Johnny Cash

NAME Johnny Cash (born J.R. Cash)

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Johnny Cash is renowned as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, known for his deep, distinctive voice and genre-spanning music that included country, rock, folk, and gospel. He is also famous for his "Man in Black" persona and his performances at prisons.

BIRTH Johnny Cash was born on February 26, 1932, in Kingsland, Arkansas, one of seven children born to Ray Cash and Carrie Cloveree (née Rivers).

FAMILY BACKGROUND Cash was born into a poor farming family during the Great Depression. His parents, Ray and Carrie Cash, were hardworking, religious, and instilled strong values in their children. His father worked as a sharecropper.

CHILDHOOD Cash had a difficult childhood marked by hardship and loss. He grew up in Dyess, Arkansas, where his family struggled to make ends meet. One of the most traumatic events of his life was the death of his older brother, Jack, who died in a tragic accident when Johnny was 14. This event deeply affected him and shaped much of his music.

EDUCATION Cash attended Dyess High School, where he developed an interest in music. He received his first guitar at age 10 and began writing songs as a teenager. He took only three voice lessons before being advised by his teacher to maintain his natural singing style.

CAREER RECORD Johnny Cash's music career took off in 1955 when he made his first recordings at Sun Records, including "Hey Porter" and "Cry! Cry! Cry!" He went on to release numerous hit songs and albums, becoming a country music legend. He sold over six-and-a-half million records in 1969, more than any other artist that year. Cash's performances in prisons, particularly at Folsom Prison, further cemented his legacy. He made his last ever live performance on July 5, 2003, when he appeared at the Carter Ranch.

APPEARANCE Johnny Cash was tall and lean with distinctive dark features. He was known for his rugged appearance, often seen wearing black, which contributed to his "Man in Black" persona. Cash had a deep, resonant voice that was instantly recognizable.

Cash in 1969 by Joel Baldwin 

FASHION Cash's fashion sense was defined by his preference for black clothing, which he wore to symbolize his empathy for the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed, as he explained in his song "Man in Black."

CHARACTER Johnny Cash was a complex individual, known for his deep sense of morality and empathy, especially for the downtrodden. He was also a man of faith, though he struggled with personal demons such as drug addiction.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Cash recorded several humorous songs including "One Piece at a Time" and "A Boy Named Sue." 

Cash had a mischievous sense of humor, exemplified by his antics on tour, such as releasing 500 baby chickens in a hotel. His humor often surfaced in his interactions with fans and during performances.

RELATIONSHIPS Johnny Cash's personal life was marked by two significant marriages. He married his first wife, Vivian Liberto, on August 7, 1954, and they had four daughters. Their marriage ended in 1966 due to Cash's drug abuse and touring schedule. 

Johnny Cash married June Carter on March 1, 1968, in Franklin, Kentucky. The wedding took place at the Franklin First United Methodist Church, which is located across the street from the Simpson County Courthouse.

The couple's decision to marry in Franklin was influenced by Kentucky's marriage laws, which allowed them to purchase a license and get married on the same day, unlike their home state of Tennessee, which required a longer waiting period. This quick turnaround was particularly appealing to Cash and Carter, as they had only gotten engaged a week earlier on February 22, 1968, while performing together in London, Ontario, Canada. Merle Kilgore, who co-wrote Cash's hit song "Ring of Fire," served as the best man. A non-alcoholic reception was held at Cash's home in Hendersonville, Tennessee, following the ceremony

John and June Carter Cash remained together until her death in 2003. They had one son, John Carter Cash, who is a musician, songwriter, and producer.

Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash in 1969

MONEY AND FAME Cash achieved significant fame and financial success throughout his career, becoming one of the best-selling music artists of all time. However, his wealth was also accompanied by personal struggles, including addiction.

Johnny Cash was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on January 15, 1992, during the induction ceremony held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Country music artist Lyle Lovett performed the induction, praising Cash for his ability to blend "rural sensibilities and values with an urban environment.

FOOD AND DRINK Cash enjoyed simple, home-cooked meals. He struggled with addiction to alcohol and drugs for many years, which impacted his health and personal life.

MUSIC AND ARTS  Johnny Cash was a prolific musician, blending various genres such as country, rock, and gospel. He was known for his storytelling through music, often reflecting themes of sorrow, redemption, and social justice. He also had a deep appreciation for other art forms. 

Johnny Cash was no ordinary fella. He grew up in a place where cotton was king and the radio was a revelation. A dab hand with a guitar, he even got his own show on the local station when he was still young enough to be delivering papers. The Air Force came calling next, and off he went to Germany for a spell.

Back in the States, he stumbled into the heart of the rockabilly revolution in Memphis. That’s where the magic happened – Sun Records, the place where raw talent was bottled and sold. “Folsom Prison Blues” and “I Walk the Line” were his calling cards, but the man was a versatile cuss. He could belt out a comic number like “One Piece at a Time” with the best of ‘em, and his duets with June Carter were pure gold.

Cash had a knack for finding himself in unlikely places. Prisons, for one. He was the king of the jailhouse concert, a man who could command silence in a room full of hardened criminals. Cash played the first of his jailhouse shows at San Quentin prison in San Rafael, California on January 1, 1960. 

