With the birth of Rock and Roll now in the mix, not even the highest-ranking recording artists or record producers could have predicted the famous names that would ink across the pages of the magazine. Whether it be the cover, a record release, a charting, or a Cash Box Award recipient, these names were the faces of Cash Box, and in these years - Eddy Arnold (1949), Mahala Jackson (1955), The Crew Cuts (1955), Ed Sullivan (1955), Little Richard (1956), Chuck Berry (1958), Johnny Horton (1959), Ray Price (1959), Sam Cooke (1960), Marty Robbins (1962), Ike and Tina Turner (1962), Patsy Cline (1962/1963), The Rolling Stones (1964), George Jones (1965), Johnny Cash (1968), Diana Ross and The Supremes (1968), Hank Williams (1969), The Beatles (1969), Marvin Gaye (1969), Paul Simon (1973), Alice Cooper (1973), Three Dog Night (1974), Tom Jones (1974), The Statler Brothers (1977), Stevie Wonder (1977/1987), Johnny Mathis (1978), and Aretha Franklin (1979). Then there was Elvis, who had huge records, with eighteen #1 singles. Elvis lived on the pages of Cash Box (1956-1977). Barely scratching the surface through the 70s, it is near impossible to have a conclusive listing, the artists are way too vast in numbers. This sampling is to merely reflect on the gamut of genres, the diversity of artists, and the notoriety of the magazine, in what the music industry would refer to as its heyday - the eras that would change the music world. George Albert and Cash Box have been thought to be the influential force in changing the name “race music” into the captivating Rhythm and Blues (R&B).

​

Having varying opinions, some believe that the 1970s was the superior decade, the best decade for music. However, another music shift was on the horizon ushering in Modern Rock and Golden Era Hip Hop. Country music, itself, was reimaging and creating a new silhouette.

In spite of all this, the 80s and 90s publications showed little signs of slowing down with artists such as these all over its pages: Dire Straits, Heart, Jann Browne, Aretha Franklin, Indecent, The Black Crows, Laura Branigan, Carly Simon, Billy Joel, Crystal Gayle, Larry Gatlin, Talking Heads, Deniece Williams, Shirley Caesar, K. T. Oslin, Ramones, Barry White, Horse Sense, Pink Floyd, Jim Croce, Menudo, Alabama, Lionel Richie, R.E.M., John Lennon, and on and on.

The magazine was no longer a US articles only publication, it was picking up music news from Canada, Great Britain, Belgium, Holland, Japan, Mexico, and other foreign countries. Cash Box offices were opening in Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, France, Australia, Argentina, and growing. Music news was literally encircling the globe. Never had there been such a platform (rivaled only to Billboard) to gather so much music artistry, long running, and under one ginormous venue.

​

A young Belmont University graduate, serving as intern for the Gospel Music Association, was recruited into his dream job to become the Nashville Charting Researcher for Cash Box. Kevin Hughes was recruited by Cash Box’s Director of Nashville Operations, Richard F. “Tony” D’Antonio. It wasn't long before Kevin discovered a shady operation behind the scenes - D’Antonio and his partner Chuck Dixon were padding chart numbers while pocketing the money. Kevin was very uncomfortable working in that situation.

On the night of March 9, 1989, Kevin and friend - Country singer, Sammy Sadler - were leaving a studio on music row.  For fear of Kevin knowing and exposing his scandal, D’Antonio shot and murdered Kevin. He was only 23 years old. Sammy was severely injured. Thankfully, he survived but his music career took a hit. In what was first thought to be a robbery, this tragic event became known as “Murder on Music Row.” D'Antonio was arrested for first-degree murder in 2002. Sadler is still pursuing a music career and performing. He authored a book about that fateful night in March titled, “A Hit with a Bullet.”

Such a front-page news headline will often turn into a stigma for all associated. For Cash Box, that stigma resulted in a decline of the magazine, losing some of its credibility with artists, record labels, producers, and promoters. Quoted by a Music Row heir, “As did my dad, the music industry became disenchanted.” 1996 would see the last of Cash Box in its original form, the magazine ceased publication. Selected printed, original versions of the historic magazine are housed in the archives at the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia.