#25 Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash is considered the greatest Country artist of all time. However, he crossed over to Folk, Rock, Rockabilly, Gospel, Blues, and Alternative Rock. He is best known for his baritone voice and the chicka-boom guitar sound of the Tennessee Three. To save money on cleaning, the band wore black onstage which led to Cash’s moniker “The Man in Black.” Cash used that nickname and forged an outlaw identity which gave his music credibility.

Cash joined the Air Force in the early 50s. He worked intelligence and the service did not want him to go. Cash began writing songs at the time and decided to go into music and left the service. It took some doing, but Johnny won over Sun Records producer Sam Phillips and got a record deal. His first few songs were hits. Then came “Folsom Prison Blues” and “I Walk The Line.” Cash was now a star and toured with Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis. The King, the Killer, and The Man in Black all appeared on the same bill.

Cash cultivated his outlaw image. In 1968, he visited Folsom Prison and cut a live record that outsold the Beatles. The next year, he did an album at San Quentin which included “A Boy Named Sue” which Cash spoke the lyrics to since he did not know them. Cash continued with the hits in the 60s including his biggest “Ring of Fire” and his duet with wife June, “Jackson.“ He landed his own TV variety show which featured acts ranging from Hank Williams Jr. to Bob Dylan to Eric Clapton. The show was a hit. His last major hit of the decade (and until the 90s) was in 1979 with “(Ghost Riders) in the Sky.” He floundered throughout the 80s (with the exception of the Highwayman project) and was released by his record label.

In the 90s, Johnny Cash met Rick Rubin. The two hit it off and Cash began releasing his “American Recordings” albums. Rubin restored the dark side of Cash and that connected with audiences. His concerts became populated by Gen X-ers and he returned to the top. In 2002, he released his mega hit album “American IV: The Man Comes Around” with its cover of Nine Inch Nail’s “Hurt.” Cash was back on top. He died in 2003 less than four months after June died. The following year, the biopic, I Walk The Line, was released and Rick Rubin continues to release Cash’s American Recordings.

Rock n Roll Moment: In 1965, Cash burned down a forest. It was an accident as his wheel bearing overheated on his truck. 508 acres went up. The government sued and won $125, 172. When confronted by a judge, Cash said, "I didn't do it, my truck did, and it's dead, so you can't question it."

Essential Cash:

The Fabulous Johnny Cash (1959)
Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian (1964)
Sings Ballads of the True West (1965)
Folsom Prison (1968)
San Quentin (1969)
The Highwaymen (w/Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings) (1985)
Class of ‘55 (w/ Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis) (1986)
American Recordings (1994)
American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002)

Johnny Cash’s Top 10:

I Walk the Line
Folsom Prison Blues
Ring of Fire
Hurt
Man in Black
A Boy Named Sue
Jackson (w/June Carter Cash)
Sunday Morning Coming Down
Get Rhythm
(Ghost) Riders in the Sky