These amazing ultra-rare Walk the Line era photographs capture the pure energy of Country Music Legends including the Man in Black’s early performances in full color. The Johnny Cash Tour in the 1960s featured Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Three, June Carter, George Jones with George Riddle, Tex Ritter and Flatt and Scruggs among others. Performance photographs of Faron Young, Liz Anderson, Ferlin Husky, Jean Shepard, Martha Carson and Carl and Pearl Butler are also included in this series as they would often appear with Johnny Cash during their careers. These photographs also coincide with the time portrayed in the feature film Walk the Line with Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon.

The photographer “Texas Peggy” and her husband John Clemens were early Country & Western entertainers known as The Wyoming Ramblers circa 1939-1950s. Peggy played the accordion and sang along with John who played guitar, banjo and harmonica. They started touring when they were 21 and 23 years old to all 48 US states, drove dirt highways out West in their 1939 Packard, towing a Vagabond Trailer as hotels were not always available.

They played stages and radio shows, met and shared friendships with The Carter Family. Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Tex Ritter, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and many others. Mother Maybelle and Peggy were very good friends. John and Tex Ritter as well. Many of them set the stage for future generations of Country Music artists. One in particular was Red Foley, their lifelong friend who was considered “one of the most versatile and moving performers of all time" and "a giant influence during the formative years of contemporary Country music." by the Country Music Hall of Fame. This was an incredible time in Country Music history!

When John and Peggy came off the road in the 1950s, Cadillacs were king, America was booming at which time they built the Thunderbird Motor Hotel in Latham, New York. There they welcomed their musician and celebrity friends who’s autographed photographs covered the lobby walls. The restaurant in the Thunderbird was called The Silver Spur with a modern Western theme and great cocktail bar. It was very lively and fashionable on the weekends with musical entertainment.

Peggy and John would often be invited to their friends’ shows and would also trade accommodations at the Thunderbird for front row center tickets. Peggy would have full access with camera in hand. This allowed Peggy to get unassumingly close to stage and captured these epic moments in low light with her flash.  Johnny Cash doesn’t miss a beat and is free flowing throughout this energetic series of concert photographs.

After the concerts, all would head back to The Thunderbird for a late night cap. Some would call it a night, others would head upstairs to gamble in the room above the lobby. When morning rolled around, Johnny Cash would sit in the hotel’s Silver Spur kitchen while Peggy personally served him up bacon, eggs and toast along with black coffee, while the formal chef prepared breakfast for the others. If only the walls could talk! The Thunderbird was sold in 1968. These are the photographs left from that legacy.

When Peggy and John retired, the stories continued. Hee Haw was a constant in their house and phone calls to their friends were often an hour long just to say hello. If friends weren’t playing a local show, they would drive to New York City and as far as Nashville to visit and attend their concerts. They loved the road, their friendships and experiences. Peggy would hear a song, sing along and tell a story with a big smile and say “don’t you know!” like you had to be there!