Full Name: J. R. Cash
Profession: Country Singer
Biography: During Johnny Cash's long and influential music career he was mainly known as a country music artist but his work also encompassed other styles including gospel, rockabilly and blues. Raised by poor cotton farmers during the depression, themes of their struggles were often incorporated into his work.
Cash came to fame in the mid 1950s with Sun Records along with Elvis Presley. He later moved to Colombia records recording such hits as "Don't Take Your Guns to Town" and "Folsom Prison Blues". During the 1960s Cash fought increasing battles with addiction, which were to feature throughout his life. He was helped in this fight by June Carter who became his wife in 1968.
Cash had his own TV show 'The Johnny Cash Show' (1969-71) and in the 1980s was part of the successful group The Highwaymen. In the 1994 Cash returned to huge acclaim recording American Recordings and winning a Grammy. Through his career Cash became known as 'the man in black' due to his usual dark clothing while performing.
He was awarded 9 Country Music Awards, and over a dozen Grammy Awards, including lifetime achievement. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (1977), the Country Music Hall of Fame (1980), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1992), and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame (2010). An Academy Award-winning film "Walk The Line", based on his two autobiographies was released in 2005. The US Postage Service issued a commemorative stamp in 2013.
He was married twice, and had 5 children.
Born: February 26, 1932
Birthplace: Kingsland, Arkansas, USA
Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Monkey
Star Sign: Pisces
Died: September 12, 2003 (aged 71)
Articles and Photos
Career Highlights
- 1955-06-21 Johnny Cash debuts Top 10 country song "Cry! Cry! Cry!"
- 1955-12-15 "Folsom Prison Blues" single released by Johnny Cash (Billboard Song of the Year 1968)
- 1956-12-04 An impromptu recording session by the "Million-Dollar Quartet" - Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash - takes place at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee
- 1960-01-01 Johnny Cash plays first of many free concerts behind bars at San Quentin Prison, California; Merle Haggard among the inmate audience
- 1963-04-19 Johnny Cash releases single "Ring of Fire" written by his future wife June Carter and Merle Kilgore
- 1968-01-13 Johnny Cash performs for inmates at Folsom State Prison in Folsom, California; show is recorded for live album release
- 1968-05-06 Columbia Records releases "Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison", the first live album by American singer-songwriter Johnny Cash, recorded in January 1968
- 1969-06-07 "Johnny Cash Show" debuts on ABC-TV
- 1969-06-07 Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash perform duet on a "Grand Ole Opry" TV special
- 1969-10-15 3rd Country Music Association Awards: Johnny Cash and Tammy Wynette win
- 1976-05-29 Car tune "One Piece At A Time" by Johnny Cash hits #29
- 1982-04-17 Country music legend Johnny Cash hosts Saturday Night Live, participates in skits, performs medley of hits; Elton John is additional musical guest
- 1982-06-16 Columbia Records releases "Somewhere in the Stars", the fourth studio album by Rosanne Cash; produced by husband Rodney Crowell, and featuring her father Johnny Cash on one track
- 1992-01-15 7th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: Bobby "Blue" Bland; Booker T. and the MG's; Johnny Cash; Jimi Hendrix Experience; Isley Brothers; Sam and Dave; The Yardbirds; Elmore James; Professor Longhair; Leo Fender; Bill Graham; and Doc Pomus
- 1993-04-24 Farm Aid VI held in Ames, Iowa; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Arlo Guthrie, The Jayhawks, Lyle Lovett, Johnny Cash, Ricky Van Shelton, Marty Stuart, Martina McBride, Bruce Hornsby, Bryan Adams, Ringo Starr, and Dwight Yoakam
- 1994-06-24 Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, England opens: Levellers, Elvis Costello, and Peter Gabriel headline; other performers include Spin Doctors, Johnny Cash, Meshell Ndegeocello, Dwight Yoakam, Lucky Dube, Oasis, and Iris Dement
- 2003-03-25 Capitol/Nashville Records releases "Rules of Travel", the tenth studio album by singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash; produced by husband John Leventhal, it includes a duet with her father Johnny Cash
- 2005-09-04 James Mangold's biographic drama film "Walk the Line", starring Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter debuts at the Telluride Film Festival in Telluride, Colorado
- 2005-11-16 CBS television broadcasts ”I Walk the Line: A Night For Johnny Cash” featuring concert performances by Dwight Yoakam, Martina McBride, Alison Krauss, U2, Norah Jones, Foo Fighters, Sheryl Crow, and others
- 2005-11-18 20th Century Fox releases "Walk the Line", starring Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter, and directed by James Mangold; Witherspoon wins an Academy Award
Personal Life
- 1954-08-07 American country music singer-songwriter Johnny Cash (22) marries 1st wife Vivian Liberto (20) at St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church in San Antonio. Texas; divorce in 1966
- 1968-03-01 Singer-songwriter and actress June Carter (38) weds singer-songwriter Johnny Cash (36) at a church in Franklin, Kentucky
References
Famous Country Singers
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7sLrToaCsnJGue6S7zGinnqegobJwts6hpaexXZiutLQ%3D