Johnny Cash Biography

Johnny Cash, born J. R. Cash, (26 February
1932 - 12 September 2003) was a Grammy Award-winning American country
singer-songwriter. Cash is widely considered to be one of the most
influential American musicians of the 20th century.



Cash was
known for his deep, distinctive voice, the boom-chick-a-boom or "freight
train" sound of his Tennessee Three backing band, his demeanor, and his
dark clothing, which earned him the nickname "The Man in Black". He
traditionally started his concerts with the introduction "Hello, I'm
Johnny Cash."



Much of Cash's music, especially that of his
later career, echoed themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption.
His signature songs include "I Walk the Line", "Folsom Prison Blues", "Ring
of Fire", "That Old Wheel" (a duet with Hank Williams Jr.), "Cocaine
Blues", and "Man in Black". He also recorded several humorous songs, such
as "One Piece at a Time", "The One on the Right Is on the Left", "Dirty Old
Egg-Sucking Dog" and "A Boy Named Sue"; rock-and-roll numbers such as "Get
Rhythm"; and various railroad songs, such as "Rock Island Line" and "Orange
Blossom Special".



He sold over 90 million albums in his nearly
fifty-year career and came to occupy a "commanding position in music
history".