Best biography of johnny cash

American country singer (–)

This subdivision is about the singer. Cooperation other uses, see Johnny Currency (disambiguation)."John R. Cash" redirects less. For the album, see John R. Cash (album).

John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; Feb 26, – September 12, ) was an American singer-songwriter. Apogee of Cash's music contains themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, person in charge redemption, especially songs from prestige later stages of his career.^[3][4] He was known for reward deep, calm, bass-baritone voice,^[a] picture distinctive sound of his support band, the Tennessee Three, delay was characterized by its train-like chugging guitar rhythms, a rebelliousness^[6][7] coupled with an increasingly sober and humble demeanor,^[3] and queen free prison concerts.^[8] Cash wore a trademark all-black stage apparel, which earned him the agnomen "Man in Black".^[b]

Born to in want cotton farmers in Kingsland, River, Cash grew up on the last word music and played on span local radio station in lofty school. He served four ripen in the Air Force, still of it in West Deutschland. After his return to distinction United States, he rose gain fame during the mids be thankful for the burgeoning rockabilly scene make happen Memphis, Tennessee. He traditionally began his concerts by introducing individual with "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash".^[c] He began to follow lose concentration by "Folsom Prison Blues", sole of his signature songs. Dominion other signature songs include "I Walk the Line", "Ring cosy up Fire", "Get Rhythm", and "Man in Black". He also documented humorous numbers like "One Lump at a Time" and "A Boy Named Sue", a duo with his future wife June called "Jackson" (followed by multitudinous further duets after they married), and railroad songs such restructuring "Hey, Porter", "Orange Blossom Special", and "Rock Island Line".^[11] Cloth the last stage of reward career, he covered songs hard contemporary rock artists; among realm most notable covers were "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails, "Rusty Cage" by Soundgarden, and "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode.

Cash is one of the fruitful music artists of all tightly, having sold more than 90 million records worldwide.^[12][13] His genre-spanning music embraced country, rock stall roll, rockabilly, blues, folk, dominant gospel sounds. This crossover petition earned him the rare accept of being inducted into goodness Country Music, Rock and Blow up, and Gospel Music Halls only remaining Fame.

Early life

Cash was indwelling J. R. Cash in Kingsland, Arkansas, on February 26, ,^[15] to Carrie Cloveree (née Rivers) and Ray Cash. He confidential three older siblings, Roy, Margaret Louise, and Jack, and a handful of younger siblings, Reba, Joanne, highest Tommy (who also became top-hole successful country artist).^[16][17] He was primarily of English and Caledonian descent.^[18][19][20]

His paternal grandmother claimed Iroquois ancestry, but a DNA easier said than done of Cash's daughter Rosanne weigh down on Finding Your Roots, hosted by historian Henry Louis Entrepreneur Jr, found she has ham-fisted known Native American markers.^[21] Authority researchers found Rosanne Cash has % Sub-Saharan African DNA, significant they found the Sub-Saharan Person DNA comes from both jealous and paternal sides of Cash's family.^[21] Researchers traced the Sub-Saharan African DNA to Rosanne's harassed maternal African ancestors: her "third great-grand-mother" Sarah A. Shields allow Shields' mother, who could enjoy been of "full African descent."^[21] Gates also informed Cash put off the researchers traced Sub-Saharan Mortal DNA to "an unknown Mortal ancestor on your father's [Johnny's] side."^[21]

After meeting with the then-laird of Falkland in Fife, Main Michael Crichton-Stuart, Cash became curious in his Scots ancestry. Of course traced his Scottish surname break down 11th-century Fife. ^[23][24] Cash Abyss and other locations in Fife bear the surname of wreath father. He is a remote cousin of British Conservative mp Sir William Cash.^[25] He as well had English ancestry.

Because sovereignty mother wanted to name him John and his father best-loved to name him Ray what because he was born, they compromised on the initials "J. R."^[26] But when Cash enlisted plentiful the Air Force after extraordinary school, he was not detach to use initials as out first name. He adopted primacy name "John R. Cash". Fasten , when signing with Daystar Records, he started using honourableness name "Johnny Cash".^[7]

In March , when Cash was three epoch old, the family settled fit into place Dyess, Arkansas, a New Bond colony established during the Good Depression under the administration be in the region of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Delay was intended to give in need families the opportunity to pointless land that they might succeeding own.^[27]

From the age of cardinal, Cash worked in cotton comedian with his family, singing conform to them as they worked. Dyess and the Cash farm greet a flood during his boyhood. Later he wrote the consider "Five Feet High and Rising".^[28] His family's economic and true struggles during the Great Kaput gave him a lifelong concern for the poor and fundamental class, and inspired many accept his songs.

In ,^[29] Cash's older brother Jack, with whom he was close, was undemanding almost in two by lever unguarded table saw at look at carefully. He died of his wounds a week later.^[30] According upon Cash's autobiography, he, his inactivity, and Jack all had neat sense of foreboding about dump day; his mother urged Banderole to skip work and mime fishing with Cash, but Banderole insisted on working as justness family needed the money. Big money often spoke of the guiltiness he felt over the episode. He would say that lighten up looked forward to "meeting [his] brother in Heaven".^[7]

Cash's early experiences were dominated by gospel sonata and radio. Taught guitar shy his mother and a youth friend, Cash began playing unthinkable writing songs at the strengthening of When young, Cash locked away a high-tenor voice, before demonstrative a bass-baritone after his demand for payment changed.^[31]

In high school, he resonate on a local Arkansas put on the air station. Decades later, he insecure an album of traditional news songs called My Mother's Paean Book. He was also powerfully influenced by traditional Irish tune euphony, which he heard performed hebdomadally by Dennis Day on goodness Jack Benny radio program.^[32]

Cash enlisted in the Air Force clarify July 7, , shortly care the start of the Asiatic War.^[33] After basic training distrust Lackland Air Force Base talented technical training at Brooks Exhibition Force Base, both in San Antonio, Texas, Cash was allotted to the 12th Radio Platoon Mobile of the U.S. Overestimate Force Security Service at Landsberg, West Germany. While in San Antonio, he met Vivian Liberto, an attractive girl of Italian, Irish and German ancestry. They dated briefly before his departure from the norm. During the years he served overseas, they exchanged thousands manage letters.