On January 13, 1968, Johnny Cash strolled into Folsom State Prison in California, guitar in hand, and delivered  two electrifying concerts that would change the trajectory of his career—and perhaps popular music itself. These performances, recorded and later released as the album At Folsom Prison, are now enshrined in music history, but the story behind them is as compelling as the man who made them happen.

For starters, the idea of recording a live album at a maximum-security prison didn’t exactly send Columbia Records into a frenzy of excitement. Thankfully, Cash had producer Bob Johnston in his corner, a man who seemed to understand that magic often lives in the most unexpected places. And magic is exactly what Johnston captured, complete with the cheers, laughter, and raucous applause of an inmate audience whose reactions gave the album its singular, unvarnished charm.

The bulk of the album came from the first of the two concerts that day, When At Folsom Prison was finally released, it defied the skepticism of Columbia’s executives and became a runaway hit. It didn’t just top the country charts; it climbed into the upper echelons of the national album chart, and went on to sell over 3.4 million copies, earning triple-platinum certification and solidifying Cash’s reputation as the patron saint of the misunderstood and downtrodden.

And as if that weren’t enough, the live rendition of “Folsom Prison Blues” became a Top 40 hit, marking a triumphant comeback for a man whose career had been on the wane. The success of the album didn’t just revitalize Cash’s popularity—it cemented his status as a cultural icon, the kind of larger-than-life figure who could walk into a prison, sing a few songs, and emerge not just unscathed but transformed. 

And then there was the time his guitarist up and died. No problem, says Johnny, I’ll just grab a random bloke from the audience. That’s how he ended up with Bob Wootton for nearly thirty years.

The awards piled up like cordwood – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Country Music Hall of Fame, the whole shebang. But even with all the fame and fortune, he never lost touch with his roots. A true original, the Man in Black.

LITERATURE Cash enjoyed reading and was inspired by various literary works.

In 1985, Cash published Man In White, a novel about the life of Saint Paul the Apostle, reflecting his interest in religious and philosophical themes.

NATURE Cash had a connection with nature, evident in his love for the outdoors. However, this relationship with nature took a strange turn in the early 1980s when he was attacked by a male ostrich he kept on his farm.

PETS  Cash enjoyed the companionship of animals, particularly dogs.

He kept various animals on his farm, including an ostrich that attacked him in the early 1980s, leading to severe injuries and a brief relapse into drug addiction due to the painkillers he was prescribed.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Cash enjoyed outdoor activities such as fishing and horseback riding, and had a passion for exploring nature. He was also an avid reader and enjoyed writing, as seen in his novel Man In White.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Cash was a devout bur troubled Christian and often explored themes of faith, redemption, and morality in his music. His novel Man In White delves into the life of Saint Paul, reflecting his interest in Christian theology.

Cash recorded several gospel albums and made a spoken-word recording of the entire New King James Version of the New Testament.

Towards the end of his life, he and June attended the First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

POLITICS Johnny Cash was a vocal advocate for social justice, particularly for the rights of Native Americans. His 1964 album Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian was a bold statement on the mistreatment of Native Americans.

SCANDAL Cash's life was marked by several scandals, including his addiction to drugs and alcohol. In 1965, he was arrested for smuggling pills across the Mexican border. His first marriage ended in divorce, partly due to his substance abuse and close relationship with June Carter.

Cash was no stranger to the inside of a jailhouse. He'd seen his share of trouble, mostly thanks to his old friend Mr. Heroin. So, when he stepped up to the mic at San Quentin in 1960, he was preaching to the choir, or at least to a captive audience. One of those listening ears belonged to a young fella named Merle Haggard, who’d soon become a country music star in his own right.

MILITARY RECORD Cash served in the U.S. Air Force from 1950 to 1954 as a code breaker, intercepting Morse Code transmissions from Russia while stationed in Germany. It was during this time that he adopted the name "John" because the military wouldn't accept just initials.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Throughout his life, Cash struggled with health issues, many of which were related to his drug and alcohol addiction. In the early 1980s, he was severely injured by an ostrich on his farm, which led to a brief relapse into addiction. He later successfully completed rehab at the Betty Ford Clinic.

HOMES Cash lived in various homes throughout his life, but his most famous residence was in Hendersonville, Tennessee, where he lived from 1968 until his death in 2003. This house was later purchased by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees but tragically burned down in 2007.

TRAVEL Cash toured extensively throughout his career, performing in the United States and internationally. His travels included performances in Europe and appearances at various iconic venues, including prisons.

Johnny Cash was a bit of a packrat when he traveled. He'd lug around a big black briefcase and a massive shoulder bag, stuffed to the brim with books, pens, and notebooks. He always had to be ready to jot down an idea or a lyric, because inspiration could strike at any time.

DEATH Johnny Cash died on September 12, 2003, at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, from complications related to diabetes. He was buried next to his beloved wife, June Carter Cash, who had passed away just a few months earlier.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Cash made numerous appearances in media, including a guest role on The Simpsons where he voiced a fox in one of Homer Simpson's hallucinations. He also starred in an episode of Columbo in 1974 as a homicidal country singer.

ACHIEVEMENTS Johnny Cash's achievements are vast, including 

His induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on January 15, 1992  as well as the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. 

He received several honorary degrees

Cash was the subject of the Oscar-winning film Walk the Line in 2005. 

When Billboard magazine published its first country and western album chart on January 11, 1964,  Cash's Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash LP was #1.

Cash's impact on music and culture remains enduring and significant.