Today's artist could have inspired Johnny Cash to sing about life in prison, as he'd lead an interesting one, and left behind a chequered past.  He attended three of Johnny Cash's concerts at San Quentin. Cash inspired him to straighten up and pursue his singing. Several years later, at another Cash concert, he came up to Johnny and told him "I certainly enjoyed your show at San Quentin." Cash said "I don't remember you bein' in that show." He said, "Johnny, I wasn't in that show, I was in the audience." While put in solitary confinement on death row, he encountered author and death row inmate Caryl Chessman.  He had the opportunity to escape with a fellow inmate nicknamed "Rabbit". He passed on the chance to escape. The escape was successful. The man who escaped later shot a policeman and was returned to San Quentin and put to death. Chessman's predicament, along with Rabbit's, inspired him to turn his life around, and he soon earned his high school equivalency diploma, kept a steady job in the prison's textile plant, and played in the prison's band. He was released in 1960 and in March 1972 was pardoned by then California governor Ronald Reagan. Once released, he said it took about four months to get used to being out of the penitentiary and that, at times, he actually wanted to go back in. He said it was the loneliest feeling he'd ever had.  Ah, but it made for some great country songs...


And Your Mystery Lyric Is:
"The first thing I remember knowing,
Was a lonesome whistle blowing"

Today's artist isn't showing up as being previously featured, but please limit sends to small pics and links so our mailbox ain't stuffed to the limit.