Short Biography: Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash achieved many accolades in his long, influential life. Debatably the most noteworthy is how he is one of three artists, Elvis, Hank Williams, and Cash, who is a member of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Becoming a member of both is not an easy feet for any artist. In order to do so one has to be the very best in each style of music. Cash at 48 became the youngest performer to ever be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame (Danker). Kris Kristofferson put it the best way, “You felt like he should've had his face on Mount Rushmore” ( Kristofferson). This view was really how the American public viewed J.C. He was an American hero on par with Presidents or war heroes. He was given as

It was the year of 1949 and there was a star born in Shreveport, Louisiana. We didn't know that at the time, but my goodness we do now. This man was and is a very, very talented country music legend and songwriter. Randall Hank Williams Jr. is still performing as of today.

If you haven’t got the chance to check his music and career, now is the best time to get to know this brilliant and talented artist. Here are some facts about his life.

Although you could say I am partly biased due to the fact that he was born and raised in the great state of Arkansas. Nonetheless, his music is loved by people all over the country for several reasons. For example, probably the biggest reason why people loved Johnny Cash is because of his humble personality which caused all of his songs to feel very down to earth which related to a multitude of people from all classes. From experiencing many struggles in his own life, Cash was able to translate his own emotions and thoughts into lyrics with rhythmic beats that attracted the average individual who shared the same feelings. Even though I am not able to see him in concert since he passed away, listening to his live recorded songs makes me realize that the rock and roll icon still lives through the music he poured his life

This was a huge upset to Johnny. Especially since his father, Ray Cash, blamed Johnny for Jack’s death. In Edward Willet’s “The Man in Black” he states, “Ray told him bluntly that he should of died rather than his faithful brother.” This quote shows how his father made Johnny feel like it was his fault. To try and deal with his emotions, he started to write. He really started to write how he was feeling. In spite of this, the tragedy, his fathers accusation, and his own guilt had one positive outcome: it’s what made his creativity in his songs (Neimark 36). His early life growing up through the Great Depression and all the hardships he faced, were really expressed in the songs that he wrote and performed for people. This really let people have an inside look on what life was like for people back then.

Johnny Cash was interested in music at a very young age. When he was young, he loved listening to the radio to get away from “the daily grind of farming” (Cusic, 2014). He didn’t begin his singing career right after growing up in Arkansas though. He went to college, had a factory job, and was in the U.S. Air Force (Cameron, 2004). He began playing the guitar in Germany while working as a radio operator for the U.S. Air Force (Cusic, 2014). After appearing on one of Bob Dylan’s albums, Nashville Skyline, he became more popular with adolescent fans (Cameron, 2004).

The strum of the guitar, the bang of the drums, and the roar of the crowd. That is what country music legend Troyal Garth Brooks, or Garth Brooks, as most call him, has worked toward all his life. Garth has had some disappointments on his road to country music stardom, but he has worked through them and has prevailed. His prowess in country music certainly did not come from luck, but from faith and perseverance.

Johnny Cash was known for many accomplishments. He was a singer, songwriter, and a guitarist. He also co-founded a band and joined the Air Force. Johnny wrote over 1000 songs including Cry Cry Cry,

He rarely made public appearances. Then in May 2003, June Carter died. Cash, though, continued to work. With Rubin at his side, the singer sat down to record what would be known as American VA Hundred Highways. Just week before his death on September 12, 2003, from complications associated with diabetes, Cash wrapped up his final track."Once June passed, he had the will to live long enough to record, but that was pretty much all," Rubin recalled around the album's release on July 4, 2004. "A day after June passed, he said, 'I need to have something to do every day. Otherwise, there's no reason for me to be

Hank Williams was the most significant figure to emerge in country music during the immediate post World War II period.(Starr Pg. 237) Country music is a genre that came from the United states in the 1920s from the southeastern area. Most of it’s origin comes from folk music and many of the instruments that were used to play country music back in the day were a banjo, acoustic guitar, fiddle, mandolin, or an auto harp. Country music also happened to be one of the first genres of modern American popular music. Hank Williams also known as Hiram King Willams was born in Mount Olive, Alabama on September 17, 1923. When Hank was around eight years old he was given his first guitar and started to take music lessons from blues singer Rugus Payne also known as Tee Tot. After learning how to write his own songs and play the guitar

However, his adult life wasn’t always an easy ride, he encountered plenty of bumps on his rise to success. Around 1958, Johnny Cash started what would become a lifelong battle with drugs and alcohol that would get in the way of his music, and turned out to be the cause of the divorce of his wife with whom he had four daughters (Johnny Cash Biography). In 1965, Cash was caught trying to sneak amphetamines across the border of Mexico. (Johnny Cash Biography). However, this didn’t stop Johnny. His addictions continued and after an almost fatal overdose and close-call car accident, his wife had had enough. They were divorced, and Cash moved to Nashville. Here, he met June Carter (of the Carter Sisters) with whom he began recording and performing with. By 1967, Carter had served as a support and inspiration to Cash, and they were married in 1968. Following his

Johnny Cash was born to sing. Carrying his music across the country, influencing those who stop to listen. That was what he set out to do. Born in Kingsland, Arkansas johnny started off working in the cotton fields, humming the days away. Fast forward a few years, Johnny cash started a band. They weren’t more than a beat-up speaker and some hand-me-down instruments, but the people didn't care. His music impacted the world on which he stood, bringing new ideas to the table and making them a reality.

Both were perfect for our Jeep rides on Galveston’s seawall during the 1990s spring and summers. Johnny Cash is my daddy and father-in-law’s favorite singer of all time. I did not know that Johnny Cash was of the groups What Cash and Tennessee Two. Cash is a wonderful story teller within his songs. I had not realized that he was born in Arkansas. He worked the cotton fields just as my daddy had while he was growing up. While my daddy was hospitalized last year for two weeks, I learned the difference between hoeing and picking cotton. My daddy and Cash have many things in common. They both sold appliances, and they both served our country. I have fond memories of spending time with my children and husband cruising the seawall and all of us belting out the lyrics to “Ring of Fire.”

Early on his mother saw the interest that Johnny had in music and “Carrie Rivers Cash scraped together enough money so that Johnny could take singing lessons” (Editors, 2016). Johnny unfortunately lost his brother “Jack in a tragic death in 1944 jack was only 14, this was to a farming accident” (Editors, 2016). In 1950 Johnny graduated High School and had a few jobs until he join the Air Force. He did his “basic training in Texas, where met Vivian Liberto, whom he 'd eventually marry and father four daughters with” (Editors, 2016). In 1954 Johnny was discharged from the military and moved to Memphis, Tennessee. Cash was married Vivian in 1954 and they had two girl named Roseanne and Kathy born in 1957. In 1959 they had another daughter named Cindy. They moved to Ventura, California and had another girl named Tara born in 1961. Johnny’s schedule and the amount of pressure from having the family took a toll on him. “Drugs and alcohol were frequent tour companions while Vivian stayed at home with the children” (Editors, 2016). “Johnny Cash toured throughout the early 1960s, playing as many as 300 shows a year. He began taking amphetamines to keep up with the pace of his life” (Silva, 2016). “As his drug addiction worsened, Cash broke up with his first wife Vivian. By 1963, he had moved to New York City, effectively abandoning his family” (Silva, 2016). Vivian finally filled for a divorce in 1966, once the divorce was finalized he moved back to Memphis, Tennessee were the

In the early 1960’s Cash left Sun Records for Columbia Records and relocated in California with his family. Cash was now a superstar, on the road for 300 nights a year with his band, now called the Tennessee Three, who was accompanied by June Carter, who co-wrote “Ring of