Why do people think Johnny Cash is the greatest country singer of all time?

Question

what about David Allan Coe? Atleast he wrote all of his songs. dont get me wrong, i like some of johnny cash's stuff but its the same beat every damn song. then you have the hipster kids that think just because he sang a Nine Inch Nails that hes the biggest rebel. i will tell you what, david allan coe and kris kristofferson should be the top two outlaws of country..along with steve earle. i had going on these tangents, but im so sick of hearing about johnny cash. the same thing that happened with kurt cobain is happening to johnny cash. lets hope to god it doesnt start with elliott smith anytime soon. although hes been dead for a little while already.

Answer 1

Ooo, I love David Allan Coe! He's definately the epitome of Outlaw Country IMO.

I like Johnny Cash, but he's not my favorite Outlaw Country singer.

Answer 2

Just a quick note to tell you that it was Johnny Cash who helped Kris get started in the business. I wasn't there of coarse however I've read this and heard it several times.
I like Kris Kristofferson as well. He is probably my favorite. I grew up listening to Johnny Cash also so I really like him alot too. After hearing about Johnny helping Kris get started I always wondered if "Beat the Devil" was about the two of them. Kris wrote so many great songs himself he needed not steal one. (Yet that's what the words say.) Johnny had already gained his popularity, I could see him giving one (song) up to a friend ; or just to help someone out. It's hard to say one person is the greatest as everyone has different taste's. For example I wouldn't put David Allen Coe in the same category as Kris Kristofferson (even though they are both "outlaws") I definitely hold much higher regards for Kris. I on the other hand haven't heard but a few of Coe's songs. The ones I have heard would not compare to Johnny or Kris. HOWEVER, I won't knock Coe anymore if you don't knock Johnny. See my point?

Answer 3

Hell yes there are other great country singers - both old time and not mainsteam, who seriously rock. It used to have way more soul and some still does. Everyone taste is different obviously but I I thought I hated country music until I heard the real thing Loretta Lynn with WHite Stripes Hank Snow Carl Perkins Chris Knight Steve Earle Emmylou Harris Patti Griffin Gillian Welch Also Lucinda Williams! Hank the Third is insane but allright

Answer 4

I don't know where you get the idea that a lot of people think that, I don't guess I know anyone that thinks that, and he was born and raised in Cleveland County, Arkansas just as I was and currently live just one county over. I think he was great but not the greatest of all time. Johnny Cash was a one of a kind, to this day I don't know of anyone that sings his kind of country music. Have you ever heard a song by anyone and thought that could have been a Johnny Cash song, I haven't. Besides the greatest ever title belongs to Conway Twitty. No one reaches down and sings from the bottom of there heart like Conway.

Answer 5

Are you asking best singer, as in ability to sing, to have a nice voice? or just the best country Artist ?

If your asking about Singing Ability, Well No Johnny cash wasn't much of a singer, he never professed to be a golden throat.
My favorite for Shear ability, and being a pure country artist is Ray Price for a male, with George Jones a very close 2nd. And for Female , well Patsy Cline is in her own league. as to David Alan Coe, he's ok as a singing voice, but he's no golden throat either. and he goes for more shock value, than actual songs that will stand the test of time, he'sgot a few real good ones.


as to Best Artist of all times, there is only one, he never wrote a bad song (121), everyone who is anyone in country has played his songs, His songs are the most copied than any other country artist, He in 7 yrs generated motre standards of country music than any 3 other artist have done in 30 years each. No one has influenced Country more, and he had a voice you could listen to for hours. He set the standards for how songs are written and never tooted his own whistle, that is Hank Williams, Both Johnny cash and David Alan, Coe had many good things to say about Hank, he influenced them both in many ways, David Alan Coe's possibly best song is "the Ride" which is his tribute to Hank Williams, and a message to all wanna be country artist, you got to give the credit, where the credit is due, you can't forget who set the standards for songs, music and the lifestyle of country music.

Answer 6

i agree with you i like johnny cash but he is not the king of country by a long ways! i also love david allan coe and kris kristofferson and steve earle.but lets not forget the late hank williams sr. ! i love george jones and merle haggard also.there were many greats out there who could forget conway twitty! good luck.

Answer 7

Johnny Cash was one of my favorites. He is I think one of the greatest country singers of all time, but I guess you would have to measure what you think is great. What you think makes someone great may differ from what someone else thinks is great. Everyone has their own way of putting an artist on a pedestal. Everyone has there own singing hero's that is why there is so many artist.

Answer 8

ok first of all who in the blue hell is elliot smith! so i dont think anyone will be immortalizing him any time soon. and although i dont think he's the best country singer evr, he has done alot for country music. and watch the biopic walk the line. he went through drug addiction and all the things that others go through. and david allen coe is a racist joke of a singer. he wrote a few good songs but as a singer he sucks asss. and kris i agree is a legend. but i think everyone likes kris. i dont know anyone who has ever said a bad thing about him. john cash built todays country by not conforming to what others set as a standard. he set his own!

Answer 9

david allan coe is a racist. that's why he isn't great.
j.r. cash is a legend. he was the first guy to sing about prison and cocaine and shooting people. he was one of music's first true outlaws. steve earle is one of my faves. when he first came out he was considered to be country music's answer to bruce springsteen. he hasn't let us down. he is a vocal democrat, he opposes the death penalty, our current government, and he stands up for our rights. he is one of the greatest.
kris is great too. he was in a great band with johnny once. the highwaymen. him, johnny, willie and waylon. great band. and they did a great steve earle cover of 'devil's right hand"
i don't think johnny cash is famous for doing 'hurt" he was famous way before that.

Answer 10

I grew up listening to him, my Dad had many of his records, I claimed them years ago and still have them. I thought he was awesome and loved his music long before liking him was "cool"!

I remember my friends thinking I was weird listening to his music but then again I like many different genres, Rock, Metal, Country (old and new) even Classical. I have most of his stuff on CD now though.

I thought it as great that he was able to put out that last blast of material as he walked the line one last time ... when I heard that June had passed I figured it wouldn't be long before he joined her .. I do miss them both dearly but they are among friends now.