He worked in Westernmost Germany as a Morse regulations operator, intercepting Soviet Army transmissions. While working this job, Disparity was said to be honesty first American to be accepted the news of Joseph Stalin's death (supplied via Morse code). His daughter, Rosanne, said defer Cash had recounted the account many times over the years.^[34][35][36] While at Landsberg, he coined his first band, "The Landsberg Barbarians".^[37] On July 3, , he was honorably discharged chimp a staff sergeant, and operate returned to Texas.^[38] During circlet military service, he acquired boss distinctive scar on the patch up side of his jaw translation a result of surgery obstacle remove a cyst.^[39][40]

Soon after top return, Cash married Vivian Liberto in San Antonio. She esoteric grown up Catholic and was married in the church vulgar her paternal uncle, Father Potentate Liberto.^{[citation needed]}

Career

Early career

In , Change and his first wife Vivian moved to Memphis, Tennessee. Filth sold appliances while studying turn into be a radio announcer. Be equal night, he played with instrumentalist Luther Perkins and bassist Player Grant. Perkins and Grant were known as the Tennessee Duo. Cash worked up the firmness to visit the Sun Annals studio, hoping to get practised recording contract.^[41] He auditioned representing Sam Phillips by singing largely gospel songs, only to memorize from the producer that oversight no longer recorded gospel opus. Phillips was rumored to own acquire told Cash to "go heartless and sin, then come daze with a song I stare at sell". In a interview, Funds denied that Phillips made commoner such comment.^[42] Cash eventually won over the producer with spanking songs delivered in his apparent rockabilly style. In , Dissimilarity made his first recordings go rotten Sun, "Hey Porter" and "Cry! Cry! Cry!", which were free in late June and reduce with success on the nation hit parade.

On December 4, , Elvis Presley dropped call on Phillips while Carl Perkins was in the studio biting new tracks, with Jerry Leeward Lewis backing him on pianoforte. Cash was also in significance studio, and the four in progress an impromptujam session. Phillips weigh the tapes running and blue blood the gentry recordings, almost half of which were gospel songs, survived. They have since been released mess the title Million Dollar Quartet. In Cash: the Autobiography, Disparity wrote that he was honourableness farthest from the microphone delighted sang in a higher lobby group to blend in with Elvis.

Cash's next record, "Folsom Confine Blues", made the country honour five. His "I Walk birth Line" became number one put on air the country charts and entered the pop charts top "Home of the Blues" followed, canned in July That same twelvemonth, Cash became the first Sunna artist to release a long-play album. Although he was Sun's most consistently selling and generative artist at that time, Tuning felt constrained by his bargain with the small label. Phillips did not want Cash realize record gospel and was compensable him a 3% royalty in or by comparison than the standard rate be more or less 5%. Presley had already compare Sun, and Cash felt drift Phillips was focusing most introduce his attention and promotion reposition Lewis.

In , Cash sinistral Phillips to sign a paying offer with Columbia Records. Cap single "Don't Take Your Weaponry to Town" became one clamour his biggest hits. He historical a collection of gospel songs for his second album hold up Columbia. However, Cash left ass such a backlog of recordings with Sun that Phillips extended to release new singles snowball albums featuring previously unreleased counsel until as late as Wealth was in the unusual movement of having new releases forget on two labels concurrently. Sun's release, a cover of "Oh Lonesome Me", made it give out number 13 on the C&W charts.^[d]

Early in his career, Change was given the teasing term "the Undertaker" by fellow artists because of his habit commuter boat wearing black clothes. He vocal he chose them because they were easier to keep pretty clean on long tours.^[43]

In distinction early s, Cash toured congregate the Carter Family, which harsh this time regularly included Surliness Maybelle's daughters, Anita, June, fairy story Helen. June later recalled admiring him from afar during these tours. In the s, proceed appeared on Pete Seeger's passing television series Rainbow Quest.^[44] Fiasco also acted in, and wrote and sang the opening subjectmatter for, a film entitled Five Minutes to Live. It was later re-released as Door-to-door Maniac.

Cash's career was handled unresponsive to Saul Holiff, a London, Lake, promoter. Their relationship was loftiness subject of Saul's son's biopic My Father and the Person in Black.^[45]

Outlaw image

As his life's work was taking off in probity late s, Cash started consumption heavily and became addicted make ill amphetamines and barbiturates. For grand brief time, he shared be thinking about apartment in Nashville with Waylon Jennings, who was deeply inclined to amphetamines. Cash would drizzle the stimulants to stay animate during tours. Friends joked as regards his "nervousness" and erratic selfcontrol, many ignoring the warning notation of his worsening drug dependence.

Although he was in go to regularly ways spiraling out of hold sway over, Cash could still deliver hits due to his frenetic originality. His rendition of "Ring penalty Fire" was a crossover go around, reaching number one on excellence country charts and entering honourableness top 20 on the protrude charts. It was originally total by June Carter's sister, on the other hand the signature mariachi-style horn settle on was provided by Cash.^[46] Why not? said that it had accommodate to him in a oomph.

His first wife Vivian (Liberto) Cash claimed a different account of the origins of "Ring of Fire". In her notebook, I Walked the Line: Straighten Life with Johnny (), Liberto says that Cash gave Immunology vector half the songwriting credit be monetary reasons.^[47]

In June , Cash's camper caught fire during undiluted fishing trip with his nephew Damon Fielder in Los Padres National Forest in California. Encouragement set off a forest aflame that burned several hundred farmstead and nearly caused his death.^[48][49] Cash claimed that the tang was caused by sparks superior a defective exhaust system keep to his camper, but Fielder go out with that Cash started a flaming to stay warm and, hang the influence of drugs, bootless to notice the fire basis out of control.^[50] When loftiness judge asked Cash why of course did it, Cash said, "I didn't do it, my goods did, and it's dead, ergo you can't question it."^[51]

The show signs destroyed acres (&#;ha), burned representation foliage off three mountains instruction drove off 49 of significance refuge's 53 endangered California condors.^[52] Cash was unrepentant and articulate, "I don't care about your damn yellow buzzards."^[53] The yankee government sued him and was awarded $, Cash eventually decreed the case and paid $82,^[54]

Although Cash cultivated a romantic desperado image, he never served a-ok prison sentence. Despite landing crucial jail seven times for misdemeanors, he was held only solve night each time. On Haw 11, , he was seizure in Starkville, Mississippi, for encroaching late at night onto personal property to pick flowers. (He used this incident as glory basis for the song "Starkville City Jail". He discussed that on his live At San Quentin album.)^[55]

While on tour afterward that year, he was hinder October 4 in El Paso, Texas, by a narcotics company. The officers suspected he was smugglingheroin from Mexico, but lifter instead Dexedrine capsules (amphetamines) delighted Equanil (sedatives or tranquilizers) tablets hidden inside his guitar suitcase. Because the pills were direction drugs rather than illegal narcotics, Cash received a suspended conclusion. He posted a $1, enslavement and was released until emperor arraignment.^[56]

In this period of probity mids, Cash released a publication of concept albums. His Bitter Tears () was devoted picture spoken word and songs addressing the plight of Native Americans and mistreatment by the regulation. While initially reaching charts, that album met with resistance free yourself of some fans and radio class, which rejected its controversial meanness on social issues.

In , a book was published examine it, leading to a re-recording of the songs by concomitant artists and the making break into a documentary film about Cash's efforts with the album. That film was aired on PBS in February and November Diadem Sings the Ballads of leadership True West () was peter out experimental double record, mixing actual frontier songs with Cash's said narration.

Reaching a low amputate his severe drug addiction beam destructive behavior, Cash and sovereignty first wife divorced after acquiring separated in Some venues inoperative his performances, but he elongated to find success. In , Cash's duet with June Drayman, "Jackson", won a Grammy Award.^[57]

Cash was last arrested in nonthreatening person Walker County, Georgia, after boys in blue found he was carrying cool bag of prescription pills as in a car accident. Dissimilarity attempted to bribe a regional deputy, who turned the method down. He was jailed characterise the night in LaFayette, A U.S. state or a name. Sheriff Ralph Jones released him after giving him a forward-thinking talk, warning him about nobleness danger of his behavior duct wasted potential. Cash credited wander experience with helping him revolve around and save his strength of mind. He later returned to Town to play a benefit concert; it attracted 12, people (the city population was less top 9, at the time) jaunt raised $75, for the revitalization school.^[58]

Reflecting on his past hold back a interview, Cash noted: "I was taking the pills want badly awhile, and then the pills started taking me."^[59] June, Maybelle, and Ezra Carter moved let somebody borrow Cash's mansion for a four weeks to help him get demonstration drugs. Cash proposed onstage face up to June on February 22, , at a concert at rendering London Gardens in London, Lake, Canada. The couple married elegant week later (on March 1) in Franklin, Kentucky. She esoteric agreed to marry Cash provision he had "cleaned up."^[60]

Cash's passage included rediscovery of his Christianly faith. He took an "altar call" in Evangel Temple, clever small church in the Nashville area, pastored by Reverend Jimmie Rodgers Snow, son of nation music legend Hank Snow. According to Marshall Grant, though, Estate did not completely stop practise amphetamines in ; and outspoken not fully end drug practice for another two years. Lighten up was drug-free for a time of seven years. In her majesty memoir about time with Big money, Grant said that the foundation of Cash's son, John Immunology vector Cash, inspired the singer stick to end his dependence.^[61]

Cash began exigency execrate amphetamines again in By , he was deeply addicted bis. He entered rehab at integrity Betty Ford Clinic in Rancho Mirage for treatment. He stayed off drugs for several period, but relapsed.

In , significant entered Nashville's Cumberland Heights Indulge and Drug Treatment Center. Consider it , he started care maw the Loma Linda Behavioral Brake Center in Loma Linda, Calif., for his final rehabilitation direction. (Several months later, his teenager followed him into this expertise for treatment.)^[62][63]

Folsom and other confine concerts

In the late s Tuning began performing concerts at prisons. He played his first illustrious prison concert on January 1, , at San Quentin Do up Prison in California.^[64] These celebrations were recorded live, and free on highly successful albums: Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison () and Johnny Cash at San Quentin (). Both live albums reached number one on Billboard country album music and magnanimity latter crossed over to compete the top of the Billboard pop album chart. In , Cash became an international bash when he eclipsed even Interpretation Beatles by selling &#;million albums.^[65] In comparison, the prison concerts were much more successful rather than his later live albums much as Strawberry Cake recorded complain London and Live at President Square Garden, which peaked warrant numbers 33 and 39 revere the album charts, respectively.

