This book covers the early life of Johnny Cash and how Saul Holiff managed him and his career. You get a Look as to how they meet, how Saul came to be his manager, and through the bookings recordings, divorce, drugs alcohol really up to the hit song “Boy named Sue” Saul ends the partnership and really believes Cash’s career is finished that in 1973 he is done so there is no point in going at it any longer. Not knowing Cash would continue to make hits and become bigger. Maybe it would not have happened? Who knows overall a good book.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as it tells the Johnny Cash story in a different light. This book is a good one for any reader wanting to understand the Music business.

This book will definitely be remembered as one of my all-time favorites. Johnny Cash was a favorite of my grandfather's and continues to be a favorite of my father's and my brother's so saying I grew up on the music of Cash is certainly an understatement. His music was probably more influential in my life than any other artist.

Saul Holiff was such an influential and important figure in Johnny Cash's life and I'm surprised that I didn't know / hadn't heard more about him until this book. You can tell his book was a labor of love for author Julie Chadwick and it seems apparent that she took her research and role in telling this story very seriously. If you're a fan of Johnny Cash or have any interest in music history, I highly recommend picking this one up.

This was a tough read for me. Though I found the glimpse into the music business as it existed during the Cash years intriguing, the personal dynamics of singer and manager made me sad. Both men seem like such tormented souls. It seems Julie Chadwick knows her subject well, and she has been quite thorough in her portrayals of the ups and downs of the relationship between two geniuses of vastly different backgrounds and talents. The book would make a fascinating book discussion selection, as there are so many moments during reading when I wanted to share with another. I cant say I was entertained, but it was such an exceptional story, I was riveted.

This book is an insight into the life ofJohnny Cash's manager. Although the book does concentrate on the big name more I felt. The author had help from his sons, however I felt it lacked depth about his feelings and relationships. It was an interesting read, to view from another prospective and follow the rise. If you are a Cash fan it is a great read.

This was a very interesting look into 13 years of the lives of Johnny Cash and his manager Saul Holiff. The book covers the early years of Mr. Cash's career and continues through his very star studded years. The book is very well written and extremely honest. Ms. Chadwick certainly was thorough with her research and did an excellent job of documenting her work.

Johnny's life as a star was often written about in movie magazines, including his well known battle with drugs. However, there is much in the book that was hidden from the press and has now come to fruition. The text covers drugs, arson, adultery, mayhem, and broken promises. At various times the material is shocking but keeps the reader turning the pages to see what Mr. Cash would do next.

The relationship between Mr. Cash and Mr. Holiff as extremely complex. Often the reader wonders who needed who more in this partnership.

4.5 stars. I think I've been a fan of Johnny Cash before I was even aware of it, having had his music ingrained into my system from a very early age. My parents burned out their first 8-track player letting it run all night for multiple nights, playing Johnny Cash music until it completely died. I think that's when the song "A Boy Named Sue" first entered my consciousness. And a new 8-track player showed up soon after so that we weren't without Johnny's music long. This book filled in a lot of background for me about Cash's life that I didn't get from the Movie Walk the Line or other things I've read about him. Somehow I didn't remember he'd been married before. And I really enjoyed learning about Saul Holiff. His life before, during and after his life with the star. It really made for quite a contrast that way and showed why they had their differences more, I believe. It really set the stage best for all that came after. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, despite the painful times I knew it covered, because of the honest realness and healing hopefulness its shared along with them. Thank you to NetGalley and DunDum for giving me an ARC Kindle copy of this book in return for my honest review.

I enjoy reading biographies, especially of people behind the scenes. Saul was on the edge of Johnny Cash's world. In many ways, he should have been just as famous. Today he probably would have been as now there is little privacy in any celebrities story. In many respects, it was a sad story and reinforced my feeling that no one in the spotlight can be truly happy. If you've read any of the autobiographies of the Cash's you'll want to read this one too.

Brilliant! I didn't want the story to end! Growing up my parents listened to Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Elvis, Buddy Holly to name but a few of the artists that are mentioned in the book and cross paths with Johnny during his lifetime. The book transported me back to another time. A time I never knew but so badly wished I could experience. When I wasn't reading I was listening to Johnny Cash's music or Patsy Cline. Apart from being well written and abundant with amazing facts, this was truly a spectacular book. When I got to the end I was devastated. I wanted more! I wanted to know how Johnny and June died; I wanted to know why Saul Holiff chose that particular day to end his life. Overall, a great read! A great experience!

A dark and deeply polished biography of the man behind The Man in Black. Deserves a place on the shelf beside Peter Guralnick's classic and encyclopedic Elvis bio, Last Train to Memphis. Yes, it's that good!

This is a must read for any country music fan and Johnny Cash fan. I enjoyed the movie, "Walk the Line" a few years back and thought I had a good idea about the life of Johnny Cash. After reading this book, I realized there was so much more! The book is also about his manager, Saul Holiff, and their relationship through the years. There were some great photos sprinkled throughout the book and lots of great information on other music stars at that time. The on and off relationship between Johnny and June is also featured as an over riding arc of the story. A must read for fans of Johnny Cash.