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“Hello I’m Johnny Cash” was the simple introduction that the 1950’s rockabilly star used to greet his audience, yet his life story is anything but simple. The influential and most recognized American country/rock singer and songwriter sold over 50 million records throughout his career. Cash sadly passed away on September 12 of 2003 but will forever be praised for his deep and distinctive sound that made him an international legend.

J.R Cash was born in rural Kingsland, Arkansas on February 26, 1932. His family moved to Dyess, Arkansas where he began working in cot Continued...

ton fields at the age of 5. The struggles that his family had gone through living during the depression are what inspired the very dark style of songwriting apparent in many of his songs. When JR was not busy working in the fields, he was listening to country and blues on the radio. Encouraged by his mother Reba, Cash composed his first song at the age of 12. The boy was permanently scarred by his older brother Jack’s tragic death in 1944, an event also believed to have contributed to Johnny’s dark impression of the world.

Cash joined the Air Force in July of 1950. During this period he formed his first band “The Landsberg Barbarians” named after a base in Germany. Cash was soon discharged from the Air Force in July of 1954. A month later he married Vivian Liberto, moved to Memphis Tennessee and found a job selling appliances. At night he practiced guitar with fellow guitarist Luther Perkins and bass player Marshall Grant. The three later auditioned for Sun Records as Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two.

Their first single was “Cry, Cry, Cry” was reasonably successful. The group’s first major Country hit was in 1956 with “I Walk the Line” reaching number one on the charts. “Folsom Prison Blues” was also a success making the Country Top 5. In 1958, the band welcomed drummer W.S. Holland and became Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Three. In the same year, the group left Sun Records and signed with major label Colombia Records. “Don’t Take Your Guns to Town” was their first hit with Colombia.

Johnny moved to California and began touring with June Carter in 1961. The group scored another major hit with the song “Ring of Fire” in 1963. During this time, Cash experienced much stress due to the constant touring, the collapse of his marriage and the death of his friend Johnny Horton. He was drinking heavily and developed an addiction to amphetamines and barbiturates. The drugs quickly took over his judgment as he was arrested for possession in 1965 and then nearly died of an overdose in 1967.

In 1968, Carter and Cash married after a longtime affair. Later, the album Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison was released and made him an international star. From 1969 to 1971, he starred in his own television show on ABC which featured appearances by several rock artists such as Neil Young, Bob Dylan, The Monkees, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot and Kris Kristofferson. The nickname “The Man in Black” was termed in 1970, referring to Cash’s consistent all black dress code which was explained in his song.

Johnny’s last major country hit was in 1976 with “One Piece at a Time”. In 1985, Cash joined Kristofferson, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings to form The Highwaymen. The group had two major hits, “The Highwaymen” and “Desperadoes Waiting for a Train”. He was dropped from Colombia Records in 1986, signed with Mercury Records, and then later switched to American Records in 1993. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. Despite health problems, Cash lived until 2003 eventually passing from diabetes complications.