Johnny
Cash, originally from the cotton country of Kingsland, Arkansas, began his
career in music in Memphis, Tennessee as a rockabilly performer with Sam
Phillip’s legendary Sun Records label which had among the musicians on its
roster, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.
Cash recorded
his first single, “Cry, Cry, Cry,” in 1955, His first major hit, “I Walk the
Line,” followed in 1956. These early singles would be collected with others on
his debut album, “Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar!” (1956). In the
late Fifties, Cash would switch to country music and record a number of classic
songs including, “Big River,” “Ring of Fire,” “Give My Love to Rose,” “A Boy
Named Sue,” “Long Black Veil,” and “I Still Miss Someone.”
In the
late Sixties, Cash recorded two live albums in prisons, “At Folsom Prison”
(1968) and “At San Quentin” (1969). The tremendous popularity of these albums
led to a successful TV variety show which was canceled after only two seasons.
Both albums have been described as two of the best live albums of music recorded
in the 20th century.
In 1971,
Cash recorded the album, “Man in Black.” The title track would later be
attached to Cash as a title of sorts. Cash’s career was in decline, however,
and the rest of the Seventies would be lean in terms of hit recordings. The
mid-Eighties saw Cash return to prominence with the outlaw country group, “The
Highwaymen,” but solo success continued to escape him. In 1986, Cash entered
The Betty Ford Clinic for addiction to painkillers.
In 1994, Cash teamed up with producer Rick Rubin, and recorded an album of mostly cover songs, “American Recordings.” The album introduced Cash’s music to a whole new generation of fans. Three more critically acclaimed volumes of American Recordings would follow.
Cash had been sick with diabetes for several years, but he still managed to record the fourth American Recordings album which was released in 2002.Cash succumbed to diabetes the following year.
In 1994, Cash teamed up with producer Rick Rubin, and recorded an album of mostly cover songs, “American Recordings.” The album introduced Cash’s music to a whole new generation of fans. Three more critically acclaimed volumes of American Recordings would follow.
Cash had been sick with diabetes for several years, but he still managed to record the fourth American Recordings album which was released in 2002.Cash succumbed to diabetes the following year.
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