Stars pay tribute to the 'man in black'

Family and friends paid tribute to music legend Johnny Cash at his funeral today.

The service was held in the same church where the star had mourned the death of wife, June Carter Cash, in May.

Cash, 71, died on Friday of respiratory failure caused by complications from diabetes. He had been in declining health for years.

Former Vice President Al Gore, a Tennessee native, attended the private service at First Baptist Church in Hendersonville. A public memorial was also being planned.

Scores of celebrities from the music world attended, including country singers Vince Gill and Hank Williams Jr., hard rock/rap star Kid Rock and singer/songwriter Kris Kristofferson.

Kristofferson, who wrote Cash’s 1970 hit “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” broke down in tears as he spoke about Cash during the service.

Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow were scheduled to sing.

The Rev. Franklin Graham – son of Cash’s friend, the Rev Billy Graham – was also due to speak.

Eulogies were to be delivered by Cash’s long-time manager, Lou Robin, and record producer “Cowboy” Jack Clement.

Cash, known as “The Man in Black” for his preferred attire, said in a hit song that he wore the colour in honour of the poor and oppressed.

For more than four decades, beginning in the 1950s as a peer of Elvis Presley in Memphis, Cash specialised in earthy songs about hard times and brooding love songs. His hits range from the rockabilly anthem “Get Rhythm,” to the comical “A Boy Named Sue,” to the recent “Hurt,” about the ravages of drug abuse.

Cash rose to fame in his late 20s, but his career was nearly derailed by an addiction to pills. He credited his wife, Carter Cash, whom he married in 1968, for helping him beat the addiction.

His commercial peak was from 1969-71 when he had a network television show with guests including Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Kristofferson.

After a dip in record sales that lasted nearly two decades, Cash partnered with rap/hard rock producer Rick Rubin and recorded four critically lauded albums that found him a new, younger audience.

After the death of Carter Cash in May, Cash spent most of his time recording, leaving more than 30 songs yet to be released. He had planned to attend the MTV Video Music Awards shortly before his death, but was unable to because of illness. His video for “Hurt” won an award for cinematography at the MTV event, and he has four nominations at the Country Music Association Awards in November.

The funeral programme listed the active pallbearers as country singers Marty Stuart and Larry Gatlin, and producer Randy Scruggs. Honorary pallbearers included Kristofferson Rubin singers Rodney Crowell and Willie Nelson, Marshall Grant, who played bass in Cash’s original band and his brother Tommy Cash.