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Johnny Cash was an American country singer-songwriter who thrilled music lovers with his soothing tunes.
Known for many hit songs he is regarded as one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 90 million records worldwide.
In today’s article, we delve into his life as well as what actually led to his death.
Johnny Cash Biography
Johnny Cash, born John R. Cash on February 26, 1932, was an iconic American country singer-songwriter known for his deep, calm bass-baritone voice and his powerful lyrics.
Cash, who was born and raised in Kingsland, Arkansas, to subsistence cotton farmers, rose to stardom in Memphis, Tennessee’s rockabilly scene in the mid-1950s after serving four years in the Air Force.
Themes of sadness, moral difficulty, and salvation were recurring themes in Cash’s songs, and these themes grew more pronounced as his career progressed.
Audiences all over the world were drawn by his unusual sound, which was produced by his Tennessee Three backing band and featured train-like chugging guitar rhythms, as well as his defiant persona mixed with a solemn and humble outlook.
Due to his distinctive all-black theatrical attire, Cash earned the nickname “Man in Black”.
The tunes that became synonymous with Cash were “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Walk the Line,” “Ring of Fire,” “Get Rhythm,” and “Man in Black.” Additionally, he released lighthearted songs like “One Piece at a Time” and “A Boy Named Sue.”
The duet “Jackson,” which he recorded with his future wife June, has become a classic. Known for his free prison concerts, Cash also encapsulated the spirit of America in songs about railroads like “Hey, Porter,” “Orange Blossom Special,” and “Rock Island Line.”
One of the most successful musicians of all time, Cash has sold more than 90 million records worldwide. He embraced a variety of genres, such as gospel, rock and roll, rockabilly, blues, country, and rock and roll.
His acceptance into the Gospel Music, Rock and Roll, and Country Music Halls of Fame was a result of his crossover popularity. In the 2005 biopic “Walk the Line,” played by American actor Joaquin Phoenix, Cash’s life and musical career were dramatised.
Cash’s family’s hardship throughout the Great Depression left its imprint on his early years. They made their home in Dyess, Arkansas, where Cash began picking cotton at an early age.
These memories of singing with his family while they worked gave him a lifetime appreciation for the underprivileged and working class.
The Cash family’s experience with floods on their Dyess farm was memorably described in his song “Five Feet High and Rising.”
Cash had two marriages in addition to his great music career. He had four children with Vivian Liberto, his first wife, whom he wed in 1954.
June Carter was Cash’s second wife; they married in 1968 and remained together until her passing in 2003. Together, they also have a son.
On September 12, 2003, in Nashville, Tennessee, Johnny Cash passed away. In Hendersonville Memory Gardens, he was buried.
Through his timeless music, which continues to enthral and inspire listeners all throughout the world, Cash leaves behind a lasting legacy. His tremendous and enduring legacy will always include his influence on country music and his contributions to American society.
Johnny Cash’s Cause Of Death
Johnny Cash’s cause of death is known to have complications of diabetes which caused him to lose his life.
Cash was buried next to June Carter at Hendersonville Memory Gardens near his home in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
Johnny Cash’s Career Works
- Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar! (1957)
- The Fabulous Johnny Cash (1958)
- Hymns by Johnny Cash (1959)
- Songs of Our Soil (1959)
- Now, There Was a Song! (1960)
- Ride This Train (1960)
- Hymns from the Heart (1962)
- The Sound of Johnny Cash (1962)
- Blood, Sweat and Tears (1963)
- The Christmas Spirit (1963)
- Keep on the Sunny Side (with the Carter Family) (1964)
- I Walk the Line (1964)
- Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian (1964)
- Orange Blossom Special (1965)
- Johnny Cash Sings the Ballads of the True West (1965)
- Everybody Loves a Nut (1966)
- Happiness Is You (1966)
- Carryin’ On with Johnny Cash & June Carter (with June Carter) (1967)
- From Sea to Shining Sea (1968)
- The Holy Land (1969)
- Hello, I’m Johnny Cash (1970)
- Man in Black (1971)
- A Thing Called Love (1972)
- America: A 200-Year Salute in Story and Song (1972)
- The Johnny Cash Family Christmas (1972)
