Anyone who has seen the brilliant ‘Walk The Line’ will know the significance that this singer’s performances had on the lives of his legion of fans. In his best shows, unrefined and untamed, he really let rip. Cash often provided a dynamic and improvised concert, infuriating the record label but delighting his fans. A good place to go to see how affected they were is The Official Johnny Cash Forum.

The Sky Arts documentary - Johnny Cash – Anthology - that airs today (6pm) and Saturday (12.30pm) takes a look at the eventful life of the country singer, and examines why he deserved the many plaudits and tributes that he received when he died in 2003. Contributions from fans, contemporaries and critics give this profile the authenticity lacking in other similar documentaries. Mixing interviews with performances, the programme takes an in-depth look at the life and tough times (Cash was definitely a student at the school of hard knocks) of the Man In Black.

Half singing, half growling traditional Country & Western lyrics, Cash sang from personal experience. Having spent time inside (three days) he could connect with his audiences during his prison concerts and San Quentin and Fulsom, and other life occurrences lent his songs credence that contemporary C & W singers could only emulate.

Modern country is surely only an imitation of the style and substance that Cash exuded. There is a large worldwide following for this type of music, (there’s a fan in every pub, club and company), and organisations can be found in the States, naturally, but also in far flung places (from the US) as Wales and Australia.