MP3 Rosey Carter - The Wildwood Rose
All original Country music, the last recordings of Rosey Carter, daughter of June Carter Cash/stepdaughter of Johnny Cash, recorded before her untimely death in 2003.
8 MP3 Songs
COUNTRY: Country Folk, FOLK: Gentle
Details:
This CD is dedicated to the love and memories of my late wife and eternal soul mate, Rosey Carter Adams A.K.A. “The Wildwood Rose”, all those who have since passed on with her and to the few who remain. Rosey was one flower whose voice was, until now, only heard by a lucky few. This CD was also made as a reminder to the rest of the world of the talent that went into creating it and all those we’ve lost since. Johnny and June, who need no introduction, provided all the spiritual inspiration and leadership that anyone would ever need. Rosey supplied the heart, the voice and the words to the songs. Jimmy was the strings on the fiddle that haunt the background of this CD. Bob spoke the words that motivated Rosey into the studio and helped create some of the lyrics on this CD. And Merle Kilgore was the smile and the inspiration behind Rosey and Jimmy’s last recording “Cry Baby Holler”. Last time I saw him, he was thrilled with the song and stated that I needed to get it out there. So this CD is also in honor of his last wish to me. Without each of these four poeple mentioned, I would not have this small body of work that means so much to me and did also to all of them. I miss them very very much as we all do.
Rosey has one of the most impressive pedigrees in music history. She is the daughter of June Carter Cash, Grand Daughter of Mother Maybell Carter, and stepdaughter of Johnny Cash. Although June and Johnny both never referred to their children as “step”. She is a half sister to Carlene Carter and John Carter Cash, stepsister to Rosana Cash and spirit sister to all in the music world. She was born Rozana Lea Nix, daughter of June Carter and Rip Nix, July 13, 1958. She was buried Rozana Lea Adams and left me alone in this world October 24, 2003. She was and always will be my buddy, best friend, soul mate and the most compassionate wife any man would ever hope to have. I love you Rosey and will miss you daily ‘til I see you again on the far banks of Jordan. Until then, my heart remains broken and I am lost without you.
Popabilly Muzic was a brainchild of mine that Rosey loved. One day we were talking about music categories and I said a lot of mine and Rosey’s music was kind of Rockabilly with a little more pop than rock, thus Popabilly was conceived. Since Rosey’s passing it has been very hard for me to work on this project, but the time has come for me to share with the rest of the world the gift God gave us in Rosey Carter.
Johnny Cash once told me “Rosey sang with more heart than anyone he had ever heard and if Rosey wanted to be a star she would be the brightest one of them all.” He said, “She is surrounded by golden rings and all she had to do was reach out and grab them.” But after a lifetime on the road with the Johnny Cash show as a back up singer, fame meant nothing to her; in fact she avoided it at all cost.
Rosey was everything to me besides being the love of my life she was also my music partner. 5 of 8 songs she last recorded I wrote or co-wrote. She loved my songs and I loved her voice, together we made beautiful music.
I met Rosey in the fall of 1996 at a mutual friends house known in the music business as Poo Bah, A.K.A. Don Mealer, a great singer and songwriter. We instantly became friends and started writing songs together. After a couple of weeks Rosey asked me why I hadn’t asked her out on a “real date” and take her to do something besides write songs. The next night I took her out on our first official date and we were inseparable after that. I later told Rosey the reason had not asked her out was because I was scared to death or intimidated... or both! I had nothing but a ‘49 Chevy pickup I had restored when I packed up and left Dallas for Tennessee. She on the other hand came from everything money could buy; you might say I came from the other side of the tracks. Never the less, Rosey and me were perfect for each other. We never fought, well I didn’t. Rosey would get mad and try to pick a fight. I would just say Rosey your right and I am wrong so lets not fight. How could she be mad then? She was always right and I was always wrong, but I did not care.
Now, the first time I met John and June they treated me like family, little did I know that I would soon become family. Later Rosey told me that June was all for our relationship and that John was jealous of me because all June would talk about was Philip this and Philip that and he was Johnny Cash!!! He was used to being the center of attention! Now God knows I could never steal any of his thunder nor would I try! Eventually, Johnny would learn to love me. I think he understood how I felt about Rosey. There was a time in Virginia we went to play the Carter Fold. Well, we had planned to stay for 3 or 4 weeks. Then, one day while doing laundry, Rosey fell in Uncle Joe’s basement and broke her ankle. Frantic I called 911, but down in poor valley Virginia there ain’t no 911! I then called June and Johnny to see if they could get an ambulance down here. June later told me that Johnny said I don’t know how badly Rosey is hurt, but Philip is in terrible shape. After that we were good friends. I then asked him for his blessing to marry Rosey; he said he would be honored. I didn’t know that June was already planning our union. On February 8, 2000, we were married in Jamaica at the Great House Cinnamon Hill. Johnny Cash was my best man and June was Rosey’s maid of honor, but I was the one that was truly honored. As soon as we said “I Do” Johnny said welcome to the family son we’re all crazy as hell! That was no news to me, having spent the last four years with Rosey. The next 3 ½ years I concentrated on recording Rosey. She was such a gifted singer, I thought it was such a shame that she had not made her mark on the music business.
Now, I’ll admit I had a selfish motive for doing this record; I wanted it for my own personal listening. I soon realized that the world should hear her voice. We were at a family reunion in Virginia sitting on Mother Maybell’s front porch having a guitar pull when Johnny asked Rosey to sing him a song. She picked up her guitar and started to sing her favorite song, which so happened to be one that I wrote, Hard Times in the Heart Land. Before she finished Johnny started to tear up, which then made me tear up. I have to admit that was and will be my most gratifying moment as a songwriter. I don’t think any award or monitory achievement could have matched that feeling. Afterwards, Rosey said do you know how many thousands of songs he’s listened to and never showed that emotion? From then on every time we’d go see June and Johnny he would, ask Rosey to sing him that song. He told Rosey that we were two of the best-kept secrets in Nashville. I said the public may not know us, but it feels good to be recognized by the greatest icon in the music business and that’s pretty good!
Anyway, I could go on and on about Rosey, June, John, and Popabilly Muzic, but it is about the art of music making. Every song has its story so I will start with the last song recorded by Rosey, “Cry Baby Holler”. I first heard the idea from Poo Ba, he said Merle Kilgore gave him a song to see if he liked it or wanted to work on it. He said Merle first worked on it some 25 years ago, I did not fall in love with the song, but the idea blew me away. It stuck in my head like glue so I told Rosey I wanted to try and re-write the song, she said “Well Good Luck.” Now I knew it had to be much better than what Merle had or it would be a waste of time. Merle being a good friend of mine and Rosey’s, I knew he would listen if I could do a good enough job. Well, I did and the song blew Rosey away. Now understand that Merle is in the song writing Hall of Fame and I was an unknown writer. Merle co-wrote “Ring of Fire” with June Carter, back when June and Johnny were falling in love. He was also Hank Williams Jr.’s manager. So I was a little scared when I went to his office to tell him I stole his hook and re-wrote “Cry Baby Holler”. I told him if he did not like it I would throw it in the trash, it was not my style to steal hooks. So he said, “WeIl let’s, listen to it,” he put the record in and played it over and over again, then looked at me and said, “great job Philip, I guess I have two versions of the song” and I said yes sir, we do. That’s how I created this version of “Cry Baby Holler” with Merle Kilgore!
The second song on this album, “Cry Baby Holler” was the last song recorded by Rosey and Jimmy Cambell. He was a great talent and good friend. He will be greatly missed. Now I have learned of Bob House and Merle Kilgore both passing in such a short period of time. I find it strange that so many of the people that helped me write and record this song have gone and I find it ironic that the song is a ghost story.
Only myself, Sky Younger, and Clifford Gaffow remain. So now is the time for PopaBilly Muzic to release these last recordings of Rosey Carter and this haunting rendition of “Cry Baby Holler”.
Yours truly,
Philip Adams
President - PopaBilly Muzic & Publishing