history of the man in black

i'm johnny cash's biggest fan

[johnnycashhistorian]

welcome to johnnycashhistorian, a blog chronicling the history of johnny cash's career

hi. i'm isaac. i am a huge johnny cash fan and a professional historian. so I decided to combine these two characteristics into a blog.

what is the purpose of this blog? the goal is for it to essentially serve as a timeline of johnny's five-decade-long career. i want this to be a kind of archive of his music, interviews, concerts, etc., rather than a place where I post personal opinions about his music or other subjective content

what will be included on this blog? music release dates, interview videos, major life events (e.g., birth/death, marriage, birth of children, etc.). it is also a goal of mine to post his entire discography one song at a time.

why should i care? johnny cash is a huge part of twentieth-century Americana! he was a pioneering voice in the genre of outlaw country and is one of the defining artists of what is now known as "old country." he was also a major advocate for indigenous rights, racial equality, and prison reform at a time when those causes were were largely ignored by the American government and actively hindered by the American public.

[johnnycashhistorian]

On this day: March 5, 2006

Reese Witherspoon won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of June Carter Cash in the 2005 biopic Walk the Line. The film also received nominations for Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix's Johnny Cash), Best Sound, Best Costume Design, and Best Film Editing.

[johnnycashhistorian]

On this day: February 26, 1932

J.R. Cash (later to be changed to John R. Cash) was born in Kingsland, Arkansas.

Happy birthday, Johnny Cash!

[johnnycashhistorian]

On this day: October 21, 1969

Johnny Cash released the singles "Blistered" and "See Ruby Fall" for his upcoming 1970 album Hello, I'm Johnny Cash. The singles were released by Columbia Records on a 7" 45-RPM vinyl record, with "Blistered" on the A-Side and "See Ruby Fall" on the B-Side. "Blistered," written by Billy Ed Wheeler, peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and #1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. "See Ruby Fall" was co-written by Cash and Roy Orbison, and peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart as a double-A-side record.

The title "See Ruby Fall" is a play on the phrase "See Ruby Falls" that was (and still is) often painted on barn roofs in Tennessee and north Georgia to promote tourism at Ruby Falls in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

[johnnycashhistorian]

On this day: October 14, 2008

The documentary Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison was released alongside the legacy edition re-release of Cash's 1968 live album by the same name. The documentary follows Cash's performance at Folsom State Prison in January 1968, which Cash considered to be the most important day of his career. Additionally, the film includes never-before-seen footage and photographs, as well as exclusive interviews with those close to Cash including Merle Haggard, Roseanne Cash, Marty Stuart, and former inmates who attended Cash's performance. The film was released on DVD as part of a box set with two CDs, which include both Folsom Prison performances in full, as well as 44 additional tracks not present on the original 1968 album--many of which are duplicates to reflect two separate performances.

[johnnycashhistorian]

On this day: October 14, 1959

Johnny Cash appeared in his first-ever dramatic role on the NBC Television Western Wagon Train. He appeared in the third episode of the third season, "The C.L. Harding Story," written by Howard Christie and Jean Holloway, and directed by Herschel Daugherty. In this episode, Cash's character is closely involved with the efforts of the show's women characters in organizing a strike for equal rights.

Cash is pictured on the far left.

Cash with the episode's featured guest star, Claire Trevor.

[johnnycashhistorian]

On this day: September 24, 2024

A bronze statue of Johnny Cash was unveiled in the United States Capitol Building, making him the first musician to be honored in the National Statuary Hall. The unveiling was attened by members of Cash's family, including his daughter, Roseanne, and his sister, Joanne, as well as numerous lawmakers from his home state of Arkansas and from around the country. The United States Air Force band also performed a cover of "I Walk The Line." Cash's statue replaces that of Arkansas' 18th governor, James P. Clark, a white supremacist. The statue was sculpted by Kevin Kresse, and depicts Cash at the height of his career, with his Martin D-35 acoustic guitar on his back, and his Bible in his right hand.

The front of the pedestal reads as follows:

ARKANSAS

Johnny Cash

1932–2003

Singer – Songwriter

Artist – Humanitarian

The right side of the pedestal contains these lyrics from "The Man In Black:"

"I wear the black for the poor and 

the beaten down

livin' in the hopeless, hungry

side of town

I wear it for the prisoner who has 

long paid for his crime, 

but is there because he's a victim 

of the times"

The left side of the pedestal contains a quote Cash often said to his children:

"All your life you will be faced

with a choice. You can choose

love or hate.

I choose love."

Read more about the statue on the website of the Architect of the Capitol.

[johnnycashhistorian]

On this day: September 17, 1971

Johnny Cash wrote President Richard Nixon to request a national proclamation declaring October as "Country Music Month" in accordance with the Country Music Association's declaration in order to commemorate the genre's increasing popularity. This request was honored, and October has been recognized as National Country Music Month since the 1970s.

