Bootleg

Today Johnny Cash's stature as an icon of American music is commanding and significant. When it comes to singers of any genre - country, Western or rockabilly; blues, folk or gospel - few have achieved the height of The Man in Black. Despite his death in 2003, Cash continues to grow in influence, casting a shadow that reaches far beyond the country circle from whence he grew.

To know the tree, one must begin at the root and take in all the branches; to fully grasp Cash's old-growth legend, one must hear his earliest performances, as well as unreleased or under-promoted recordings that somehow remained out of earshot of an adoring (and still-expanding) public.

Such is the mission of the Johnny Cash Bootlegs, a series of multiple-disc packages being released in 2011 and coming years, brimming with historical importance but also delivering thoroughly enjoyable listening experiences, each programmed to stand as a captivating doorway into Cash's popular legacy as effectively as any greatest hits compilation.

Featuring previously unreleased and incredibly hard-to-find singles, demos and other rarities recorded from 1955 through the late '60s, "Bootleg, Vol. II: From Memphis To Hollywood" chronicles his exciting rise from local sensation to an artist of national importance, his songs reaching millions through best-selling albums and hit movies. The 57-track collection is a boon for collectors with 16 never issued recordings, plus 11 singles and 11 outtakes released digitally for the first time in the U.S. But "Bootleg II" also resonates with mainstream appeal, telling a captivating story that captures pivotal moments in Cash's far-ranging career, while reflecting the trends and transitions of those years.