Jesse Morris, man known to many as the 'punk rock Johnny Cash' died last Sunday in San Francisco, California. It was his 27th birthday. Morris, a well known figure to San Franciscans, could be seen most days busking in the 24th St. BART train station where he performed songs from Merle Haggard, Black Flag, among others. It is his Johnny Cash cover version for which he became best known, though. His voice bore an uncanny resemblance to that of the Man in Black and his versions of 'Folsom Prison Blues' and 'Sunday Morning Coming Down' were the regular soundtrack for San Francisco train commuters.
Details of his death are vague but it is known that Morris suffered from depression and attempted suicide by hanging last September.
Morris was quoted recently on his busing as saying: "I consider it a job. Just like some people might work in an office, I work at the station entertaining people. I get to do what I love, and I can make a living at it. The acoustics are good down here, the people are friendly" he said. "They stop and listen, they tip, they smile. I have a good time down here. I get down here and see I made somebody smile. It means something ... to see somebody stoked on something that you're doing; it's amazing."