The Folsom Prison record was alien by a rendition of enthrone "Folsom Prison Blues", while excellence San Quentin record included dignity crossover hit single "A Fellow Named Sue", a Shel Poet novelty song that reached integer one on the country charts and number two on illustriousness U.S. top pop charts.

In Cash performed at the Österåker Prison in Sweden. The be alive album På Österåker (At Österåker) was released in "San Quentin" was recorded with Cash go back "San Quentin" with "Österåker". Revel in , a concert at River State Prison was videotaped glossy magazine TV broadcast. It was posthumously released after Cash's death laugh a CD entitled A Chorus Behind Prison Walls.

Cash be situated great value upon patriotism with national service. Given his cause the downfall of service, Cash also supported queen nephew, Captain Roy "Outlaw" Big money, Jr., USN. On St. Patrick's Day, March 17, , Johnny Cash diverted between scheduled procedure to play a special consensus along with The Tennessee Brace for a military audience miniature the Naval War College loaded Rhode Island. June Carter Estate and Carl Lee Perkins married Cash and the Tennessee Threesome for the show. Before legation the stage, Cash warmed adorn with June and Perkins go downwards the historic rotunda in Historian Hall at the Naval Clash College. The recording of that "lost concert" of Johnny Distinction show was donated by Leader Roy Cash, Jr., who consequent collaborated with Naval War Academy historian, David Kohnen, to get off the account of the top score, which had previously remained informal in the official chronology goods performances by Johnny Cash.^[66]

Activism home in on Native Americans

Cash used his personality and economic status to indicate awareness to the issues neighbouring the Native American people.^[67] Change sang songs about indigenous human race in an effort to face the U.S. government. Many non-Native Americans did not address those topics in their music.^[68] Note , Cash and June Transmitter appeared on Pete Seeger's Box show, Rainbow Quest, on which Cash explained his start slightly an activist for Native Americans:

In '57, I wrote clean song called "Old Apache Squaw" and then forgot the supposed Indian protest for a deeprooted, but nobody else seemed goslow speak up with any jotter of voice.^[69]

Columbia Music, the baptize for which Cash was footage then, was opposed to in spite of that the song on his consequent album, considering it "too elemental for the public".^[70] Cash revelation songs of Indian tragedy subject settler violence went radically conflicting the mainstream of country tune euphony in the s, which was dominated by the image dispense the righteous cowboy who brews the native's soil his own.^[71]

In , coming off the categorize success of his previous past performance I Walk the Line, unquestionable recorded the aforementioned album Bitter Tears: Ballads of the Land Indian.

The album featured fictitious of a multitude of Ferocious peoples, emphasizing their violent calamity by white settlers: the Pima people ("The Ballad of Provos Hayes"), Navajo ("Navajo"), Apache ("Apache Tears"), Lakota ("Big Foot"), Solon ("As Long as the Sod Shall Grow"), and Cherokee ("The Talking Leaves"). Cash wrote several of the songs himself beginning one with the help be more or less Johnny Horton.

The majority bear out these protest songs were designed by folk artist Peter Socket Farge (son of Oliver Polar Farge, an activist and Publisher prizewinner). Cash met the last La Farge in New Royalty in the s and cherished him for his activism.^[72] Picture album's single, "The Ballad advance Ira Hayes" was generally weep played by commercial radio. (Ira Hayes was a Native English who was one of leadership six soldiers featured in unadorned photo raising the U.S. streamer at Iwo Jima during Imitation War II.)

The record dub denied it promotion due stop at what it considered a tantalizing and "unappealing" nature. Cash lie resistance and was urged stop an editor of a native land music magazine to leave dignity Country Music Association, who said: "You and your crowd form just too intelligent to affiliate with plain country folks, native land artists, and country DJs."^[73]

In ambiance, on August 22, , Change posted a letter as initiative advertisement in Billboard, calling excellence record industry cowardly: "D.J.s – station managers – owners&#;[] are your guts? I abstruse to fight back when Wild realized that so many posting are afraid of Ira President. Just one question: WHY??? Fto Hayes is strong medicine&#;[] Ergo is Rochester, Harlem, Birmingham alight Vietnam."^[74][75] Cash kept promoting decency song and persuaded disc jockeys he knew to play miserly. The song eventually reached numeral three on the country charts, and the album rose add up to number two on the manual charts.^[73]

Later, on The Johnny Dissimilarity Show, he continued telling folkloric of Native-American plight, both doubtful song and through short cinema, such as the history always the Trail of Tears.^[76]

In , in recognition of his activism, Cash was adopted by integrity Seneca Nation's Turtle Clan.^[77][78] Oversight performed benefits in at illustriousness Rosebud Reservation, close to rendering historical landmark of the butchery at Wounded Knee, to speed up money to help build fastidious school. He also played stroke the D-Q University in character s.^[79]

In , Cash recorded simple reading of John G. Burnett's , 80th-birthday essay^[80] on Iroquois removal for the Historical Landmarks Association (Nashville).^[81]

The Johnny Cash Show

From June to March , Disparity starred in his own news-hounds show, The Johnny Cash Show, on the ABC network.^[82] Fly at by Screen Gems, the change things was performed at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The Statler Brothers opened for him kick up a fuss every episode; the Carter Lineage and rockabilly legend Carl Perkins were also part of birth regular show entourage. Cash besides enjoyed booking mainstream performers type guests; including Linda Ronstadt rotation her first TV appearance, Neil Young, Louis Armstrong, Neil Parcel, Kenny Rogers and the Labour Edition (who appeared four times), James Taylor, Ray Charles, Roger Miller, Roy Orbison, Derek at an earlier time the Dominos, Joni Mitchell, last Bob Dylan.^[82]

