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Johnny Cash (1932-2003),
American country music singer, known for the sincerity of his
singing and for his deep bass voice. Born in Kingsland, Arkansas, Cash graduated
from high school before working in an automobile factory in Detroit, Michigan.
In 1950 he joined the United States Air Force, where he formed a band and
published poetry in the military newspaper Stars and Stripes. After
leaving the Air Force in 1954, Cash moved to Memphis, Tennessee, to work in the
music business.
In 1955 Cash made his recording debut with Sun Records,
the small Memphis record label that a year before had produced the first release
by American singer Elvis Presley. Cash's first release included the
successful single “Cry, Cry, Cry.” During the next few years he recorded many of
what were to become his most famous songs, including “I Walk the Line” (1956)
and “Ballad of a Teenage Queen” (1958). He also appeared on popular radio shows
such as Grand Ole Opry.
In 1958 Cash signed a contract with Columbia Records and
moved to Los Angeles, California. During the next few years he led a chaotic
life. He became addicted to drugs, but at the same time he developed what was
considered one of the most polished touring shows in country music history. He
also sang with American musician Bob Dylan—a fan and friend of
Cash—at the Newport Folk Festival in 1964 and recorded concept albums, which
used traditional folk songs to explore such subjects as the lives of working men
and the plight of Native Americans.
In 1968 Cash married June Carter, a member of the
Carter Family, a traditional country vocal ensemble that sang on
his tours. Under Carter's influence, he gave up drugs and gained a religious
focus in his life. His most famous albums, At Folsom Prison and At San
Quentin, were released in 1968 and 1969, respectively. At San Quentin
contained his biggest pop music hit, the novelty song “A Boy Named Sue” (1969).
Cash won five Country Music Association awards in 1969. Cash also had his own
television variety show in 1969 and 1970.
In 1971 Cash costarred with American actor Kirk
Douglas in the motion picture A Gunfight. Cash and his wife also
produced Gospel Road (1973), a documentary film about the Holy
Land that Cash narrated. In 1975 his autobiography, Man in Black, was
published, and in 1986 his novel Man in White, about the missionary
Saint Paul, appeared; another autobiography, Cash, was
published in 1997.
An important influence on early rock music,
Cash was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. Over
the course of his career he won 11 Grammy Awards, the first coming in 1967 and
the last in 2003, when the song “Give My Love to Rose” off the album American
IV: The Man Comes Around (2002) won for best male country vocal performance.
In 2001 Cash was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President George W. Bush.
In addition to his musical wife, three members of Cash’s family—brother Tom
Cash, daughter Roseanne Cash, and stepdaughter Carlene Carter—also became
well-known musicians. |
