The Chicago Post office celebrates the dedication of the commemorative Johnny Cash stamp at 11 a.m. June 7 in the East Lobby of the Main Post Office, 433 W. Harrison with live performances from the cast of "The Miillion Dollar Quartet" and the Lonseome Whippoorwills.

The post office e-mailed the announcement.

The stamp is the second in the series of the U.S. Postal Service's new Music Icons series.
"The Million Dollar Quartet" was Cash, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. The Lonesome Whippoorwills (named from a Hank Williams lyric) sprang from the volunteer group We Band Together (WBT) who play music for elderly residents in Chicago area nursing homes. Five members of the band decided to form the Lonesome Whippoorwills while continuing their volunteer efforts.

I wonder if they know Cash's tender 1958 cover of Jack Clement's "I Guess Things Happen That Way."
I hum this every time I stand in the slow lines at the post office at the Merchandise Mart:

"Well you ask me if I'll forget my baby.
I guess I will, someday.
I don't like it but I guess things happen that way.
You ask me if I'll get along.
I guess I will, someway.
I don't like it but I guess things happen that way..."

Customers can purchase the Cash stamp beginning June 4 at usps.com/stamps or at 800-782-6724. The series launched last month with the Lydia Mendoza Forever stamp and Ray Charles is on deck later this fall.

Friday's event is free and open to the public.

(L to R) , Marvin Junior, Chuck Barksdale (top), Vern Allison, Mickey McGill, Johnny Carter (bottom right)--the remarkable Dells.

For much of today's listening audience, the Dells are a distant echo from some velvet canyon.

The doo-wop and soul quintet formed 60 years ago this year under the streetlights of south suburban Harvey. Their journey led them to a 2004 induction into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. They were inducted by actor-filmmaker Robert Townsend, who grew up on the West Side of Chicago and used the Dells as a template for his 1990 movie "The Five Heartbeats."

Dells lead singer Marvin Junior died Wednesday of kidney failure at his home in Harvey. He was 77 years old.
He was surrounded by friends and family, near and afar.

The Dells catalog included seven gold singles, three gold albums and 25 top 40 hits.......

A moment Martin Atkins will never forget (Sun-Times photo by Andrew A. Nelles)

Life is a collection of unique moments.
A great kiss. A real last call. The first rock concert.

For many British musicians, the moment comes with the first bite of a Vienna pure beef Chicago hot dog. This rite of passage happens at Wrigleysville Dogs, 3730 N. Clark, across the street from the iconic Metro music club. Oasis dropped in at Wrigleysville several years ago. Former Public Image Ltd. and Nine Inch Nails drummer Martin Atkins, takes his English mates to the stand.
Atkins remembers the first moment he bit into a Wrigleysville dog.....

When you set out to do a Kenny Rogers tribute, what era is your money shot?

There's the psychedelic beginnings of the First Edition where Kenny "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Is In)" as well as the compelling cover of Mel Tillis' "Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town." Then there's the best known Country Kenny.

Lastly, you have post-facelift Kenny where he looks like the Most Interesting Man in the World.
The great Neil Diamond tribute artist Denny Diamond dropped me a line to say his friend Marty Edwards will be performing his "Kinda Kenny" tribute to Kenny Rogers at 11:30 a.m. May 10th at White Fence Farm, 1376 Joliet Rd. (old Route 66) in Romeoville, Il. That is not a typo.
It is a Branson-like morning start.......

You can find philosophy posted in the strangest places.
Earlier this week I was driving home on I-57 from Northern Mississippi. I began to feel tired as I approached Carbondale, Ill. I had been driving for six or seven hours.

The skies were cobalt blue and the temperature on my car dashboard read 73 degrees.
I pulled off into a rest stop. I took out my Michael Jordan beach blanket and laid down on the freshly mowed grass. A cool breeze washed across my face. I closed my eyes and thought of road trips into the sunset. I was lost in the moment.......

Eddie Holstein, 1997 (Sun-Times photo)

Many friends who played an embryonic role in my cultural reporting have recently taken the long walk to the other side.
I'm starting to feel a little lonely.

And Chicago singer-songwriter Eddie Holstein, who was also my enabler at O'Rourke's tavern, was close to the edge. But I'm happy to report he took a lickin' and kept on tickin.'.
Here's part of a nice little e-mail I got last night from Eddie.....