Folsom Prison Anniversary Concert Cancelled

1/9/2008 Sephen L. Betts A concert marking the 40th anniversary of Johnny Cash's famous concert at California's Folsom State Prison has been scrapped, according to a report from the Associated Press. The tribute concert, scheduled for Sunday, would have been staged in the same prison cafeteria where Johnny performed before inmates on Jan. 13, 1968. That breakthrough performance became a popular live album (Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison), and was dramatized in the Johnny Cash bio-pic, Walk the Line. Prison officials called off the show late Monday, citing problems over filming rights, media access and security concerns. Promoter Jonathan Holiff claims the cancellation was just another broken promise by prison officials, adding that he was in tears when he found out. Revenue from the show, which would have been streamed worldwide over the Internet, was to have been shared by four non-profit groups, including a prison church fellowship group.  The concert was to have featured Johnny's music and include drummer W.S. (Fluke) Holland, one of his original backup musicians. The executive director of Prison Fellowship Ministries, which had helped underwrite the event, says Johnny’s fans and the inmates are the losers in this conflict. “Johnny was wild at heart, just like these men,” says Joe Avila. “But just like him, they can change. They can walk the line.”