[johnnycashhistorian]

On this day: September 16, 2024

US Pacific's Railway #4014 "Big Boy," the world's largest operating steam locomotive at the time, made a 30-minute whistle stop in Johnny Cash's birthplace of Kingsland, Arkansas, as part of Union Pacific's "Heartland Tour of America." Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared this day as "Kingsland Railroad Day" in acknowledgement of both Arkansas' railway history and Cash's love of trains. The proclamation signed by Gov. Sanders describes Cash's childhood pastime of standing on the porch of the family's farmhouse to wave at the trains as they passed by. The proclamation also addresses several instances of Cash's personal connection with trains and the Cotton Belt Railway Line.

[johnnycashhistorian]

On this day: September 12, 2003

Johnny Cash passed away at 2:00 AM CST from complications of diabetes, aged 71. Prior to his death, Cash had been battling autonomic neuropathy since 1997. He had a public funeral at the First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and he was buried at Hendersonville Memorial Gardens next to his wife, June Carter Cash, who passed less than four months before.

[johnnycashhistorian]

On this day: September 10, 1974

Johnny Cash wrote a personal letter to President Gerald Ford commending his decision to pardon former President Richard Nixon for his involvement in the Watergate Scandal, as well as his decision to offer amnesty to conscientious objectors of the Vietnam War.

[johnnycashhistorian]

On this day: August 21, 2003

Johnny Cash recorded music for the final time. Among the songs recorded on this date were "Like the 309," which would appear on American V: A Hundred Highways (2006) and "Engine One-Forty-Three," which appeared on the family tribute album The Unbroken Circle- The Musical Heritage Of The Carter Family (2004). Cash passed away three weeks later.

[johnnycashhistorian]

On this day: August 7, 1954

Johnny Cash married his first wife, Vivian Liberto, one month after Cash returned from Germany following his discharge from the Air Force. They had only known each other for three weeks prior to Cash's deployment, and though Cash asked for Vivian's handd in marriage before leaving the country, the couple did not marry because Vivian's family disapproved of the short courtship. The couple divorced in 1966 after and estrangement following several years of Cash's alcohol and drug abuse and multiple affairs--the most notable of which was with his future wife, June Carter. Cash and Liberto had four daughters together: Rosanne, Kathy, Cindy, and Tara. Cash credited his inspiration for his hit 1956 single "I Walk The Line" to Vivian.

Listen to "I Walk The Line" here:

[johnnycashhistorian]

On this day: July 26, 1972

Johnny Cash testified before the Congressional Subcommittee on National Penitentiaries in support of Tennessee Senator William E. Brock's proposed prison rehabilitation reform bill. Later that day, Cash and Brock had a private conversation with President Richard Nixon about the proposed legislation. This was Cash's second visit to the White House. Transcripts from Cash's testimony can be accessed for a fee from the Congressional Archives.

Johnny Cash (right) with Senator William Brock (left)

[johnnycashhistorian]

On this day: July 9, 1958

Johnny Cash signed his record deal with Columbia Records. This was Cash's second record deal, after his 1954 deal with Sun Records, and he released the vast majority of his catalogue with Columbia. However, during his four years with Sun Records, Cash recorded so many songs that Sun continued to release music by Cash until 1964--six years after his departure from the label--resulting in instances of two or more of his songs charting at the same time from two different labels.

[johnnycashhistorian]

On this day: July 5, 2003

Johnny Cash gave his last public performance at the family home of his late wife June, the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia. Cash was visibly weak and used a wheelchair, as well as required help from several aids multiple times throughout the concert. This performance took place less than two months after June died, and Cash address his wife's death with the following statement, delivered just before he performed "Ring of Fire:"

The spirit of June Carter overshadows me tonight with the love she had for me and the love I have for her. We connect somewhere between here and Heaven. She came down for a short visit, I guess, from Heaven to visit with me tonight to give me courage and inspiration like she always has. She's never been one for me except courage and inspiration. I thank God for June Carter. I love her with all my heart.

Watch the full performance here:

[johnnycashhistorian]

On this day: June 14, 1977

Johnny Cash and his family visited President Jimmy Carter at the White House. President Carter enjoyed close relationships with numerous country music stars, and his 1976 campaign acted as a promoter for numerous performers, thereby increasing his popularity throughout the country—and especially in his native Georgia. Johnny Cash later joined Tom T. Hall to fundraise for Carter's unsuccessful 1980 reelection campaign. President Carter also acknowledged Cash's contributions to the Help through Industry Retraining Employment (HIRE) program for veterans, and claimed June Carter Cash as a distant cousin.

Johnny Cash (second from left) with his son John Carter Cash meeting President Jimmy Carter (right). June Carter Cash stands behind President Carter.