Happy Birthday Johnny Cash: Performing On ‘Sesame Street’

Outlaw country legend Johnny Cash was born in rural Arkansas 85 years ago today. The Man In Black was 71-years-old when he passed away on September 12, 2003, leaving behind such classic country recordings as “Ring Of Fire,” “I Walk The Line,” “Cry! Cry! Cry!,” “Don’t Take Your Guns to Town” and “Get Rhythm.” During his decades-spanning career Cash’s signature style, deep voice and freight train rhythms became interwoven with traditional American country music, and Sunday Cinema this week looks back at a visit he made to another well-established American institution – Sesame Street.

In 1975 Johnny recorded and released The Johnny Cash Children’s album featuring his arrangements of 12 songs for kids. During an appearance on Sesame Street in 1979, Cash performed the album’s lead track “Nasty Dan” with the help of Oscar The Grouch. Johnny also teamed with Sesame Street Muppet Biff for a rendition of the former’s original “Five Feet High And Rising,” which Cash originally issued as a single in 1959.

Watch the pair of Sesame Street performances from 38 years ago below:

[Nasty Dan]

[Five Feet High And Rising]