|
| birth_name = J.R. Cash |
| birth_date = February 26, 1932 |
| birth_place = Kingsland, Arkansas, USA |
| death_date = September 12, 2003 |
| death_place = Nashville, Tennessee, USA |
| occupation = Singer and songwriter |
| salary = |
| networth = |
| website = http://www.johnnycash.com/ www.johnnycash.com |
| footnotes = |
}}
'''John R. ("Johnny") Cash''' (born '''J.R. Cash''', February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an influential American country and rock music singer and songwriter. Cash was the husband of June Carter Cash.
Cash was known for his deep and distinctive voice, the ''boom-chick-a-boom'' or "freight train" sound of his Tennessee Three backing band, and his dark clothing and demeanor, which earned him the nickname "The Man in Black." He started all his concerts with the simple introduction "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash."
Much of Cash's music, especially that of his later career, echoed themes of sorrow, moral tribulation and redemption. His signature songs include "I Walk the Line", "Folsom Prison Blues", "Ring of Fire", and "Man In Black". He also recorded several humorous songs, such as "One Piece at a Time", "The One on the Right Is on the Left", and "A Boy Named Sue"; bouncy numbers such as "Get Rhythm"; and various train-related songs, such as "The Rock Island Line"
He sold over 50 million albums in his nearly 50 year career and is generally recognized as one of the most important musicians in country music history.
Early life
''See also Johnny Cash family''
"The Man in Black" was born J.R. Cash (no middle name) in Kingsland, Arkansas, and then raised in Dyess, Arkansas. By age five he was working in the cotton fields, singing along with his family as they worked. The family farm was flooded on at least one occasion, which later inspired him to write the song "Five Feet High And Rising." His older brother Jack died in a tragic accident involving mill machinery in 1944. His family's economic and personal struggles during the Depression (when Cash was growing up) shaped him as a person and inspired many of his songs, especially those about other people facing personal struggles.
Cash's early memories were dominated by gospel music and radio. He began playing guitar and writing songs as a young boy, and in high school sang on a local radio station. Decades later, he would release an album of traditional gospel songs, called "My Mother's Hymn Book". He described to National Public Radio's Terri Gross
