The legend of Johnny Cash.

The Man in Black

• John R. Cash born February 26, 1932, in Kingsland, Ark;• The Cash Family lived in a cotton farm. In his first years,

he worked alongside his parents and siblings in the field; • John had a variety of musical influences ranging from his

mother’s folk songs and hymns to the work songs from the fields and nearby railroad yards;

• Years later, he set off to Detroit and ended up in Pontiac Inc., in 1950, but that didn’t last long;

• John enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, and after basic training in Texas, he was shipped to Landsberg, Germany. There, John organized his first band, The Landsberg Barbarians.

• When in Texas, John met his first wife, Vivian Liberto; • In 1954, John left the U.S. Air Force and returned to

Texas to marry Vivian. He and his new wife settled in Memphis where John worked a variety of jobs, while trying to get into the music business.

• John did an audition for Sam Phillips' Sun Records. He sang gospel music for Phillips, but he changed his mind about styles.

• Cash was hired by Sun Studios to record with his band, The Tennessee Three and he recorded his first song “Hey Porter”;

• His first hit was "Cry, Cry, Cry" and his first No. 1 in Billboard was "I Walk the Line”. It remained on the record charts for an incredible 43 weeks;

• He realized a longtime dream, he was invited to perform on the Grand Ole Opry, in 1956;

• In 1957, Cash racked up an impressive string of hits and was working more than 200 dates a year. But Cash wanted more artistic freedom and moved to Columbia Records;

• Many people think Johnny Cash was sent to prison, but even though he was arrested many times, he was never in jail;

• Throughout the remainder of the 1950s and into the 1960s, Cash continued to produce remarkable records, and appeared in the most famous tv programs at time;

• He had more the 300 shows a year, but all was not well. Cash was spinning out of control. His marriage was collapsing, he was deeply addicted to drugs and that began to impact his career;

• By 1967, Johnny managed to overcome his addiction with the help of his singing partner June Carter and her family. Years later John and June got marriage;

• In 70s, Cash was at the top of his life. He did two very important albums of live recording made at Folson and San Quentin prisons;

• The Johnny Cash Show was aired on ABC in 69, and many young singers appeared these, like Neal Young and Bob Dylan. He also used the show to discuss many issues like prison reform, the conflict in Vietnam and to raise the country’s collective consciousness;

• In 1980, at 48, Cash became the youngest living inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame bestowed its honor on him in 1995;

• In 1985, he joined friends Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristoferson to form The Highwaymen and released three albums between 85 and 95. The band achieved the no. 1 of Billboard in their first album with "The Highwaymen“ song, maybe the most famous song by Johnny Cash.

• In 2002, Johnny recorded his last album, American IV. He earned three CMA awards in 2003 and the acclaimed video for “Hurt” won an MTV award and Grammy;

• After losing his wife June Carter unexpectedly in may 2003, the legend passed away September 12, 2003 at Baptist Hospital in Nashville due to complications from diabetes.

• Johnny and June had seven children and lived a big love till the end;

"Highwayman"

I was a highwayman. Along the coach roads I did rideWith sword and pistol by my sideMany a young maid lost her baubles to my tradeMany a soldier shed his lifeblood on my bladeThe bastards hung me in the spring of twenty-fiveBut I am still alive.

I was a sailor. I was born upon the tideAnd with the sea I did abide.I sailed a schooner round the Horn to MexicoI went aloft and furled the mainsail in a blowAnd when the yards broke off they said that I got killedBut I am living still.

I was a dam builder across the river deep and wideWhere steel and water did collideA place called Boulder on the wild ColoradoI slipped and fell into the wet concrete belowThey buried me in that great tomb that knows no soundBut I am still around..I'll always be around..and around and around and around and around

I fly a starship across the Universe divideAnd when I reach the other sideI'll find a place to rest my spirit if I canPerhaps I may become a highwayman againOr I may simply be a single drop of rainBut I will remainAnd I'll be back again, and again and again and again and again..