Johnny Cash

This article is about the singer. For other uses, see Johnny Cash (disambiguation). "John R. Cash" redirects here. For the album, see John R. Cash (album).

Johnny Cash
Cash in 1977
Born
J. R. Cash

(1932-02-26)February 26, 1932
Kingsland, Arkansas, U.S.
DiedSeptember 12, 2003(2003-09-12) (aged 71)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Resting placeHendersonville Memory Gardens
Other names
  • "Man in Black"
  • John R. Cash
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
  • actor
Years active1954–2003
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1954; div. 1966)​
​
​
(m. 1968; died 2003)​
Children5, including Rosanne, Cindy and John
RelativesTommy Cash (brother)
Thomas Gabriel (grandson)
Military career
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Air Force
Years of service1950–1954
RankStaff sergeant
Battles / warsKorean War
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Discography
Labels
Formerly ofThe Highwaymen
Websitejohnnycash.com

John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter. Most of Cash's music contains themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially songs from the later stages of his career.[3][4] He was known for his deep, calm, bass-baritone voice,[a][5] the distinctive sound of his backing band, the Tennessee Three, that was characterized by its train-like chugging guitar rhythms, a rebelliousness[6][7] coupled with an increasingly somber and humble demeanor,[3] and his free prison concerts.[8] Cash wore a trademark all-black stage wardrobe, which earned him the nickname "Man in Black".[b]

Born to poor cotton farmers in Kingsland, Arkansas, Cash grew up on gospel music and played on a local radio station in high school. He served four years in the Air Force, much of it in West Germany. After his return to the United States, he rose to fame during the mid-1950s in the burgeoning rockabilly scene in Memphis, Tennessee. He traditionally began his concerts by introducing himself with "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash".[c] He began to follow that by "Folsom Prison Blues", one of his signature songs. His other signature songs include "I Walk the Line", "Ring of Fire", "Get Rhythm", and "Man in Black". He also recorded humorous numbers like "One Piece at a Time" and "A Boy Named Sue", a duet with his future wife June called "Jackson" (followed by many further duets after they married), and railroad songs such as "Hey, Porter", "Orange Blossom Special", and "Rock Island Line".[11] During the last stage of his career, he covered songs by contemporary rock artists; among his most notable covers were "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails, "Rusty Cage" by Soundgarden, and "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode.

Cash is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 90 million records worldwide.[12][13] His genre-spanning music embraced country, rock and roll, rockabilly, blues, folk, and gospel sounds. This crossover appeal earned him the rare honor of being inducted into the Country Music, Rock and Roll, and Gospel Music Halls of Fame.

  1. ^ a b "Johnny Cash | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic.
  2. ^ a b c d Johnson, Howard (September 12, 2016). "A tribute to Johnny Cash, the ultimate rebel and rock star". Classic Rock Magazine.
  3. ^ a b c Pareles, Jon (September 16, 1994). "Pop Review; Johnny Cash, Austerely Direct From Deep Within". The New York Times. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  4. ^ Mulligan, J. (February 24, 2010), "Johnny Cash: American VI: Ain't No Grave", Entertainment.ie (album review), retrieved March 22, 2010
  5. ^ Urbanski 2003, p. xiv.
  6. ^ Dickie, M. (2002) [1987]. "Hard talk from the God-fearin', pro-metal man in Black". In Streissguth, M. (ed.). Ring of fire: The Johnny Cash reader. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo. pp. 201–205. ISBN 9780306811227.
  7. ^ Streissguth, M. (2006). Johnny Cash: a biography. Philadelphia, PA: Da Capo. p. 196. ISBN 9780306813689.
  8. ^ Fox, JA (October 17, 2005), "Hard time's never a 'circus'", The Boston Herald, Baylor University, archived from the original on September 20, 2006, retrieved March 22, 2010
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Page 64 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Schultz, B. (July 1, 2000), "Classic Tracks: Johnny Cash's 'Folsom Prison Blues'", Mix, archived from the original on January 2, 2010, retrieved March 22, 2010
  11. ^ For discussion of, and lyrics to, Cash's songs, see Cusic, D., ed. (2004), Johnny Cash: The songs, New York, NY: Thunder's Mouth, ISBN 9781560256298[permanent dead link‍]
  12. ^ Holden, Stephen (September 13, 2003), "Johnny Cash, Country Music Bedrock, Dies at 71", The New York Times, retrieved February 25, 2013
  13. ^ Jones, Rebecca (January 14, 2014). "More Johnny Cash material will be released says son". BBC News. Retrieved February 13, 2016.


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