"The Man in Black": biography and work of Johnny Cash

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Johnny Cash is an American musician, poet and composer. He is best known for his country songs, but his repertoire also included gospel and rock and roll. Biography, personal life and creative path of Johnny Cash - later in this article.

Early years

Johnny Cash was born on February 26, 1932 in Kingsland, Arkansas, USA. He was the fourth of seven children of farmers Ray and Carrie Cash, and therefore, from the age of five, the future musician worked in the field with his parents, brothers and sisters (so that such a large family could feed themselves, everyone had to work).

In 1950, Johnny graduated from high school and moved to Detroit, Michigan. After working for several months at a car factory, the young man enlisted in the US Air Force. He served in the city of Lansberg (Germany), where he acted as a radio operator to intercept Soviet ciphers. It was during the service that Cash became interested in playing the guitar and created his first musical group, which was called The Landsberg Barbarians. At that time, he thought of music only as entertainment.

Start andmain creative period

After demobilization in 1954, Johnny Cash moved to Memphis. For some time he worked as a loader, seller, handyman, but all this did not suit him, and more and more often the young man thought about music as a way of earning money. Several times Cash tried to make a solo record at Sun Records but was rejected. Then the idea came to him to reassemble the group. Cash teamed up with a musical duo called the Tennessee Two, thus creating the Tennessee Three. Subsequently, when the group's repertoire consisted exclusively of Johnny Cash's songs, the group became his accompaniment to solo work.

First hits recorded at the Sun Studios were Folsom Prison Blues and I Walk The Line recorded in 1956. They were among the first to hit national radio stations and brought fame to the musician in the United States. Johnny Cash's simple chords, accompanied by a soulful voice and soulful lyrics, instantly made him the star of the country genre - the most popular in the 50s.

In 1957, the musician moved to New York and signed a contract with Columbia Records. All the texts of Johnny Cash were based on his personal experience and experiences, which made him so close to the listeners - ordinary working Americans.

In 1968, one of Cash's most popular albums, At Folson Prison, was released. Almost all the songs from it became classic in the musician's repertoire, and the disc itself wasrecorded at a concert he gave in prison. By 1969, Johnny Cash's popularity had become so huge that he was offered his own television show on ABC for three years.

The Man in Black

Around the mid-60s, Cash began to appear in public exclusively in black clothes, which is why he received the nickname "The Man in Black". By 1969, this nickname was so firmly entrenched in the musician that, having heard this phrase, no one doubted who exactly they were talking about.

There were various rumors about the reasons for this style, however, having released the song Man in Black in 1971, Johnny Cash himself gave an unequivocal answer to the questions. The translation of the song tells that the musician prefers clothes of dark colors, paying tribute to all the poor and hungry, people "shabby" by life. It is also his mourning for all lonely old people and prematurely dead young people. At the end of the song, Cash says that he would be glad to wear colorful clothes, but while the world is far from perfect, he will try to carry away some of its darkness on himself. The video of this song is below.

Later creativity and last years

In 1974, Johnny Cash appeared in one episode of the hit series Columbo, playing the role of a killer that was written especially for him.

By the 80s, the musician's popularity began to decline, but his acquaintance with producer Rick Rubin in the early 1990s led to a period ofrenaissance in the work of Cash. Under the direction of Rubin, he recorded 6 solo albums, united under the name American Recordings and released from 1994 to 2010 (the last two were released after the death of the musician).

Johnny Cash's last lifetime hit was a cover version of Nine Inch Nails' song Hurt, released in 1995.

Private life

In July 1951, a few weeks before being sent to serve in Germany, Johnny Cash met Vivian Liberto. She became his wife immediately after Cash's demobilization in 1954. The couple had four daughters - Roseanne, Cathy, Cindy and Tara. The beginning of the 60s became for the musician a time not only of constant touring, but also of alcohol and drug abuse. On this basis, Johnny and Vivian divorced in 1966.

However, since 1955, that is, just a year after his marriage to Vivian, Johnny Cash has maintained a close relationship with the singer June Carter. Later, the musician said that he had real feelings only for her, but for a long time he did not dare to leave his wife and four children. Johnny and June got married in March 1968. On March 3, 1970, their son John was born, who received the double surname Carter-Cash. In the photo below you can see the second family of the musician - Johnny, June and their son John.

The couple have been married for 35 years, constantly working and performing together. June also tirelessly controlled her husband's drug addiction, taking and destroying drugs, pouring alcohol and supporting him.during all rehabilitation and treatments. Only June's death could separate this couple - she died due to heart problems in May 2003.

Death

Johnny Cash outlived his beloved wife by only four months. He had been suffering from diabetes in recent years, but June's death caused a marked deterioration in his condition. The musician died on September 12, 2003. On this occasion, many said that with his death, "The Man in Black" forced all his fans to dress in black.