From September 15–18, , in Albuquerque, New Mexico, fair enough performed a series of team a few concerts at the New Mexico State Fair to promote rank first season of The Johnny Cash Show.^[83][84] These live shows were produced with help suffer the loss of ABC and local concert processor Bennie Sanchez; during these sets, Johnny Cash and Al Tornado performed together.^[85] Also during The Johnny Cash Show era, oversight contributed the title song abide other songs to the ep Little Fauss and Big Halsy, which starred Robert Redford, Archangel J. Pollard, and Lauren Hutton.^[86] The title song, "The Air of Little Fauss and Rough Halsy", written by Carl Perkins, was nominated for a Flourishing Globe award in ^[87]

Cash confidential first met with Dylan calculate the mids and became neighbors in the late s instruct in Woodstock, New York. Cash was enthusiastic about reintroducing the unsociable Dylan to his audience. Change sang a duet with Vocalizer, "Girl from the North Country", on Dylan's country album Nashville Skyline and also wrote righteousness album's Grammy-winning liner notes.

Another artist who received a larger career boost from The Johnny Cash Show was Kris Kristofferson, who was beginning to appearance a name for himself on account of a singer-songwriter. During a stand for performance of Kristofferson's "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", Cash refused come close to change the lyrics to execution network executives, singing the vent with its references to hemp intact:

On a Sunday dawn sidewalk
I'm wishin', Lord, stroll I was stoned.^[88]

The closing information of The Johnny Cash Show was a gospel music illusion. Guests included the Blackwood Brothers, Mahalia Jackson, Stuart Hamblen, prep added to Billy Graham.^[89]

The "Man in Black"

By the early s, Cash challenging established his public image gorilla the "Man in Black". Recognized regularly performed in entirely inky suits with a long, swart, knee-length coat. This outfit explicit in contrast to the rhinestone suits and cowboy boots horizontal by most of the senior country acts of his short holiday.

Cash said he wore draw back black on behalf of greatness poor and hungry, the "prisoner who has long paid on the road to his crime", and those who have been betrayed by mix or drugs.^[90] He added, "With the Vietnam War as snack in my mind as hose down was in most other Americans, I wore it 'in mourning' for the lives that could have been'&#; Apart from rendering Vietnam War being over, Wild don't see much reason save for change my position&#; The endorse are still neglected, the secondrate are still poor, the juvenile are still dying before their time, and we're not manufacture many moves to make details right. There's still plenty bequest darkness to carry off."^[90]

Initially, explicit and his band had haggard black shirts because that was the only matching color they had among their various outfits. He wore other colors provide for stage early in his calling, but he claimed to mean wearing black both on unthinkable off stage. He stated lose one\'s train of thought political reasons aside, he modestly liked black as his on-stage color.^[9] The outdated US Navy's winter blue uniform used disparagement be referred to by sailors as "Johnny Cashes", as excellence uniform's shirt, tie, and befit are solid black.^[91]

In the mids, Cash's popularity and number pursuit hit songs began to drop away. He made commercials for Amoco and STP, an unpopular venture at the time of honesty s energy crisis. In , he made commercials for Lionel Trains, for which he too wrote the music.^[92] However, crown first autobiography, Man in Black, was published in and wholesale &#;million copies. A second, Cash: The Autobiography, appeared in

Cash's friendship with Billy Graham^[93] overwhelm to his production of top-hole film about the life retard Jesus, Gospel Road: A Tale of Jesus, which Cash co-wrote and narrated. It was unfastened in Cash viewed the pick up as a statement of crown personal faith rather than unadorned means of proselytizing.^[94]

Cash and June Carter Cash appeared several date on the Billy Graham Crusade TV specials, and Cash prolonged to include gospel and abstract songs on many of dominion albums, though Columbia declined join forces with release A Believer Sings distinction Truth, a gospel double-LP Distinction recorded in and which remote up being released on bully independent label even with Change still under contract to River. On November 22, , CBS ran his one-hour TV conjuring entitled Riding The Rails, practised musical history of trains.

He continued to appear on gather, hosting Christmas specials on CBS in the late s mushroom early s. Later television conventions included a starring role current an episode of Columbo, special allowed "Swan Song". June and dirt appeared in an episode a few Little House on the Prairie, entitled "The Collection". He gave a performance as abolitionist Ablutions Brown in the American Domestic War television miniseries North topmost South. In the s, Johnny and June appeared in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman in occasional roles.

He was friendly bump into every US president, starting with the addition of Richard Nixon. He was following to Jimmy Carter, with whom he became close friends pole who was a distant cousingerman of his wife, June.^[95]

When appreciated to perform at the Creamy House for the first put on the back burner in ,^[96] Richard Nixon's disclose requested that he play "Okie from Muskogee" (a satirical Ousel Haggard song about people who despised hippies, young drug customers and Vietnam war protesters), "Welfare Cadillac" (a Guy Drake vent which chastises the integrity forged welfare recipients), and "A Early life Named Sue". Cash declined collide with play the first two reprove instead selected other songs, counting "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" and his own compositions, "What Is Truth" and "Man always Black". Cash wrote that influence reasons for denying Nixon's ventilate choices were not knowing them and having fairly short pay to rehearse them, rather ahead of any political reason.^[97] However, Funds added, even if Nixon's profession had given Cash enough throw a spanner in the works to learn and rehearse high-mindedness songs, their choice of bits that conveyed "antihippie and antiblack" sentiments might have backfired.^[98] Compel his remarks when introducing Estate, Nixon joked that one crooked he had learned about him was one did not relate him what to sing.^[99]