- Any Old Wind That Blows (1973)
- Johnny Cash and His Woman (with June Carter Cash) (1973)
- Ragged Old Flag (1974)
- The Junkie and the Juicehead Minus Me (1974)
- The Johnny Cash Children’s Album (1975)
- Johnny Cash Sings Precious Memories (1975)
- John R. Cash (1975)
- Look at Them Beans (1975)
- One Piece at a Time (1976)
- The Last Gunfighter Ballad (1977)
- The Rambler (1977)
- I Would Like to See You Again (1978)
- Gone Girl (1978)
- Silver (1979)
- A Believer Sings the Truth (1979)
- Johnny Cash Sings with the BC Goodpasture Christian School (1979)
- Rockabilly Blues (1980)
- Classic Christmas (1980)
- The Baron (1981)
- The Adventures of Johnny Cash (1982)
- Johnny 99 (1983)
- Highwayman (with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson & Kris Kristofferson) (1985)
- Rainbow (1985)
- Heroes (with Waylon Jennings) (1986)
- Class of ’55 (with Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis & Carl Perkins) (1986)
- Believe in Him (1986)
- Johnny Cash Is Coming to Town (1987)
- Classic Cash: Hall of Fame Series (1988)
- Water from the Wells of Home (1988)
- Boom Chicka Boom (1990)
- Highwayman 2 (with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson & Kris Kristofferson) (1990)
- The Mystery of Life (1991)
- Country Christmas (1991)
- American Recordings (1994)
- The Road Goes on Forever (with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson & Kris Kristofferson) (1995)
- American II: Unchained (1996)
- American III: Solitary Man (2000)
- American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002)
- My Mother’s Hymn Book (2004)
- American V: A Hundred Highways (2006)
- American VI: Ain’t No Grave (2010)
- Out Among the Stars (2014)
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1961 | Five Minutes to Live | Johnny Cabot | Also titled Door-To-Door Maniac |
1967 | The Road to Nashville | Himself | |
1971 | A Gunfight | Abe Cross | |
1973 | Gospel Road: A Story of Jesus | Narrator/Himself | |
1983 | Kairei | Uncle John | Japanese film[179] |
1994 | Gene Autry, Melody of the West | Narrator | Documentary film; voice acting role |
2003 | The Hunted | Narrator | Voice acting role |
2014 | The Winding Stream | Interview subject | Documentary film; archive footage |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1959 | Shotgun Slade | Sheriff | Episode: “The Stalkers” |
1959 | Wagon Train | Frank Hoag | Episode: “The C.L. Harding Story |
1960 | The Rebel | Pratt | Episode: “The Death of Gray” |
1961 | The Deputy | Bo Braddock | Episode: “The Deathly Quiet” |
1969–1971 | The Johnny Cash Show | Himself – host and performer | 58 episodes |
1970 | NET Playhouse | John Ross | Episode: “Trail of Tears” |
1970 | The Partridge Family | Variety Show Host | Episode: “What? Get Out of Show Business?” |
1973–1992 | Sesame Street | Himself | 4 episodes |
1974–1988 | Hee Haw | Himself | 4 episodes |
1974 | Columbo | Tommy Brown | Episode: “Swan Song” |
1974 | Johnny Cash Ridin’ the Rails—The Great American Train Story | Himself | |
1976 | Johnny Cash and Friends | Himself | 4 episodes |
1976 | Little House on the Prairie | Caleb Hodgekiss | Episode: “The Collection” |
1976–1985 | Johnny Cash specials (various titles) | Himself | 15 specials |
1978 | Thaddeus Rose and Eddie | Thaddeus Rose | Television film |
1978 | Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy | Himself | Television special |
1980 | The Muppet Show | Himself | Episode: “#5.21” |
1981 | The Pride of Jesse Hallam | Jesse Hallam | Television film |
1982 | Saturday Night Live | Himself | Episode: “Johnny Cash/Elton John” |
1983 | Murder in Coweta County | Lamarr Potts | Television film; also producer |
1984 | The Baron and the Kid | The Baron Will |
Television film |
1985 | North and South | John Brown | 6 episodes |
1986 | The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James | Frank James | Television film |
1986 | Stagecoach | Curly Wilcox | Television film |
1988 | The Magical World of Disney | Elder Davy Crockett | Episode: “Rainbow in the Thunder” |
1993–1997 | Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman | Kid Cole | 4 episodes |
1996 | Renegade | Henry Travis | Episode: “The Road Not Taken” |
1997 | The Simpsons | Space Coyote | Episode: “El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer (The Mysterious Voyage of Homer)”; voice acting role |
1998 | All My Friends Are Cowboys | Himself | Television special |
2014 | Johnny Cash: The Man, His World, His Music | Himself | Television film; BBC Bio Documentary by Robert Elfstrom |
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