coming from the legend himself. Some say he even looks like the Man in Black.

But when What's Up caught up with Wootton by cell phone as he was driving across Montana on the first leg of the Tennessee Three's first tour of 2008, he said it's not him, it's all in the music.

"I don't try to sound like John, the music makes people think that I sound like him," said Wootton, 65, addressing the Cash comparison. "I'm just playing what I played behind John. If you've been to a Johnny Cash show, you'll know when you hear this sound ..."

Enter the opening freight-train riff to "Folsom Prison Blues."

Wootton has been a fan of that sound ever since he first heard Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two over the kitchen radio at age 14. Some 10 years later he got the chance of a lifetime, standing in with the band behind the Man in Black at a show in Arkansas. Not long after that, he was playing lead licks for the record "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash" and on his way to one of his very first gigs with the legend at San Quentin State Prison in California.

"I've always loved that sound, it was so different," Wootton said. "I think that's why we're able to do what we do now ... because it is still so different."

All these years and songs later, now a Rockabilly Hall of Famer, Wootton is still a huge fan of the signature "boom-chicka-boom."

Even as Cash passed on in 2003, Wootton says, "The Sound Must Go On," incidentally also the title of the Tennessee Three's latest album, released in 2006.

The new Tennessee Three will be coming to Bremerton's Admiral Theatre for a dinner show Feb. 9. Joining Wootton will be his wife Vicki and daughter Scarlet, who has grown up in the music.

They'll be playing Cash and some Tennessee Three originals while sharing stories all along the way.

"People love the stories," Wootton said. "Many times after the shows, I'll get people coming up to me saying, "Man, I wish you had some time for more stories."

While the stories range from tales from the Cash tour bus, to stories behind the iconic songs and remembrances of the icon himself are a definite draw for the Tennessee Three show, Wootton said sometimes when the band's playing just right, it all creates an eery air that the Man in Black is still around.

"There's certain songs that I get to doing and I get to thinking about John and I just can't hardly stand it,"he said, noting tunes like "Supper Time" and "Sunday Morning Coming Down." He put such feeling into those songs.

There's an obvious tinge of pain in Wootton's voice, making clear how much he still misses the man who showed him how to put on a show, how to live against the grain and gather around the supper table together at the end of the day much like the way people gather around his music.

The Tennessee Three, legendary backing band for the Man in Black, Johnny Cash, plays the Admiral Theatre at 8 p.m. Feb. 9., 515 Pacific Ave. in Bremerton. Dinner starts at 6:30. Tickets are $59 for main floor dinner show, $28 for the main floor show, $22 in the loge and $14 balcony. Info: www.admiraltheatre.org or call (360) 373-6743.

For more on the Tennessee Three, catch them on MySpace at www.myspace.com/tennesseethree or go to www.tennesseethree.com.

Orlando Weekly - Anti Pop Music Festival Review

November 15, 2007
By Bao Le-Huu

Now that the third annual Anti-Pop Music Festival has done popped, let’s weigh it. Because the event is philosophically and aesthetically in line with my personal ethos, I’ve always had high hopes for the indie-music festival. Ultimately, Anti-Pop should be judged by what it accomplished. Though growing pains could be overlooked in the past (after a strong inaugural effort, the organizers sorta hit the snooze button on last year’s follow-up), from here on out shortcomings will be increasingly less defensible.

And, holy hell, was Anti-Pop back with a hunger this year, resulting in a vastly more visible marketing campaign, smoother logistics and the weightiest lineup so far. Some of the national artists I spoke with were actually aware they were playing a festival this time, which hasn’t always been the case. This is a necessary development if Anti-Pop is ever going to gain a national reputation.

Other critical improvements included imposing much-needed clarity on the pricing structure, a tight production schedule and published set times. (Bravo! Woo-woo!!) These are precisely the kinds of things that enable people to participate in the festival rather than just catching individual shows. And whaddya suppose that yielded? Numbers, duh. The crowd of attendees was visibly, dramatically up this year. Remember, Anti-Pop isn’t the sort of music event aimed at a broad audience, so it’s not supposed to take over downtown like the more mainstream Florida Music Festival does. But, y’know, it sorta did.

In the past, I’ve noted that Anti-Pop didn’t feel like a connected festival, because of the number of shows and venues involved. This year, critical mass was finally struck, generating event electricity. How could I tell? The impossible bathroom lines, mainly, but at most of the shows I went to, I was met with packed venues and queues. Even I’m willing to sacrifice my vigorously defended personal space for a successful local music event. Mobs of people milling about downtown, crackin’ open PBR tallboys and talking about music – my heaven and a positive showing for our city. By putting healthy crowds before worthwhile bands, this once-little thing is becoming something after all.

