Memphis, Tennessee: Bronze Johnny Cash: First Performance

Johnny Cash first performed in 1954 in the church across the street from this statue. Unveiled June 12, 2019. Lit at night by color "ring of fire" lights in the sidewalk.

Address:: 999 S. Cooper St., Memphis, TN
Directions:: East of downtown. I-240 exit 21. Drive northwest on US-78/Lamar Ave. for three miles. Turn right at the stoplight (BP station) onto Parkway. Drive north a half-mile. The statue will be on the left, just past Walker Ave., in front of a brick building.

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Bronze Johnny Cash at night.

Bronze Johnny Cash: First Performance

The statue stands in an artsy area of midtown called Cooper Young, which alone has offbeat style. Plenty of restaurants, shopping and festivals. A better statue than many I have seen (I don't see that many Cash statues but I have seen a lot of Elvis.. a lot of Elvis). I didn't realize his first performance was at a church. And I like how this is designed to get up close and understand the song he was famous for. Worth seeing if you were seeing one, and only 1.5 miles from Sun Studio.

[James Pidgeon, 01/01/2023]

Johnny Cash statue.

Bronze Johnny Cash: First Performance

Sidewalk sculpture of young Johnny Cash. Cool!

[Amanda, 12/28/2019]

Johnny Cash statue.

Johnny Cash Ring of Fire

Kind of hard to find Johnny in the dark. He is right on the sidewalk.

[Kathie, 06/23/2019]

It sounds as if the "Ring of Fire" lighting that circles the statue needs brighter bulbs. It was unveiled on June 19, 2019. Johnny Cash gave his first public performance in the church across the street -- which declined hosting the statue -- in December 1954. His big hit, "Ring of Fire," wasn't written until eight years later.