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Bob Wootton

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Bob Wootton
Bob Wootton on stage playing an electric guitar in front of a microphone stand
Wootton performing in 2006
Background information
Birth nameRobert Clifton Wootton
Born(1942-03-04)March 4, 1942
Paris, Arkansas, U.S.
DiedApril 9, 2017(2017-04-09) (aged 75)
Gallatin, Tennessee, U.S.
GenresCountry, rock and roll, rockabilly, blues
OccupationMusician
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1968–2017

Robert Clifton Wootton (March 4, 1942 – April 9, 2017) was an American guitarist. He joined Johnny Cash's backing band, the Tennessee Three, after original lead guitarist Luther Perkins died in a house fire. He remained Cash's guitarist for nearly thirty years.

Biography

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Robert Clifton Wootton was born March 4, 1942, in Paris, Arkansas.[1] In 1950, he moved with his family to Taft, California. He first learned to play guitar from his father around age 11. It was around this time that he said he first heard the music of Johnny Cash, which he "instantly loved".[2] In 1956, he bought a copy of "I Walk the Line", even though he did not then own a record player. In 1958, Wootton moved to Oklahoma, where he lived until joining Cash's band.

In 1961, Wootton joined the U.S army, and served for 3 years, including 15 months in Korea.[3]

Wootton had been a lifelong fan of Cash's and played his songs religiously until he had perfected the boom-chicka-boom style known as Cash's unique sound. By 1968, Wootton was playing gigs regularly in Oklahoma City. After the death of Luther Perkins in a house fire in August 1968, the role of lead guitarist was given to Carl Perkins (no relation) leading to a different sound of the band. On September 17, 1968, Cash was performing in Fayetteville, Arkansas, at a campaign rally for Governor Winthrop Rockefeller. An airline delay left only Johnny Cash and drummer W. S. Holland onstage. Wootton, sitting in the audience, approached Cash requesting to fill in for the night. Wootton stunned the crowd, particularly Cash himself, with perfect renditions of every song. Cash mentioned in passing that he might one day call on Wootton again, but within days asked him to join the tour as new lead guitarist.

On Cash's live album recorded at San Quentin State Prison, Wootton stood on such tracks as "I Walk the Line" and "Folsom Prison Blues". Wootton continued in the band with only a brief respite until Cash retired from active touring in 1997.[4]

With Cash's retirement from the stage, Wootton was willing to take non-musician work to earn a living. He worked as a tour bus driver, including a stint for the Smashing Pumpkins. Wootton did not participate in the recording sessions that became known as Cash's American Recordings albums.[specify] From 2006 to 2007, Wootton performed with Cash's original drummer, W. S. Holland, his wife Vicky Wootton, and his daughter Scarlett Wootton as The Tennessee Three. In 2006 the band released their first album since Cash's death, a tribute titled The Sound Must Go On.

The Tennessee Three was scheduled to perform at Folsom Prison in January 2008 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Cash's Folsom show. Wootton eventually withdrew from the concert project, which was later scrapped following disputes between prison officials and show promoters.[citation needed] Wootton continued his 2008 touring as the Tennessee Three with drummer Rodney Blake Powell, Vicky, Scarlett, and Montana Wootton to crowds in several countries. The band continued to tour throughout 2009.

Wootton died of dementia on April 9, 2017, in Gallatin, Tennessee, at the age of 75.[5][6]

References

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  1. ^ "Robert "Bob" Wootton". Hendersonville Funeral Home (Obituary). April 10, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  2. ^ "Bob Wootton: Keeping the Johnny Cash Flame Alive". Premier Guitar. August 19, 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  3. ^ https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/robert-7803/
  4. ^ Forbish, Lynn (March 10, 1982). "Johnny Cash Special travels with gusto". The Evening Independent. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
  5. ^ L. Betts, Stephen (April 13, 2017). "Johnny Cash Guitarist Bob Wootton Dead at 75". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  6. ^ Liebig, Lorie (April 13, 2017). "Bob Wootton, Johnny Cash's Original Guitarist, Dies at 75". Wide Open Country. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
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