Rison in Cleveland County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

Johnny Cash Day in Arkansas
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Johnny Cash 1976 Concert

Johnny Cash Day in Arkansas Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 5, 2021

1. Johnny Cash Day in Arkansas Marker

Inscription.
Johnny Cash Day in Arkansas On March 20, 1976, Johnny Cash Day in Arkansas was declared by proclamation issued by then- Governor David Pryor. The festivities started in Kingsland where Johnny and his family boarded a special train, the SL&SW Cotton Belt, and rode to Rison. When the train arrived, Johnny was greeted by a large crowd. He spoke briefly and was presented the key to the city. After his speech, he served as Grand Marshal of the parade that traveled along Main Street to the Rison School. Some accounts estimate the total crowd for the day's events in the county to be over 20,000, with 10,000 attending the Johnny Cash concert held on the school's football field.

Johnny Cash 1976 Concert The Johnny Cash concert was held on a special stage that had been erected for the performance. Johnny was joined by his wife, June Carter Cash, as well as his band and the Carter Sisters as part of the show. He opened with "Ring of Fire" and "Ragged Old Flag," followed by many Cash standards and train songs including "Ridin' on the Cotton Belt." Johnny donated all concert proceeds to the Cleveland County

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Historical Society for the preservation of the Pioneer Village in Rison. He also donated his special concert suit, which for many years was displayed in the County Courthouse.

Erected 2021 by Cleveland County Historical Society. (Marker Number 22.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Arkansas Heritage series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 20, 1976.

Location. 33° 57.177′ N, 92° 11.312′ W. Marker is in Rison, Arkansas, in Cleveland County. It is on Main Street (Arkansas Route 35) north of School Drive, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 700 Main St, Rison AR 71665, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Arkansas’ Gulf Coastal Plain.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the

Johnny Cash 1976 Concert Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 5, 2021

2. Johnny Cash 1976 Concert Marker

Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Cash Family Reunions / Johnny Cash, AKA "William Overton" (approx. 0.4 miles away); Cleveland County Court House (approx. 2.4 miles away); Temperance Chapel Cemetery and Site of a Methodist Church South (approx. 5.1 miles away); Johnny Cash Birthplace (approx. 7.8 miles away); Crossroads Methodist Church (approx. 7.8 miles away); Johnny Cash Returns (approx. 9 miles away); Shelby's Approach (approx. 12 miles away); Cleveland County Battle of Mark's Mill (approx. 12 miles away).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

View north from marker towards Rison High School. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 5, 2021

3. View north from marker towards Rison High School.

View South from marker towards School Drive. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 5, 2021

4. View South from marker towards School Drive.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 6, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,279 times since then and 80 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 6, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.

Johnny Cash Day in Arkansas⎯⎯⎯Johnny Cash 1976 Concert

Johnny Cash Day in Arkansas
⎯⎯⎯
Johnny Cash 1976 Concert