Apart from the logistically ill-conceived stage orientation of the Social Pavilion, which forced you to negotiate the sometimes-packed crowd just to get a drink or take a leak, my complaints are minor. Overall, the talent was ample and exciting, and the always-essential local component was integrated with the nationals more thoughtfully than before. But the choice in local acts, though tasteful, was conservative, ignoring many of the interesting bands on the fringes of our scene and resulting in little surprise.

One discovery, however, was Tampa’s Giddy-Up, Helicopter!, which may have been the only band ever to sound good in the challenging environs of Central Station Bar (terrazzo floors, brick walls, inappropriately loud dudes). I can only imagine what their lovely walls of shoegaze haze would sound like in a concert venue. Next time they roll through, obligate yourself to seeing them. Other highlights included an earth-stirring set by Explosions in the Sky, the eerie retro-weirdness of Black Moth Super Rainbow and the brooding immensity of Summerbirds in the Cellar.

Without question, the single greatest “I can’t believe I’m witnessing this” moment of the fest was the show by the Tennessee Three, Johnny Cash’s one and only backing band. Led by guitarist Bob Wootton’s uncanny facsimile of the Man in Black’s singular voice, the set was as haunting as it was rousing. I haven’t felt a full-body tingle like that at a show in a very long time. An absolute high-water mark in my life.

Angry Country - Bob Wootton, the reluctant star

For over 30 years Bob Wootton provided the dintinctive lead guitar sound for the Johnny Cash Band, The Tennessee Three.Bob will be back again in Ireland in October for his second tour and confirmed dates are as follows:

October 7th The Well in Moate Co Westmeath. Sat 8th The Salmon Leap, Coleraine, Sun 9th The Mourne Country Inn, Newry, October 10th The Millbrook Lodge Ballinahinch , Oct 11th The Belmont Hotel, Knock Co Mayo, Oct 12th The Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, Thur 13th Oct The Mellon Country Hotel, Omagh Co Tyrone, Friday 14th Sat 15th and Sunday 16th The Baltimore Harbour Hotel, in Baltimore West Cork where a special Johnny Cash Weekend will take place, plus guests Paddy O Brien & band, Logue & mcCool, Colette Cavanagh, Donal Lyons, & Justin McGurk.

Bob was content to be a member of the band and reluctantly stepped forward to share the spotlight only when requested to do so by the Man In Black. Over the years Bob found himself being called on more and more by John to sing so he had to learn the lyrics of some of his favourite songs.One song which Johnny regularly requested him to sing was Bubbles In my Beer. Following Johnny's death, Bob hung up his guitar and settled down to retirement with his wife and family as he figured that without Johnny he no longer had a future in the music business. But he figured wrong.

He was coaxed out of retirement to perform at a show in honour of the memory of Johnny.  During the show he not only played all the old Johnny Cash hits -- he also sang most of them. The similarity in appearance and voice of Bob to the great man himself is uncanny, and the crowd really showed their appreciation by giving him several encores. Word soon spread about the show and this in turn lead to many more requests for similar shows. Soon Bob found himself back in business as a star in his own right, and needless to say he was very happy to back again performing.

Johnny's sister Roseanne who toured Ireland with Bob last year, paid him the ultimate compliment when she told me " If John wanted his legacy passed on to anybody, it would have to be Bob. John always regarded Bob as one of the family and had great respect for him as a friend and a performer" she said.

Bob Wootton was born in the small town of Paris, Arkansas in an area called Red Branch. He is one of six children and the eldest son of R.C. and Noma. Bob's family moved a lot while he was growing up but a constant companion for him was his guitar and his ability to sing. When Bob was a young man, his mother heard a song on the radio and called Bob to come in. When Bob got in the house his mother asked, "What are you doing on the radio?" That day changed Bobs life. What Bob's mother heard was a man by the name of Johnny Cash. Bob loved what he heard and saved every dime he had to buy Johnny Cash records. The thing that attracted Bob the most was that magical sound of Johnny's guitar player Luther Perkins. Bob trained himself to play every lick just like Luther, not realising his destiny was being planned.

Bob Wootton was closer than any brother to the man in Black. Everywhere you saw Johnny Cash you saw Bob Wootton. In every major event in John's life Bob was always there. He has traveled all over the world many times, has played John's double in countless movies, has been on more television shows than most major stars, and countless recordings. Bob Wootton is known as a guitar legend and is listed in the Top 1000 guitar players in the World.