Johnny Cash

(redirected from Jonny Cash)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus.

Cash, Johnny,

1932–2003, American singer and songwriter, b. Kingsland, Ark. Born to a farm family, he went to Memphis in 1955 and recorded such hits as "I Walk the Line" (1956) and "Ring of Fire" (1963); the latter was written with his second wife, singer June Carter Cash of the Carter familyCarter Family,
group of singers that specialized in traditional music of the Southern Appalachian Mountains; it consisted of A(lvin) P(leasant) Carter, 1891–1960, b. Maces Spring, Va.; his wife, Sara (Dougherty) Carter, 1898–1979, b. Flatwoods, Va.
..... Click the link for more information. country music dynasty. A major figure in country and western musiccountry 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 further
..... 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. The recording of his January, 1968, concert at Folsom Prison is one of his greatest and most profound albums, but 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 halls of fame. After his death some 200 poems were found among his papers; a number of them were published as Forever Words: The Unknown Poems (2016).

Bibliography

See his autobiography (1997); H. George-Warren and M. Evans, Johnny Cash in His Own Words (2003), and M. Streissguth, ed., Ring of Fire: The Johnny Cash Reader (2002); V. Cash, I Walked the Line: My Life with Johnny (2007); biographies by S. Dolan (1996), F. Moriarty (1998), G. Campbell (2003), S. Miller (2003), M. Streissguth (2006), and R. Hilburn (2013).

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.