Missing Johnny Cash

A world without Johnny Cash. It's a notion the Man in Black's friends still have trouble grasping one year after his death.
• Kris Kristofferson befriended, wrote about, performed with and eulogized Johnny Cash. His mentor and father figure ''was absolutely unguide-able, I think. He would do whatever he wanted to do.''
Recalling his role as the chief eulogist at Cash's funeral, Kristofferson's voice cracks. ''Oh, man, it was just like talking about your father or something . . . John was bigger than music, just like Muhammad Ali is bigger than boxing,'' he said. ''Without any of his shows or anything, he was an example that was inspiring for an American. He probably was the best of Americans.
''I'm not even in the same breath with Johnny Cash. I think I believe in duty, honor and country, but John belongs up there on Mount Rushmore.''

• Cowboy Jack Clement, singer-songwriter, artist and producer, became friends with Cash in 1956. ''I know I think about him every day. And I miss him a lot. He was one of my best friends for close to 50 years. I loved the man and I still do.''
Clement saw something special, spiritual even, during the last mournful and monumental recording sessions at the cabin in Hendersonville: ''He reminded me of a saint, I guess. I think his goal in life was to become a saint. I think he got real close. He just wanted to be a good man. He was a good man. He was a great man. He loved to help people.''

• Marshall Grant, bassist for the Tennessee Three, ''sees'' John R. Cash regularly. ''I still dream about him every night,'' says the 76-year-old Hernando, Miss., resident. ''For some reason my dreams have made full circle, back to the early part of our career. We may be on stage. We may be doing a song. He may be laughing or doing something funny.
''We may be driving down the road, Luther (Perkins), me, John. My big, old bass strapped on the top of the car. John has that little Martin guitar of mine in his hands. He couldn't afford a guitar when we started, so he used mine.
''He's so much bigger than life, you thought that life for him would go on forever . . . . But last year I looked down at that casket and at him and said, 'This can't be true.' But it was.''

• Bobby Bare, singer-songwriter, laments the loss of his neighbor and fishing buddy.
''John was just a good man with a good heart. He was always sitting there, ready to help.''
When the Bares' daughter, Cari, died in 1975, ''John was right here every minute. He took me to the graveyard . . . . I bought plots for all of my family. Our plots are right there by Mama Maybelle, June, John. So at least I know where we're going to be planted.''

Tim Ghianni, Senior Writer