“Jackson,” a song instantly recognizable and beloved for its fiery back-and-forth between Johnny Cash and June Carter, is more than just a country classic. It’s a testament to enduring songwriting, unexpected inspiration, and the magic that happens when the right artists connect with the right song. While forever linked to the legendary Cash-Carter duo, the story of “Jackson” begins with the prolific and multifaceted songwriter, Billy Edd Wheeler.
From Coal Mines to College: The Roots of a Songwriter
Billy Edd Wheeler’s journey to becoming a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer started far from the bright lights of Music Row, in the hardscrabble coal mining community of Highcoal, West Virginia. As he recounts in his memoir “Hotter Than a Pepper Sprout,” Wheeler’s childhood was challenging. Escape came in the form of Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, North Carolina. This move south was transformative, as Wheeler himself stated in an interview with Come Hear NC, “My whole life started here after I got out of the coal camps of West Virgina.”
Warren Wilson instilled in him a powerful work ethic and nurtured his creative spirit. He credits the college with his development as both a painter and a songwriter, a true creative rebirth. Before college, music was a nascent interest. At 13, a $14 Sears & Roebuck guitar became his entry point. He learned chords from local coal miners, laying the foundation for his songwriting, initially built on simple three-chord structures. This humble beginning belies the sophisticated and nuanced songwriting that would later define his career and produce hits like “Jackson.”
The photograph of John C. Campbell that inspired Billy Edd Wheeler to write Reverend Mr. Black
Serendipity in Songwriting: From Playwriting to Hit Records
Wheeler’s path wasn’t a straight shot to songwriting stardom. He pursued playwriting at Yale, a seemingly different artistic discipline that ironically contributed to his lyrical prowess. His early music career involved navigating the bustling New York folk scene. Crucially, he encountered music publisher Harold Newman, who helped him record his first record. Another chance meeting with Norman Gimbel, the lyricist behind “Girl from Ipanema,” proved insightful. Gimbel, despite initially offering a humorous dose of reality (“You write songs like people breathe. But you’ll never make any money.”), connected Wheeler with legendary producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, known for shaping the sound of Elvis Presley and The Coasters.
Leiber and Stoller’s direct feedback, though initially critical, was invaluable. Jerry Leiber advised Wheeler to listen to songs more critically, focusing on the narrative core: “What’s it about? When you decide what it’s about, you write an opening verse, you get to the chorus as quickly as you can, and then you write another verse if you have to, and then end it with the chorus.” This lesson in song structure and narrative became a cornerstone of Wheeler’s hit-making ability.
The inspiration for his first major hit, “The Reverend Mr. Black,” came unexpectedly from a photograph sent by a friend from Warren Wilson. It was a picture of John C. Campbell, founder of a folk school in Brasstown, North Carolina, on horseback. This image sparked the idea for a song about a preacher, drawing from a line Wheeler recalled from “Mule Train”: “There’s a Bible in the sack for the Reverend Mr. Black.” “The Reverend Mr. Black,” recorded by The Kingston Trio, became Wheeler’s breakthrough, demonstrating the power of visual inspiration and a well-crafted narrative in songwriting.
The Unexpected Spark for “Jackson”: Virginia Woolf and Marital Sparring
The origin of “Jackson,” arguably Wheeler’s most famous song, is even more unconventional. Its genesis can be traced back to Wheeler’s time at Yale and a play: “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”. He was struck by the intense, often barbed, dynamic between the play’s central couple. As Wheeler explained, “if you saw the movie – I mean [remember] how the man and woman fight and go at each other like crazy?… It is natural for a couple to spar in good faith, good spirit, but this was not [that]. This was mean.”
This combative, yet compelling, marital energy sparked the idea for “Jackson.” He needed a location name that conveyed a certain strength and edge. Nashville felt too soft, but “Jackson” resonated with the desired grit. The song captures the playful, yet slightly antagonistic, banter between a couple, each threatening to outdo the other in their respective journeys to Jackson. This dynamic, born from the dramatic tension of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, became the heart of “Jackson’s” appeal.
“Jackson” Takes Flight: Johnny Cash and June Carter’s Iconic Rendition
While “Jackson” was initially recorded by others, it was the 1967 rendition by Johnny Cash and June Carter that catapulted the song into legendary status. Their performance transformed “Jackson” into an iconic duet, perfectly embodying the song’s playful sparring and romantic tension. The chemistry between Cash and Carter, both on and off stage, amplified the song’s inherent drama. Their version won a Grammy Award and became a defining song for both artists, cementing “Jackson” in the annals of country music history and ensuring its enduring popularity.
“Jackson” resonated deeply with audiences because it captured a relatable aspect of relationships – the playful arguments, the underlying affection, and the individualistic spirit within a partnership. Johnny Cash and June Carter’s performance brought authenticity and lived-in emotion to the song, making it feel both personal and universally appealing. The success of “Jackson” with Cash and Carter highlights not only Wheeler’s songwriting talent but also the transformative power of interpretation and the magic that happens when a song finds its perfect voice.
Beyond “Jackson”: A Legacy of Song and Story
While “Jackson” remains Billy Edd Wheeler’s most commercially successful song, his catalog is rich with other notable works. “Coward of the County,” popularized by Kenny Rogers, became another major hit, even inspiring a television movie. “Ode to the Shack in the Back” showcased his humorous side, drawing from his childhood experiences. “Winter Sky,” recorded by Judy Collins, revealed his poetic and introspective songwriting.
Wheeler’s songs share a common thread: they grab the listener from the first verse, telling stories and evoking emotions with clarity and wit. As he himself observed, “One that just grabs you…you know? [You hear] the first verse, and you want to hear the rest of it.” Beyond songwriting, Billy Edd Wheeler’s creative pursuits extended to playwriting, novels, poetry, painting, and sculpture, solidifying his reputation as a true renaissance man. However, it’s his songwriting, and particularly “Jackson,” the Jackson Johnny Cash Song, that has left an indelible mark on American music, a testament to the power of observation, inspiration from unexpected places, and the enduring appeal of a well-told story set to music.
