Putting Their Stamp on the Music
On May 30, the United States Postal Service announced the release of a limited edition Johnny Cash stamp. Sales of the Forever stamp will begin on Thursday, June 5th at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, where John Carter Cash, Carlene Carter, Larry Gatlin, and Jamey Johnson will be on hand to honor Cash’s legacy. The postage, designed by art director Greg Breeding, features a photograph of Cash that was captured by Frank Bez during the Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash sessions in 1963. The late-great country music icon joins an impressive group of musicians immortalized by the USPS, including the Beatles, Miles Davis and Buddy Holly. Here is a selection of artists who have received the Service’s approval through the years.
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Miles Davis and Edith Piaf
In June of 2012, the Post Office – in conjunction with La Poste, the national mail carrier of France – honored jazz trumpeter Miles Davis and singer Edith Piaf.
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Elvis Presley
Twenty-nine cent stamp to commemorate the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley, issued in 1993. The U.S. Postal Service enlisted the help of the public to vote on whether to feature a younger or older version of Elvis on the stamp.
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Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly was featured in the Legends of American Music: Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues series issued in 1993.
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Dinah Washington
Dinah Washingston was featured in the Legends of American Music: Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues series issued in 1993.
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Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk was featured in the Legends of American Music: Jazz Musicians series, issued in 1995.
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Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra's son Frank Sinatra, Jr. poses in front of the new United States Postal Service stamp in tribute to his father, in Beverly Hills, California on December 12th, 2007.
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The Beatles
Royal Mail stamps featuring the Beatles, at the Abbey Road Studios in London.
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The Beatles
Royal Mail stamps featuring the Beatles, at the Abbey Road Studios in London.
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Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Hawkins was featured in the Legends of American Music: Jazz Musicians series, issued in 1995.
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John Lennon
The Commemorative Portrait Stamps of John Lennon collection, designed by renowned artist Yuan Lee, captures the many faces of the Beatle marking the 15th anniversary of his death.
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Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong was featured in the Legends of American Music: Jazz Musicians series, issued in 1995.
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Bill Haley
Bill Haley was featured in the Legends of American Music: Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues series issued in 1993.
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Clyde McPhatter
Clyde McPhatter was featured in the Legends of American Music: Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues series issued in 1993.
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The Beatles
The Beatles were featured on this United States Postal Service stamp issued in 1999.
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Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald was featured on this United States Postal Service stamp issued in 2007.
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Hip-Hop Culture
This Hip-Hop Culture stamp was issued by the United States Postal Service in 2000.
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John Coltrane
John Coltrane was featured in the Legends of American Music: Jazz Musicians series issued by the United States Postal Service in 1995.
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Leadbelly
Leadbelly appeared on this stamp issued by the United States Postal Service in 1998.
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Woody Guthrie
Woody Guthrie was featured on this 1998 United States Postal Service stamp honoring folk musicians.
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Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix was featured in the Music Icons series issued in 2014.
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Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin was featured in the Music Icons series issued in 2014.
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Elvis Presley, 2015
Elvis Presley was featured as part of the Music Icons series in 2015.
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Ray Charles
Ray Charles was featured in the Music Icons series in 2013.