“But I’ll try to carry off a little darkness on my back, ‘Till things are brighter, I’m the Man In Black.”
Johnny Cash stands tall at the microphone, holding his guitar in his signature “off to the side” fashion. He wears a black suit with long tails and leather lapels, his pompadour styled perfectly with not a hair out of place. This is his final night at Vanderbilt University. For the past week he’s toured the campus, talked with students about a broad range of topics and ideas, and has somehow found time to write a new song. Inspired by his discussions with the students, he’s penned what will become his signature song. “The Man in Black” is Cash’s way of explaining to the world his personal views on a wide array of societal issues, the issues that he claims are his reason for wearing all black.
Born in Kingsland, Arkansas in 1932, J.R Cash lived a rough childhood. Born during the Great Depression, Cash’s family had very little money and was forced to move to a New Deal Colony in Dyess, Arkansas, where they operated a work-to-buy cotton farm. Cash began working the fields at age five alongside his older brother Jack. On two separate occasions the farm flooded, destroying the family’s cotton crop. In 1944, Cash’s brother Jack was pulled into a saw at the mill in which he worked at. He was nearly cut in two and died three days later. J.R dug his own brother’s grave shortly after his passing. This tragedy would go on to haunt Cash for the rest of his life. In 1950 Cash enlisted in the US Air Force where he legally changed his name form the initials J.R Cash to John R Cash.
Following his discharge in 1954, Cash partnered with guitarist Luther Perkins and the two signed with Sun Records that year. Cash had his first commercial success with the song “Cry, Cry, Cry” in 1955. In 1956 Cash wrote and recorded his first number one hit,”I Walk the Line”, one of his most famous pieces. Following the success of his next hit, “Home of the Blues”, Cash left Sun in 1957 in favor of a lucrative contract with Columbia, where he would remain until 1990.
Cash’s popularity skyrocketed across several genres during the 1960’s, earning him nine number one hits by 1969. The 60’s was also a time of turmoil for Cash. He became heavily addicted to amphetamines, often smuggling hundreds of pills back form Mexico in his camper. In 1965 he was sued by the Federal Government for starting a forest fire in California while under the influence of drugs. He was arrested seven times throughout the 1960’s, though he never served any jail time for his offenses. In 1968 Cash claimed to have had a spiritual rebirth and decided to stop using drugs. He married June Carter that same year and by 1970 he was completely sober.
In 1977 Cash relapsed and began to struggle with drugs again. He would ultimately relapse several times before finally kicking the habit for good in 1992. Beginning in the late 60’s, Cash used his music as a way of expressing his views and discontent with society. He recorded songs about the mistreatment of Native Americans, his opposition to the war in Vietnam, and most notable about the failed criminal justice system. Cash played dozens of prisons throughout the 1960’s and 70’s to bring attention to this issue.
Over his career spanning nearly 50 years, Johnny Cash recorded 13 number one hits, received 18 grammy awards, a star on the Hollywood walk of Fame, and is a member of seven different music genre hall of fames. Cash continued to record new material up until his death, mostly cover versions of newer songs. In the last four months of his life he recorded 60 songs, his way of keeping the promise he had made to his wife June that he would continue to work after her death. On September 12, 2003, Cash died from complications due to his diabetes. It is believed that Cash’s condition deteriorated at a quicker pace due to a broken heart following his wife’s death just four months before. Johnny Cash is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, serving as an inspiration for many artists over the years.
My Picks
- Sunday morning coming down
- Man in black
- The ballad of Ira Hayes
- Ghost riders in the sky
- Daddy sang bass
I like this post because it gives a great deal of insight into Johnny Cash as a person. While most people may be familiar with his music, I doubt that they know much about his upbringing or the struggles he endured. It adds another layer to his music and gives us a way to see him as an individual rather than as an icon or a celebrity.
I like the information that you gave on his life. I have always been a fan of Johnny Cash because my dad is a big fan, teaching me the words to Ring of Fire at a young age. However, I did not know much of that information, as you added more depth to his music by discussing his life.
I really like how you start all your blogs in present tense, making the reader feel like they’re there with the artist in that moment, even if it was long ago. I also like how you add close up pictures, which also makes the reader feel like they’re there watching the singer. I like how you provide insight into Johnny Cash’s private and personal life. You find a good balance between both. Also, like I’ve said before I like your addition of the “My Picks” sections of each blog.