Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash (1932–2003), the Man in Black, sang country, gospel and songs for outsiders; his official channels carry on his story through archival music and family projects.
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Latest
Johnny’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Overview
- Born
- February 26, 1932 · Kingsland, Arkansas
- Died
- September 12, 2003
- Work
- Singer, songwriter and television host
- First records
- Sun Records, 1955
- Signature sound
- A deep voice and the Tennessee Two’s train-like rhythm
Mini bio
How it started.
Cash grew up in Dyess, Arkansas, working in the cotton fields and hearing gospel in church and country music on the radio. After serving in the Air Force, he settled in Memphis and made music with guitarist Luther Perkins and bassist Marshall Grant. His first Sun Records hits arrived in 1955.
Finding his voice.
“I Walk the Line” helped take him beyond country audiences. His songs and albums made room for working people, faith and Native American experiences. At Folsom Prison, recorded inside the prison in January 1968, brought his concern for people behind bars into a live album that helped renew his career.
A wider stage.
He hosted The Johnny Cash Show from 1969 to 1971 and recorded with June Carter Cash, whom he married in 1968. In 1985 he joined Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson on Highwayman.
The later chapters.
Working with Rick Rubin, Cash released American Recordings in 1994, with just his voice and acoustic guitar. His later recording of Trent Reznor’s “Hurt” introduced him to another generation. He died in 2003; the recent releases and projects here preserve and share the work he left behind.
Creditschronological, newest first
Music
- 2024SongwriterSongwriter and vocalist; posthumous album drawn from 1993 recordings
- 2002American IV: The Man Comes AroundRecording artist
- 1994American RecordingsSinger and acoustic guitarist
- 1985HighwaymanVocalist with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson
- 1968At Folsom PrisonSinger and guitarist
Television
- 1969–1971The Johnny Cash ShowHost
Awards
Quotes
Maybe it is a conscious thing to be all over the place.Johnny Cash, NPR Morning Edition interview with Bob Edwards
In a 2002 interview, Cash reflected on being difficult to categorize musically and politically.
Trivia
- Before his recording career, he worked as an appliance salesman in Memphis.
- He wrote “Folsom Prison Blues” and “Hey Porter” while serving in the Air Force in Germany.
- In 1956 he joined Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis for the studio jam later known as the Million Dollar Quartet.
- The songs on Songwriter had been shelved after he began working with Rick Rubin. His son John Carter Cash later revisited the recordings with producer David Ferguson.
Find Johnny
Follow his official channels for archival music and news from his estate.
Are you Johnny Cash?
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