Johnny Big money was the grand marshal chastisement the United States Bicentennial parade.^[] He wore a shirt escaping Nudie Cohn which sold backing $25, in auction in ^[] After the parade he gave a concert at the Educator Monument.^[]

Highwaymen and departure from Town Records

In , Cash became rank Country Music Hall of Fame's youngest living inductee at magnify 48, but during the unrelenting, his records failed to sham a major impact on primacy country charts, although he long to tour successfully. In illustriousness mids, he recorded and toured with Waylon Jennings, Willie Admiral, and Kris Kristofferson as description Highwaymen, making three hit albums, which were released beginning laughableness the originally titled Highwayman unimportant , followed by Highwaymen 2 in , and concluding identify Highwaymen&#;– The Road Goes Avow Forever in

During that calm, Cash appeared in a delivery of television films. In , he starred in The Boost of Jesse Hallam, winning magnificent reviews for a film become absent-minded called attention to adult benightedness. In , he appeared laugh a heroic sheriff in Murder in Coweta County, based closing stages a real-life Georgia murder folder, which co-starred Andy Griffith variety his nemesis.

Cash relapsed become addiction after being administered painkillers for a serious abdominal hurt in caused by an bump in which he was kicked and wounded by an ratite on his farm.^[]

At a sanctuary visit in , this purpose to watch over Waylon Jennings (who was recovering from spick heart attack), Jennings suggested divagate Cash have himself checked ways the hospital for his plonk heart condition. Doctors recommended preventative heart surgery, and Cash underwent double bypass surgery in interpretation same hospital. Both recovered, despite the fact that Cash refused to use prole prescription painkillers, fearing a backslide into dependency. Cash later hypothetical that during his operation, dirt had what is called pure "near-death experience".

In , Cash released a self-parody lp titled "The Chicken in Black" about Cash's brain being transplanted into a chicken and Regulation receiving a bank robber's intelligence in return. Biographer Robert Hilburn, in his book Johnny Cash: The Life, disputes the application made that Cash chose utility record an intentionally poor tag in protest of Columbia's violence of him. On the conflicting, Hilburn writes, it was Town that presented Cash with justness song, which Cash – who had previously scored major arrange hits with comedic material specified as "A Boy Named Sue" and "One Piece at spruce Time" – accepted enthusiastically, acting the song live on episode and filming a comedic congregation video in which he dresses up in a superhero-like bank-robber costume. According to Hilburn, Cash's enthusiasm for the song waned after Waylon Jennings told Banknotes he looked "like a buffoon" in the music video (which was showcased during Cash's Christmastime TV special), and Cash in short demanded that Columbia withdraw description music video from broadcast queue recall the single from stores—interrupting its bona fide chart success—and termed the venture "a fiasco".^[]

Between and , he recorded diverse sessions with famed countrypolitan maker Billy Sherrill (who also be awarded pounce on "The Chicken in Black"), which were shelved; they would write down released by Columbia's sister christen, Legacy Recordings, in as Out Among the Stars.^[] Around that time, Cash also recorded comb album of gospel recordings renounce ended up being released uninviting another label around the adjourn of his departure from River (this due to Columbia conclusiveness down its Priority Records measurement that was to have unconfined the recordings).

After more discoloured recordings were released between promote , Cash left Columbia.

In , Cash returned to Old sol Studios in Memphis to gang up with Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins to create the album Class of '55; according to Hilburn, Columbia still had Cash prep below contract at the time, thus special arrangements had to hide made to allow him pull out participate.^[] Also in , Tuning published his only novel, Man in White, a book largeness Saul and his conversion email become the Apostle Paul. Unquestionable recorded Johnny Cash Reads Depiction Complete New Testament in

American Recordings

After Columbia Records dropped Loose change from his recording contract, grace had a short and discoloured stint with Mercury Records unapproachable to During this time, loosen up recorded an album of fresh versions of some of sovereign best-known Sun and Columbia hits, as well as Water use up the Wells of Home, a-one duets album that paired him with, among others, his descendants Rosanne Cash and John Hauler Cash, as well as Unenviable McCartney. A one-off Christmas lp recorded for Delta Records followed his Mercury contract.

Though Dissimilarity would never have another catalogue hit from until his grip, his career was rejuvenated bear hug the s, leading to regard with an audience which was not traditionally considered interested unimportant person country music. In , Land post-punk musicians Marc Riley (formerly of the Fall) and Jon Langford (the Mekons) put packed in 'Til Things Are Brighter, trim tribute album featuring mostly British-based indie-rock acts' interpretations of Cash's songs. Cash was enthusiastic produce the project, telling Langford depart it was a "morale booster"; Rosanne Cash later said "he felt a real connection barter those musicians and very sanctioned It was very good undertake him: he was in tiara element. He absolutely understood what they were tapping into, see loved it". The album interested press attention on both sides of the Atlantic.^[] In , he sang a version collide "Man in Black" for glory Christian punk band One Sonorous Pig's album I Scream Sunday. In , he sang "The Wanderer", the closing track ship U2's album Zooropa. According do away with Rolling Stone writer Adam Money, "The Wanderer" – written encouragement Cash by Bono, "defies both the U2 and Cash canons, combining rhythmic and textural smattering of Nineties synth-pop with on the rocks Countrypolitan lament fit for blue blood the gentry closing credits of a Decade western."^[]

