Over the course of his nearly 50-year-long career, Johnny Cash sold more than 90 million albums worldwide. Suffice it to say he was a behemoth in the American music scene.
Nearly 21 years since he died, it seems his relevance has not faded. From documentaries to concerts, the Man in Black is still getting tributes dedicated to him in 2024.
Johnny Cash: A Life, a Legend
Born in 1932, Johnny Cash grew up in a working-class family with six siblings. His interest in music came from his mom and the local church. He later joined the United States Air Force and was posted in Germany, where he started his first band. After returning to the States, he met his first wife and found work as a salesman.
In the fall of 1955, Cash, Elvis Presley, and singer-songwriter Carl Perkins toured the South and performed in multiple radio programs, all part of the Louisiana Hayride acts. Later that year, Cash’s “I Walk the Line” on Sun Records hit number one on the country charts and climbed the pop music Top 20.
That and “Get Rhythm” catapulted the Man in Black into stardom and got him a record deal with Columbia Records. Over the next 10 years, Cash sold millions of albums worldwide.
In the ‘60s, Cash tried his hand at acting, starring in several films and TV shows. He struggled with drug addiction for some time. He was arrested in 1965 for possession of controlled substances in El Paso in 1965, caught coming back from Juarez with 668 Dexedrine and 475 Equanil tablets in his guitar case.
In 1968, he married his second wife, fellow singer-songwriter June Carter. She would play a huge role in him getting sober. In the ‘80s, he reunited with his former touring partners Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins to record a live album.
In the mid-90s, battling medical issues and drug relapse, Cash was approached by music producer Rick Rubin. Reluctant at first, Cash finally agreed when Rubin offered him complete creative control. The six American Recordings albums they created relaunched Cash’s storied career.
In 1997, after publishing his self-titled autobiography Cash, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and spent a lot of time at the hospital. He spent his twilight years battling pneumonia.
June Carter Cash passed away in May 2003, and Johnny Cash thereafter, in September of the same year.
“Johnny Cash: The Redemption Of An American Icon” hit theaters 2 years ago, focusing on his career and faith
"I think of all the documentaries made about my dad, he'd be most excited about this one,” said John Carter Cash of the film.
Kingdom Story Company created the documentary with exclusive access to over 100 tapes that have never been heard before outside of the Cash family. Originally recorded for Cash's autobiography, the tapes were provided with the blessings and involvement from John Carter Cash, the only child of Cash and June Carter Cash, and his sister, Joanne Cash. “Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon” features John Carter Cash, Sheryl Crow, Tim McGraw, Marty Stuart, Wynonna Judd, Jimmie Allen, Alice Cooper, Franklin Graham, Joanne Cash Yates, Greg Laurie, and many others.
Johnny Cash Fest in Chicago
On Jan. 27, the “Cash for Kids” fundraiser took place in Chicago, with many bands performing and paying tribute to legendary singer-songwriters like Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, and Elvis.
Apart from bringing people together to enjoy country music, the event sought to raise money for pediatric brain tumor research and support families battling the disease.
Tribute to Johnny Cash in New York
On Jan. 5, 2024, The Kallet Civic Center in New York held a show called “A Man Named Cash — A Tribute to The Man in Black,” where Megan Houde and Eric Hofmanis paid tribute to June Carter Cash and Johnny Cash.
The artists embodied Carter and Cash to perfection, leaving the audience spellbound. The concert covered five decades of music and featured chart toppers like “Hurt” and “I Walk The Line.” Hofmanis, with his baritone voice, and Houde, with her natural poise, complemented each other perfectly.
June Carter Cash Documentary
Paramount+ recently released a documentary, June, highlighting the life and music of the late June Carter Cash. Although she spent most of her life in the shadow of her husband, her career spanned several decades. An essential part of Johnny’s success, Carter Cash co-wrote “Ring of Fire,” one of the legend’s most beloved songs.
The power couple had a grand love story, but it wasn’t picture-perfect. Far from it, in fact. When Carter met Cash in the ‘60s and fell for him while touring together, both were already married to other people. The fact that both of them had children from their respective marriages made things all the more complicated.
On top of that, Cash was addicted to amphetamine and cocaine. Naturally, June Carter was wary of starting a relationship with him and tried to dissuade herself for a long time. She didn’t want to destroy their marriages.
The song “Ring of Fire” was originally recorded by Anita Carter, June’s sister, after June and Merle Kilgore wrote it. Johnny later added trumpets to the song and slightly altered the lyrics, turning it into one of their most popular songs ever.
The song perfectly expressed the inner conflict of love and later became a sensation. Carter and Cash married in 1968 and spent more than three decades together.
Paul McCartney Cites Johnny Cash as an Inspiration
In a recent interview, The Beatles legend Paul McCartney spoke about how Johnny Cash inspired him to form his band — Wings. After The Beatles disbanded, McCartney considered either giving up music or forming a supergroup, neither of which he was particularly keen on.
He says that one night, he and his wife watched a televised musical performance by Cash and Carl Perkins. He immediately asked his wife if she wanted to form a band, and that’s how Wings came to be.
Johnny Cash’s legacy remains strong despite changes in music and media consumption. The Man in Black transcended genres, moving the hearts and minds of people worldwide with his smooth, baritone voice and honest opinions.
This article was produced by Media Decision and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.