Johnny Cash

From ArticleWorld

Johnny Cash was a country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist who had a demanding presence in all genres of music and was known as theMan in Black. Most of Cash’s music spoke of trials and struggles he went through in his own unstable personal life, such as "I Walk the Line," "Folsom Prison Blues," and "Ring of Fire." Cash was one of only fiver performers to be added to both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Cash boasts an extremely long career that lasted for nearly fifty years and is seen as a country music symbol to the world.

Early Life

Cash was born in February, 1932, in Arkansas. He remembers listening mainly to gospel music and the radio. He learned to play the guitar and write songs at a young age, and was singing on a local radio station by the time he was in high school. He joined the Air Force which is where he wrote "Folsom Prison Blues."

When his tour of duty ended, he signed with Sun Records and produced a few hit songs. He left Sun for Columbia Records soon thereafter and recorded his single, "Don’t Take Your Guns to Town."

Drugs

Cash began taking amphetamines and barbiturates during the 1960’s and soon became addicted. He shared an aprtment with Waylon Jennings for a while; Jennings was also heavily into drugs at the time. Even though he was losing all control he was still releasing hit songs like "Ring of Fire." Since he was such a rebel and portrayed an outlaw image, it is surprising that Cash never went to prison. He went to jail seven times for various misdemeanors, but never stayed more than one night.

A string of tragic events caused Cash to attempt to break his drug addiction and he underwent detox in his home. He was able to kick his addiction and he rediscovered his Christian faith in the early 1970’s.

Johnny Cash was the youngest artist ever entered into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980 at the age of 48. During the mid-1980’s he joined Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Waylon Jennings and made two hit albums as The Highwaymen.

The End of a Legend

Cash was diagnosed with Shy-Drager synrome in 1997 and he was hospitalized for severe pneumonia in 1998. He overcame this to release a few more albums but then died from diabetes complications on September 12, 2003, only four months after June Carter Cash.

Johnny Cash pioneered rockabilly and rock and roll in his early music, then dedicated decades to country music. He was a living legend that influenced numerous artists and was remembered fondly by some of the greatest musicians upon his death. Kris Kristofferson, one of his good friends called Cash "Abraham Lincoln with a wild side." Willie Nelson, also a friend stated, "Johnny Cash transcends all musical boundaries, and is one of the original outlaws."