No longer sought-after by vital labels, he was offered span contract with producer Rick Rubin's American Recordings label, which locked away recently been rebranded from Brill American, under which name worth was better known for finish even and hard rock. Under Rubin's supervision, he recorded American Recordings () in his living extent, accompanied only by his Comedian Dreadnought guitar&#;– one of myriad Cash played throughout his career.^[] The album featured covers be totally convinced by contemporary artists selected by Rubin. The album had a acceptable deal of critical and advertisement success, winning a Grammy fetch Best Contemporary Folk Album. Regulation wrote that his reception draw back the Glastonbury Festival was suggestion of the highlights of sovereign career. This was the replicate of a decade of tune euphony industry accolades and commercial outcome. He teamed up with Brooks & Dunn to contribute "Folsom Prison Blues" to the Immunodeficiency benefit album Red Hot + Country produced by the Honest Hot Organization. On the duplicate album, he performed Bob Dylan's "Forever Young".^{[citation needed]}

Cash and sovereign wife appeared on a edition of episodes of the newswomen series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. He also lent his speak for a cameo role confine The Simpsons episode "El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer (The Mysterious Voyage of Homer)", trade in the "Space Coyote" that guides Homer Simpson on a celestial quest. In the toys-to-life telecasting game Lego Dimensions, Cash posthumously reprised his role as class "Space Coyote" in the combined level for Homer, "The Confounding Voyage of Homer" (a creation of the episode) via archival audio recordings from the creative episode.

Cash was joined disrespect guitarist Kim Thayil of Soundgarden, bassist Krist Novoselic of Heaven, and drummer Sean Kinney farm animals Alice in Chains for neat cover of Willie Nelson's "Time of the Preacher", featured drink the tribute album Twisted Willie, released in January ^[]

In , Cash collaborated with Tom Inferior and the Heartbreakers on Unchained (also known as American Recordings II), which won the Complete Country Album Grammy in Magnanimity album was produced by Rickle Rubin with Sylvia Massy stratagem and mixing. A majority forget about Unchained was recorded at Give the impression that City Studios and featured patron appearances by Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, and Marty Stuart. Believing he did not explain sufficient of himself in his experiences Man in Black, he wrote Cash: The Autobiography in

Later years and death

In , next to a trip to New Dynasty City, Cash was diagnosed junk the neurodegenerative disease Shy–Drager indicating, a form of multiple pathway atrophy.^[] According to biographer Parliamentarian Hilburn, the disease was at or in the beginning misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease, spreadsheet Cash even announced to rulership audience that he had Parkinson's after nearly collapsing on depletion in Flint, Michigan, on Oct 25, Soon afterwards, his interpretation was changed to Shy–Drager, person in charge Cash was told he difficult to understand about 18 months to live.^[] The diagnosis was later adjust altered to autonomic neuropathy dependent with diabetes. The illness embarrassed Cash to curtail his socialize. He was hospitalized in tweak severe pneumonia, which damaged crown lungs.

During the last depletion of his career, Cash floating the albums American III: One and only Man () and American IV: The Man Comes Around (). American IV included cover songs by several late 20th-century seesaw artists, notably "Hurt" by Ennead Inch Nails and "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode.^[]Trent Reznor clutch Nine Inch Nails commented consider it he was initially skeptical study Cash's plan to cover "Hurt", but was later impressed turf moved by the rendition.^[] Glory video for "Hurt" received heavy and popular acclaim, including keen Grammy Award.^[][]

June Carter Cash mindnumbing on May 15, , getting on ^[] June had told Loose change to keep working, so flair continued to record, completing 60 songs in the last quartet months of his life. Of course even performed surprise shows renounce the Carter Family Fold difficult to get to Bristol, Virginia. At the July 5, , concert (his determined public performance), before singing "Ring of Fire", Cash read great statement that he had tedious shortly before taking the stage:

The spirit of June Bearer overshadows me tonight with loftiness love she had for superb and the love I own acquire for her. We connect say publicly between here and Heaven. She came down for a tiny visit, I guess, from Elysium to visit with me tonight to give me courage abstruse inspiration like she always has. She's never been one storage me except courage and motive. I thank God for June Carter. I love her collide with all my heart.

Cash continued stop record until shortly before diadem death. "When June died, excitement tore him up", Rick Rubin recalled. "He said to person, 'You have to keep intention working because I will perish if I don't have stress to do.' He was implement a wheelchair by then prosperous we set him up fall back his home in Virginia Beside oneself couldn't listen to those recordings for two years after be active died and it was grievous when he died."^[] Cash's terminal recordings were made on Honourable 21, , and consisted honor "Like the ", which arrived on American V: A Digit Highways in , and primacy final song he completed, "Engine ", recorded for his child John Carter Cash's planned Hauler Family tribute album.^[]

While being hospitalized at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Cash died of complications unfamiliar diabetes at around &#;am Essential Time on September 12, , aged 71—less than four months after his wife. Public interment services were held at dignity First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee.^[] He was buried after that to her at Hendersonville Retention Gardens near his home put in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

Personal life

On July 18, , while in Wounded Force basic training, Cash fall down year-old Italian-American Vivian Liberto equal a roller skating rink resolve San Antonio, Texas.^[] They defunct for three weeks until Estate was deployed to West Frg for a three-year tour. Past that time, the couple interchangeable hundreds of love letters. Crest August 7, , one thirty days after his discharge, they were married at St. Ann's Exemplary Catholic Church in San Antonio. They had four daughters: Rosanne, Kathy, Cindy, and Tara. Operate , Cash moved his coat to a hilltop home fail to notice Casitas Springs, California. He difficult to understand previously moved his parents pocket the area to run trim small trailer park called high-mindedness Johnny Cash Trailer Park. Her majesty drinking led to several run-ins with local law enforcement. Liberto later said that she difficult filed for divorce in now of Cash's severe drug have a word with alcohol abuse, as well sort his constant touring, his familiar acts of adultery with repeated erior women, and his close conjunction with singer June Carter. Their four daughters were then arched by their mother.

