The Sin City Encounter Where Bob Dylan Fooled Johnny Cash Into Believing He Was an “Old Country Singer”

The relationship between Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan has amounted to phenomenal songs, sentimental letters, and a silver screen relationship. However, none of this would have transpired if it wasn’t for Dylan’s chameleon-like voice, and the moment Cash heard it for the first time. Without that moment, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan would have merely brushed shoulders at events such as the Grammys.

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Even though the public eye heavily documented Cash and Dylan’s relationship, there are still quite a few moments about the pair that don’t get the limelight they deserve. Particularly, the beginning of their relationship is bogged down by everything that follows. Which is a shame, because what is any good story without a great beginning?

Bob Dylan, Las Vegas, and Johnny Cash’s Open Ears

It is quite obvious that Johnny Cash heard a lot of music during his years on earth. That being so, one might believe it to be impossible to knock the Man in Black out of his shoes. However, Bob Dylan seamlessly and incidentally did it on an arbitrary night when Johnny Cash was in Las Vegas.

In the book, Cash on Cash: Interviews and Encounters With Johnny Cash, Cash spoke about the revelation that transpired within him upon hearing Dylan for the first time. He stated in the book, “The first time I heard him—I don’t know where it was, I believe in Las Vegas—I thought it was an old country singer.” “And then I realized somebody told me who he was—and I said, this is really unbelievable that he could get airplay singing that kind of music,” added Cash.

Cash continued, “I just heard a fresh approach to some old themes, but really done well with an insight that had never been put on record.” “I just loved his work, loved him. Always have. Still do. I just think he’s still the best thing out there,” concluded Johnny Cash. The vast majority knows the series of events that transpired subsequently. In short, Cash and Dylan became pen pals, friends, and then collaborators.

Notably, the song that garnered Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan their collaborative success was of course their duet on “Girl From The North Country.” However, that is merely the most successful seemingly because of its commercial reception. Though, it seems their most successful collaboration was simply being in the company of each other. The video below seemingly proves just that.

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