Dick Quickwood Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Music/...9/12/cash.obit/ CNN) -- The "Man in Black" died Friday. Johnny Cash was 71. Cash died early Friday of complications from diabetes at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, hospital spokeswoman Nicole Bates said. Perhaps the most widely recognized voice in country music, Cash recorded more than 1,500 songs, which appeared on nearly 500 albums. His career spanned more than four decades with trademark hits like "A Boy Named Sue," "Folsom Prison Blues, "Ring of Fire" and "I Walk the Line." While Cash has long had one of the premiere voices in country music, his success crossed well over onto the pop scene. He had 48 singles on Billboard's pop charts, rivaling both The Rolling Stones and The Beach Boys. His 10 Grammys include a lifetime achievement award and the 1998 Grammy for country album of the year ("Unchained"). It's said that more than 100 other recording artists and groups have recorded "I Walk the Line." Triumphant comeback A child of the Depression, J.R. Cash was born February 26, 1932, in Kingsland, Arkansas. Cash's parents took advantage of a New Deal farm program, moving their large family to Dyess Colony in northeast Arkansas. There they farmed cotton during the day and sang hymns on the porch at night. At age 12, Cash was writing poems and songs and setting his sights on a musical career. After high school, he enlisted in the Air Force. The military wouldn't accept initials, so Cash chose John as his new first name. While stationed in Germany, Cash bought his first guitar and started a band. When his hitch was over, Cash moved to Memphis where he sold appliances door-to-door while trying to break into the music business. In 1954, he auditioned for Sam Phillips at Sun Records, hoping to record some simple gospel songs. Instead, Phillips -- who had discovered Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis -- pushed Cash toward a more commercial sound. Cash's first single, "Hey Porter," had a disappointing debut. But his follow-up, the 1955 "Cry, Cry, Cry," drew national attention. "Folsom Prison Blues" went into the Top Five in country singles in 1956, and "I Walk the Line" became Cash's first No. 1 hit. In 1957, he made his first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry. And by 1958, he'd published 50 songs, sold more than six million records and moved to the Columbia label. Through the late 1950s and into the 1960s, Cash continued to have huge hits. "Don't Take Your Guns to Town," "I Got Stripes," "Ring of Fire," "Understand Your Man" and "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" were major hits of the period. He toured worldwide and played free shows at prisons in the United States -- he first played San Quentin in 1958 when a young Merle Haggard was in the audience. Living and working at a hectic pace, Cash became dependent on drugs. They took a toll on his career and ended his first marriage. But by 1967, Cash had overcome his addiction with the help of his singing partner, June Carter. The next year he married Carter and made a triumphant comeback. Carter and Cash had five children. 'Man in Black' By the end of the decade, Cash owned the voice of country music. In the fall of 1969, he was considered by many to be the hottest act in the world, even outselling The Beatles. That year, his work accounted for 5 percent of all record sales in the U.S. "The Johnny Cash Show" aired on ABC TV from 1969 to 1971 and featured guests as diverse as Bob Dylan, Merle Haggard and Louis Armstrong. In the 1970s, Cash continued to record, although his work became more progressive and less commercial. Having never given up his fondness for gospel music, Cash co-wrote (with Larry Murray) and produced a film based on the life of Jesus. "The Gospel Road" was released in 1973, with Cash providing narration and Carter in the role of Mary Magdelene. In his 1971 hit "Man in Black," Cash said his black clothing symbolized the downtrodden people in the world. "Everybody was wearing rhinestones, all those sparkle clothes and cowboy boots;" he said in 1986. "I decided to wear a black shirt and pants and see if I could get by with it. I did and I've worn black clothes ever since." Cash's 1975 autobiography, also called "Man in Black," sold 1.3 million copies. In 1980, at 48, Cash became the Country Music Hall of Fame's youngest living inductee. He was part of the highly successful Highwaymen quartet with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson. When drug problems returned with the use of pain killers, Cash entered the Betty Ford Clinic. Late in the decade, Cash's radio popularity was fading -- a more contemporary sound was moving into country -- and he broke with Columbia. A new contract with Mercury Nashville didn't reflect his earlier success, but concert performances remained big sellers. Hall of Fame inductee In 1992, Cash was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. In 1994, he became hot again with the release of the acoustic "American Recordings," featuring just Cash and his guitar on yet another label, American Records. The album landed him on the pages of Rolling Stone, People and Time. The singer was given a Kennedy Center Honors award in 1996 and was reported to have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1997. In recent bulletins, he's been said to have Shy-Drager syndrome, a degenerative nerve disease that attacks the nervous system in much the same way as Parkinson's disease. Whether singing about outlaws of the Old West, murder and prison ballads or mountain laments, Cash sang in an unadorned, frank baritone about the plight of the common citizen. "My roots are in the working man," Cash told the Music City News in 1987. "I can remember very well how it is to pick cotton 10 hours a day, or to plow, or how to cut wood. I remember it so well because I don't intend to ever try to do it again." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 R.I.P this sucks, but i kind of seen it coming, since his wife just passed recently as well, probably took a lot out of him. his nine inch nails cover sounded better than the original, sad... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 huge bump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PedroHammers Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 rest in peace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telo Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 RIP Big cash.. its weird cause as i saw this thread i was throwin in some of your ol' school shit.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoink Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 jesus what a morning, Rest in Power. he was a real man. one of the few out there in the music world, an all around bad ass that will continue to contribute to music for a long ass time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest im not witty Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 holy shit, i just saw something on the news last night about him, and i thought they were going to say he died, but it was just saying he was coming home from the hospital. rockandroll. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAustin Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 f u c k ! We all knew it was coming...especially after June's death. All I have to say is Rest In Power and at least he's reunited with June now. I'm seriously bummed now. He will truly be missed. edit: http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2003/images/09/12/txtop.cash.guitar.ap.jpg'> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TEARZ Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 yep, had to know it was coming, like steve said... rest in peace. the man was on some true awesome shit in life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swiffer Jet Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 Originally posted by yoink Rest in Power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crave Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 even when you see it coming, it can still catch you off guard..as it did me. REST IN POWER. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dik.n.ur.ear Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 rest in peace http://legacyrecordings.com/johnnycash/images/photos/couch.jpg'> At my door the leaves are falling A cold wild wind has come Sweethearts walk by together And I still miss someone I go out on a party And look for a little fun But I find a darkened corner because I still miss someone Oh, no I never got over those blues eyes I see them every where I miss those arms that held me When all the love was there I wonder if she's sorry For leavin' what we'd begun There's someone for me somewhere And I still miss someone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swiffer Jet Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 definitely going to put johnny cash up tonight at the layup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phism Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 the 40 is tipped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kido Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 may he rest in peace. glasses will be rasied tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAustin Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 bump http://www-personal.umich.edu/~tehughes/bcms/johnnycash.jpeg'> http://www.legacyrecordings.com/johnnycash/images/photos/mirror.jpg'> http://citypaper.net/articles/022102/pics/mu.cash.jpg'> http://home.swipnet.se/~w-35837/cash/cash.gif'> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HATEMENOW Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 RIP sucks to wake up to this and john ritter bein dead but rest in power. i also just watched his last video/song ever, the nine inch nails cover. that song and the video are way dope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mikro137 Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 oh fucking god , what a shitty month for famous people i liked. lets see john ritter CHARLES MAFUCKIN BRONSON and now johnny cash fuck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto dix Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 cash was, is , and will always be one of my all time faves. i can honestly say i am upset but not surprised. lost alot of greats recently... cash, june carter, waylon, bronson. rip. this truly ends a generation of country music. now we have the dixie chicks and tim mcgraw. somebody fucking shoot me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiberoptical Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 A legend passes. rest in peace... a true king. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don't Panic Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 Damn. Just damn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psychotropic Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 god i love this motherfucker. they dont make them like jc anymore. what a king. :king: how about when he lost to justin timberlake on those faggot mtv awards. the masses never cease to amaze me with their worhtlessness. JOHNNY CASH RIP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2slim Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 R.I.P. JOHNNY CASH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iloveboxcars Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 you do realize i have to kill you now for bringing this to my attention right? i could have went my whole life oblivious.. and just assuming he stopped making music. Johnny Cash was supposed to out live me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WebsterUno Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 *believe* damn... http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000028U0Y.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg'> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zack Morris Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 RIP Johnny Cash The man in black has gone home to join the family circle in the sky. He passed today at baptist hispital in nashville. He was 71 and with a career spaning over 50 years has claimed 10 grammy awards and will live on as one of the greatest country music artists ever. R I P The Man in Black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iloveboxcars Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 Re: RIP Johnny Cash Originally posted by Zack Morris and will live on as one of the greatest music artists ever. R I P The Man in Black. sorry, had to fix your post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smart Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 Man, I was on the phone with my dad when I learned, I guess he already knew but we had a little moment of silence and a quick tribute, mentioning June Carter Cash, who died earlier this year, Maybell Carter and Rodney Crowell, who was married to Rosanne Cash, but isn't dead. Rodney has a song about going hunting with his father and uncle back around '54 and it was the first time he heard Johnny Cash sing 'I Walk the Line'... Well John, I guess we'll jam in heaven... in fact, since Unchained is in the box I'm gonna listen to Meet Me in Heaven, Spiritual and Unchained REALLY LOUD. :king: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silent_j5 Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 At least he's with his wife now, he'll be missed greatly... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intangible Posted September 12, 2003 Share Posted September 12, 2003 Wow how fucking shitty...this makes me sad. http://countrymusic.about.com/library/graphics02/hymnsjccover.jpg'> http://www.cmt.com/av/trackaday/img/jcash01-184x182.jpg'> http://www.alcorngallery.com/JohnnyCash.jpeg'> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.