Jesse Morris or Punk Rock Johnny Cash (November 6, 1984 - November 6, 2011) was a busker from San Francisco, California. Six years after his death in 2011 a video of him playing a Johnny Cash song garnered 4 million views.
| Jesse Morris | |
|---|---|
 Jesse Morris (2010) | |
| Background information | |
| Born | November 6, 1984 San Francisco California U.S. |
| Died | November 6, 2011 (aged 27) San Francisco California U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations | |
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1997-2011 |
| Formerly of | Jesse Morris and the Man Cougars |
Early life
editHe was born November 6, 1984.[1] He grew up in Oakland Hills, Oakland, California and began busking when he was about 13 years old. Morris had a baritone voice and people told him it was suited to Johnny Cash songs.[2] He did not begin busking in the subways of San Francisco until he was 18 years old.[3]
Career
editHe become known for performing cover songs from Merle Haggard, Black Flag and Johnny Cash.[1] Morris was a busker in San Francisco and he became well known for his Johnny Cash covers and he earned the nickname the Punk Rock Johnny Cash.[4] His best known Johnny Cash covers were Folsom Prison Blues and Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down.[1] He also worked as a bouncer for a bar, and he had a band called Jesse Morris and the Man Cougars. He often busked at the BART's 24th Street Mission station and Montgomery Street stations.[4] Before his death he had begun recording a solo album of country songs, but he never completed the record.[5]
In 2008 he was named Best BART Musician in 2008 by San Francisco Weekly.[6]
Death and legacy
editMorris struggled with mental health issues and addiction.[6] Morris attempted suicide by hanging in September 2011. He was unsuccessful the first time but he successfully committed suicide November 6, 2011.[4]
A four-minute video of Morris busking while singing "Sunday Morning Comin' Down," went viral in 2017 garnering 4 million views.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c Flynn, Fiona (2012). "RIP Jesse Morris - 'The Punk Rock Johnny Cash'". Entertainment. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- ^ Broder Van Dyke, Michelle (13 January 2011). "Jesse Morris and the Man Cougars: Cash-like". SFGate. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- ^ Austin, Buck (3 September 2010). "Jesse Morris: The Subway Johnny Cash". Alarm Magazine. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ a b c "R.I.P. Jesse Morris: San Francisco's Punk Rock Johnny Cash". SFWeekly. 11 November 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- ^ Wilkey, Robin (16 November 2011). "Jesse Morris, Local Punk Rock Legend, Dies At 28 (VIDEO)". HuffPost News. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ a b Shoriak, Anna (16 November 2011). "Obituary: Local performer Jesse Morris loved by Bay Area music community". The Guardsman. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ Reuter, Annie (26 February 2017). "Street Musician's Johnny Cash Cover Goes Viral". Taste of Country. Retrieved 3 February 2023.