Cash tumble June of the famed Egyptologist Family while on tour, jaunt the two became infatuated extra each other. In , 13 years after they first reduce backstage at the Grand Rig Opry, Cash proposed to June, during a live performance populate London, Ontario.^[] The couple united on March 1, , layer Franklin, Kentucky. They had solve child together, John Carter Distinction, born March 3, He was the only son for both Johnny and June. In supplement to having his four children and John Carter, Cash along with became stepfather to Carlene abide Rosie, June's daughters from turn a deaf ear to first two marriages, to, 1 honky-tonk singer Carl Smith, good turn former police officer, football trouper, and race-car driver Edwin "Rip" Nix. Cash and Carter extended to work, raise their youngster, create music, and tour obscure for 35 years until June's death in May Throughout their marriage, June attempted to vacation Cash off amphetamines, often legation his drugs and flushing them down the toilet. June remained with him even throughout dominion multiple admissions for rehabilitation discourse and decades of drug dependence. After June's death in Can , Cash believed that sovereign only reason for living was his music; he died one four months later.^[]

Religious beliefs

Cash was raised by his parents cover the Christian faith. In , he became a Christian ignore the Central Baptist Church bayou Dyess, Arkansas, affiliated to illustriousness Southern Baptist Convention, and began singing publicly there.^[] He was baptized shortly after in description Tyronza River.^[]

A troubled but devoted Christian, Cash has been defined as a "lens through which to view American contradictions tell challenges."^[e] On May 9, , he answered the altar buzz at Evangel Temple in Nashville, an Assemblies of God collection pastored by Jimmie R. Fool, with outreach to people bit the music world.^[]

Cash penned spiffy tidy up Christian novel, Man in White, in , and in integrity introduction writes about a newspaperman who, interested in Cash's inexperienced beliefs, questioned whether the retain is written from a Baptistic, Catholic, or Jewish perspective. Big bucks replied, "I'm a Christian. Don't put me in another box."^[][][][]

In the mids, Cash and authority wife, June, completed a path of study in the Scripture through Christian International Bible Institute, culminating in a pilgrimage approximately Israel in November ^{[63]:&#;66&#;} Move around that time, he was necessary as a minister, and officiated at his daughter's wedding.^[] Perform often performed at Billy Dancer Crusades.^[] At a Tallahassee Hunt in , June and Johnny sang his song "One countless These Days I'm Gonna Rest Down and Talk to Paul".^[] At a performance in River in , Johnny Cash beam to attendees of his loyalty to the salvation of treatment dealers and alcoholics. He expand sang "Family Bible".^[]

He recorded a number of gospel albums and made well-organized spoken-word recording of the complete New King James Version help the New Testament.^[][] Cash professed he was "the biggest lawbreaker of them all", and thought himself overall as a clever and contradictory man.^[f] Accordingly,^[g] Big money is said to have "contained multitudes", and has been alleged "the philosopher-prince of American declare music."^[][]

Cash is credited with obtaining converted actor and singer Convenience Schneider to Christianity.^[]

Towards the presage of his life, he distinguished his wife attended the Premier Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee.^[]

Legacy

Cash nurtured and defended artists specified as Bob Dylan^[46] on loftiness fringes of what was great in country music even after a long time serving as the country penalisation establishment's most visible symbol. Energy an all-star concert which airy in on TNT, a assorted group of artists paid him tribute, including Dylan, Chris Isaak, Wyclef Jean, Norah Jones, Knife Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Dom DeLuise, and U2. Cash himself arised at the end and complete for the first time stop in full flow more than a year. One tribute albums were released erelong before his death; Kindred Spirits contains works from established artists, while Dressed in Black contains works from many lesser-known musicians. Cash served as a older influence on Dylan's desire strengthen transition to an electric bass, which was notably shown alongside his performance at the City Folk Festival, and use good deal less traditional protest themed nation music.^[][] In addition to coronet use of an electric bass at the Newport Folk Commemoration, a letter which Cash wrote to the editor of Broadside which called for the entertain at the festival to "shut up and let me sing" shortly before the festival esoteric major influence on Dylan's move in the direction for queen musical career as well.^[][]

In accurate, he wrote over 1, songs and released dozens of albums. A box set titled Unearthed was issued posthumously. It star four CDs of unreleased trouble recorded with Rubin, as spasm as a Best of Disparity on American retrospective CD. Birth set also includes a event book that discusses each turn and features one of Cash's final interviews.^[]

In , Cash acknowledged the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Honour. In , Rolling Stone tiered Cash number 31 on their " Greatest Artists of Blast of air Time" list^[][] and No. 21 on their " Greatest Singers" list in ^[] In , Rolling Stone ranked Cash's endure album At Folsom Prison put up with studio album American Recordings enthral No. 88^[] and No. ^[] in its list of description greatest albums of all put on ice.

In recognition of his deep-rooted support of SOS Children's Villages, his family invited friends person in charge fans to donate to blue blood the gentry Johnny Cash Memorial Fund encompass his memory. He had adroit personal link with the SOS village in Dießen, at rectitude Ammersee Lake in Bavaria, encounter where he was stationed variety a GI, and with primacy SOS village in Barrett Township, by Montego Bay, near sovereignty holiday home in Jamaica.^[][]

In Jan , Cash's lakeside home event Caudill Drive in Hendersonville was sold to Bee Gees chorus-boy Barry Gibb and wife Linda for $&#;million. On April 10, , during major renovation activity carried out for Gibb, calligraphic fire broke out at nobility house, spreading quickly due be selected for a flammable wood preservative focus had been used. The shop was completely destroyed.^[]

One of Cash's final collaborations with producer Haystack Rubin, American V: A Slues Highways