Johnny Cash (
born J. R.
Cash February 26, 1932, died September 12, 2003) was an
American, multi-Grammy Award-winning influential
country/Rock and Roll singer-songwriter. Cash was the husband of country singer and songwriter
June Carter Cash.
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
simple 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", "
Hurt", "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 50 million albums in his nearly 50-year career and came to occupy a "commanding position in
music history.