Johnny Cash Biography

Fast Facts

• Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Songwriter's Hall of Fame, Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Rockabilly Hall of Fame
• Received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1999 Grammy Awards
• Supported a number of social causes, including Native American rights and prison reform
• Married fellow country musician June Carter in 1968, who he performed a number of notable songs with, including "Jackson" and "It Ain't Me Babe․"
• His early musical influences came from hearing his mother sing folk songs and hymns, and work songs from local field and railroad workers
• After graduating from high school in 1950, he joined the United States Air Force, where he established his first band, the Landsberg Barbarians
• Made his first recording at Sun Records in Memphis in 1955 with the tracks "Cry! Cry! Cry!" and "Hey Porter․"
• Known as "the Man in Black" due to the dark clothing he wore in support of the poor, hungry and underserved
• Best known for the songs "I Walk the Line, "Folsom Prison Blues" and "Ring of Fire․"
• When he was born, his parents could not think of a name for him, which resulted in him simply being named "J․R․"