Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash (1932-2003) was an American country singer. He is one of a small number of people to hold dual membership in both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. The 2005 critically acclaimed film Walk the Line was a portrayal of his life.

Originally from Arkansas, he broke into both country music and early rock and roll on the famed Sun Records label of Memphis, Tennessee, with his biggest hit from those years being "I Walk the Line". In 1958 he made the jump to Columbia Records where he remained until 1987. He recorded a series of concept albums in the 1960s ranging from several albums of Gospel music to albums about American history (Ride This Train and Songs Of Our Soil), blue collar workers (Blood, Sweat, and Tears), American Indians (Bitter Tears), and novelty songs (Everybody Loves a Nut). He continued to hit with major hit singles during this period as well, with songs like "Ring of Fire". However his career ran into increasing trouble because of a spiraling drug problem.

His marriage to June Carter Cash marked a turnaround in his career. He got off drugs, recorded two very popular albums, At Folsom Prison (1968) and At San Quentin (1969) both recorded live before prison audiences, and accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior. His early 1970s albums continued his commercial success and included a few Christian songs on each album. Typical was his 1971 album Man In Black, which introduced the nickname he would be known by ever since, included another major hit single in the title track, and featured Billy Graham on one Gospel track. However his commercial success began to fall off considerably after 1976. His last major hit single was "One Piece at a Time" in 1976. He continued to record throughout the rest of the 1970s and the 1980s.

Cash's career made another comeback starting in 1994 after being signed by producer Rick Rubin's American label. The series of albums that followed, starting with American Recordings, introduced Johnny Cash's music to a brand new, younger audience. A cover of "Hurt", which was originally by Nine Inch Nails, became a major hit and the video for it won several awards.

In 1980 Johnny Cash was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame In 1997 Johnny Cash was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame In 2007 Johnny Cash was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame