Changes

[[File:J Cash.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Johnny Cash]]

[[File:J Cash.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Johnny Cash]]

'''John R. "Johnny" Cash''' (Born '''J.R. Cash''', February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an [[United States|American]] country singer, actor and author.  

'''John R. "Johnny" Cash''' (Born '''J.R. Cash''', February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an [[United States|American]] country singer, actor and author.  

He is one of a small number of people to hold dual membership in both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]], as well as being in the Gospel Hall of Fame and Hit Parade Hall of Fame.

He is one of a small number of people to hold dual membership in both the [[Country Music Hall of Fame]] and the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]], as well as being in the [[Gospel Hall of Fame]] and [[Hit Parade Hall of Fame]].

Cash's style of music could greatly vary. He is most known for his country music. However, he was also famous for singing [[rockabilly]] (particularly early in his career), [[rock and roll]], [[blues]], [[folk]], [[gospel music]], and he covered songs by rock artists later in his life.

Cash's style of music could greatly vary. He is most known for his country music. However, he was also famous for singing [[rockabilly]] (particularly early in his career), [[rock and roll]], [[blues]], [[folk]], [[gospel music]], and he covered songs by rock artists later in his life.

Cash was known as the Man in Black because of the attire he wore. He was also a champion for prisoners, though only being incarcerated for minor misdemeanors such as going to the El Paso International Airport in October 1965 after U.S. Customs agents found hundreds of pep pills and tranquilizers in his luggage returning from Mexico.

Cash was known as "The Man in Black" because of the attire he wore, and also for his simple introduction at concerts: "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash." He was also a champion for prisoners, though only being incarcerated for minor misdemeanors such as going to the El Paso International Airport in October 1965 after U.S. Customs agents found hundreds of pep pills and tranquilizers in his luggage returning from Mexico.

 

Cash was also a devout Christian but suffered some problems with drugs. He later rededicated his life to Christ and quit his drug use.

==Early life==

==Early life==

Cash was born in [[Little Rock]], [[Arkansas]] to Ray Cash Carrie Cloveree Rivers as J. R. Cash. He was renamed John R. Cash by his parents and used that name when he enlisted in the United States Air Force since they would not accept initials as his name, and he used Johnny Cash as a stage name. In March 1935, the Cash family relocated to Dyess, Arkansas. He worked picking cotton and his family's trouble during the [[Great Depression]] inspired many of his songs. Cash's siblings' names were: Roy, Margaret Louise, Jack, Reba, Joanne and Tommy. Cash always felt guilt over the saw accident that killed his older brother Tommy (who Cash was very close to) at the age of fifteen.  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".

Cash was born in [[Little Rock]], [[Arkansas]] to Ray Cash Carrie Cloveree Rivers as J. R. Cash. He was renamed John R. Cash by his parents and used that name when he enlisted in the United States Air Force since they would not accept initials as his name, and he used Johnny Cash as a stage name. In March 1935, the Cash family relocated to Dyess, Arkansas. He worked picking cotton and his family's trouble during the [[Great Depression]] inspired many of his songs. Cash's siblings' names were: Roy, Margaret Louise, Jack, Reba, Joanne and Tommy. Cash always felt guilt over the saw accident that killed his older brother Tommy (who Cash was very close to) at the age of fifteen.  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".

==Personal life==

==Personal life==

His marriage to [[June Carter Cash]] marked a turnaround in his career.  He rededicated his life to [[Jesus Christ]], got off drugs, and recorded two very popular albums, ''At Folsom Prison'' (1968) and ''At San Quentin'' (1969) both recorded live before [[prison]] audiences. Many of the prisoners were deeply moved by his testimony and accepted Christ as their Savior.<ref>[http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2003/005/5.00.html Jim Hefley's biography of Johnny Cash]</ref>  

His marriage to [[June Carter Cash]] (his second, though the two engaged in an affair prior to the nuptials) marked a turnaround in his career.  He rededicated his life to [[Jesus Christ]], got off drugs, and recorded two very popular albums, ''At Folsom Prison'' (1968) and ''At San Quentin'' (1969) both recorded live before [[prison]] audiences. Many of the prisoners were deeply moved by his testimony and accepted Christ as their Savior.<ref>[http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2003/005/5.00.html Jim Hefley's biography of Johnny Cash]</ref>  

==Career==

==Career==

[[File:JohnnyCashHouse1969.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Cash in 1969]]

[[File:JohnnyCashHouse1969.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Cash in 1969]]