You're never too old....or too young

Johnny Cash and Rick Rubin seem like an odd pairing. Yet their work together is a great example of overcoming age stereotypes, typecasting and being able to recognize quality, depth and potential, even where nobody else can.

Johnny Cash, a huge star through the 60's and 70's, was virtually unknown by the late 80s. He'd been reduced to performing in remote towns, often in front of audiences of a few dozen. He was well and truly yesterday's news. The music industry and public had moved on.

Rick Rubin was one of the young, up-and-coming producers working with all the big hip-hop and metal artists.

Rubin became aware of Cash's all-but-over career and couldn't believe an artist who had achieved so much, such an icon, had been forgotten. So he reached out to Cash in the early 90s and began work on what would become known as the American Recordings - six albums that would finish Cash's career on a big high. The second album in the series (Unchained - with none other than Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers as the studio band) would go on to win a Grammy for Best Country Album in 1998.

Johnny Cash died in 2003 aged 71 with his career and standing having been restored by what might seem an unlikely collaboration - two gifted and talented people, each at different stages of their careers, needing each other to make it a success.

It just goes to show you’re never too old, or too young, to work together and do something great!

#worktogether #partnerships