Cash, Johnny, 1932–2003, American singer and songwriter, b. Kingsland, Ark. Born to a farm family, he went to Memphis in 1955 and recorded hits such as "I Walk the Line" (1956) and "Ring of Fire" (1963), written with his wife, singer June Carter Cash of the famous country dynasty (see Carter family A(lvin) P(leasant) Carter, 1891–1960, b. Maces Spring, Va.; his wife,

Sara (Dougherty) Carter, 1898–1979, b. Flatwoods, Va.; and his sister-in-law,

Maybelle (Addington) Carter, 1909–1978, b. Nickelsville, Va.
..... Click the link for more information. ). A major figure in country and western music country and western music, American popular music form originating in the Southeast (country music) and the Southwest and West (western music). The two regional styles coalesced in the 1920s when recorded material became available in rural areas, and they were
..... Click the link for more information. , Cash lent a unique note of grace and gravitas to the genre with his all-black wardrobe redolent of rebellion and mourning, his rumbling bass-baritone voice, and the often tragic subject matter of his songs. Nonetheless, one of his biggest hits was the humorous "A Boy Named Sue" (1969). Cash, who mingled elements of folk, country, and rock in his music, won 11 Grammies and was elected to both the Country Music and Rock and Roll hall of fames. Noted for his performances at prisons and his appearances in concert, on television, and in films, he continued to tour until 1997.

Bibliography

See his autobiography (1997); H. George-Warren and M. Evans, Johnny Cash in His Own Words (2003); M. Streissguth, ed., Ring of Fire: The Johnny Cash Reader (2002); biographies by S. Dolan (1996), F. Moriarty (1998), G. Campbell (2003), S. Miller (2003), and M. Streissguth (2006).

Cash, Johnny

orig. J.R. Cash

(born Feb. 26, 1932, Kingsland, Ark., U.S.—died Sept. 12, 2003, Nashville, Tenn.) U.S. singer and songwriter. He learned guitar and began writing songs during military service in the early 1950s. Settling in Memphis, he earned regular appearances on Louisiana Hayride and the Grand Ole Opry with hits such as “Hey, Porter,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and “I Walk the Line.” By 1957 Cash was acknowledged the top country music artist. His popularity waned for a time because of health and drug addiction problems, but his album Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison (1968) led to his rediscovery by a wider audience. In 1968 he married June Carter of the Carter Family, with whom he had worked since 1961. In 1994 he released American Recordings, which was a critical and popular success and won him a new generation of fans. His later albums include American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002). Cash was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. His autobiographies Man in Black and Cash (cowritten with Patrick Carr) were published in 1975 and 1997, respectively.

Cash, Johnny (1932– ) musician; born in Kingsland, Ark. A singer, guitarist, and songwriter, he was born into a poor cotton farming family and became one of the greatest stars of country music. He began writing songs while serving in the air force between 1950–54, and worked as a door-to-door salesman before recording his first Sun Records hits, "I Walk the Line" and "Folsom Prison Blues," in 1956. He appeared regularly on the "Louisiana Hayride" and "Grand Ole Opry" radio broadcasts through the early 1960s. In 1960 he performed the first of many free jailhouse shows in San Quentin Prison. His collaborations with Bob Dylan in the late 1960s underscored his interest in the counter-culture's music. In 1968 he married June Carter, a member of the famous "first family" of country/folk music. In 1969, he began hosting his own television program, "The Johnny Cash Show." Cash also appeared in numerous dramatic roles in movies and television. In 1980, he was inducted into the Country Music Association Hall of Fame.