Johnny CashThe Original “Man In Black”

Early Roots● Cash was born J. R. Cash in 1932● Grew up in the Great Depression on an

Arkansas cotton farm● 6 other siblings● Brother Jack had a near death experience,

Cash felt guilty and left the farm● Enlists in the Air Force

Early Roots

● While in Texas for basic training, meets his first wife, Vivian Liberto

● Shipped off to Germany● Trained to intercept Russian Morse Code● Intercepted Stalin’s Death in 1953● Comes back to Texas after service and weds Vivian● Moves to Memphis, TN● Auditions for Sun Records (see link)

Early Roots● Plays with first band, “The Tennessee Three”● Wears black because you didn’t have to wash it as

often● Most popular song is “Hey Porter”● Big hits including: “Cry, Cry, Cry,” “I Walk The Line,”

“So Doggone Lonesome,” and “Folsom Prison Blues”

More Examples

“I Walk The Line” “Folsom Prison”

Million Dollar Quartet

1956 - Cash,Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis,(“Great Balls of Fire”)Carl Perkins, (“BlueSuede Shoes”)

Johnny Cash in the 50’s

● Relentlessly tours- 300 gigs a year● Falls more and more into drug addiction● Arrested 7 times● Breaks his foot trying to kick the bars out of

his holding cell● Flushed cherry bombs down toilets of hotels● His lifestyle ended his marriage to Vivian

Johnny Cash in the 50’s

With the hit “Folsom Prison Blues” he naturally started playing in prisons. This was HUGE!!! You’d think inmates would hate a song about being “Stuck in Folsom Prison,” sung by a guy who never was sentenced to prison, but they LOVED IT!

“I Want To Love Like Johnny and June”During Cash’s crash on life his long time friend and performing partner June Carter (one of the daughters of the famous Carter Family) stuck by his side and eventually with the help of her family they managed to help him overcome his addiction.

Cash desperately fell for June and in 1968 they were married and his career was back on track. He performed numerous live recordings at Folsom Prison and San Quentin and later was awarded with Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year and male Vocalist awards in 1969.

“I Want To Love Like Johnny and June”“Ring of Fire” - A song written by June Carter singing about dealing with Johnny Cash’s drug addiction.

Cash took this song and championed it- it is now his trademark song.

With June’s help, Cash eventually breaks his addiction and becomes clean.

“Ring of Fire” - by June CarterLove is a burning thing

And it makes a fiery ring.

Bound by wild desire

I fell into a ring of fire.

I fell into a burning ring of fire,

I went down, down, down as the flames went higher

And it burns, burns, burns,

The ring of fire, the ring of fire.

The taste of love is sweet

When hearts like ours meet.

I fell for you like a child,

Oh, but the fire went wild.

The ring of fire, the ring of fire.

I fell into a burning ring of fire,

I went down, down, down as the flames went higher

And it burns, burns, burns,

The ring of fire, the ring of fire.

I fell into a burning ring of fire,

I went down, down, down as the flames went higher

And it burns, burns, burns,

The ring of fire, the ring of fire.

And it burns, burns, burns,

The ring of fire, the ring of fire,

The ring of fire, the ring of fire.

Random Facts● First person to be sued for starting a massive forest

fire in 1965 - 49 of 53 endangered condors were killed. His truck’s wheel bearing overheated. He claimed “ I didn’t do it, my truck did, and it’s dead so I can’t question it.”

● Purposely released a bad song to get back at Columbia records. “Chicken In Black” is about a man whose brains are transported into a chicken’s head.

Nine Inch Nails Cover - “Hurt”I hurt myself today

To see if I still feel

I focus on the pain

The only thing that's real

The needle tears a hole

The old familiar sting

Try to kill it all away

But I remember everything

What have I become?

My sweetest friend

Everyone I know

Goes away in the end

You could have it all

My empire of dirt

I will let you down

I will make you hurt

Johnny Cash Summary

● Blended Blues and Country● Very rich low voice● Powerful story about love

and overcoming drugs● Passionate about music

and anti-drug abuse