Johnny Cash
- Hit songs include "Folsom Prison Blues," "I Walk the Line," "Ring of Fire," and "Man In Black"
- Member of the Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Songwriters Hall of Fame
- Won multiple Grammy, CMA, IBMA, ACM, and Americana awards
Beginning with his mid-1950s recordings for Sun Records, Johnny Cash established himself as an international ambassador of American roots music. He overcame personal demons to reach superstar status in the late 1960s and continued to hew his own path musically into the twenty-first century. With extensive hit recordings on the country and pop charts he extended the scope of country music and helped broaden its audience through his exploration of themes and song types.
Early in his career, his mix of hillbilly music with gospel and blues made him a perfect fit for Sun Records, recording classics such as "Folsom Prison Blues" and "I Walk The Line." In 1956, while at Sun Records, an impromptu jam session between Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash would later be known as the "Million Dollar Quartet," a recording hailed for its influence in rock and roll history. In the late 50s, Cash underwent an artistic and personal transformation, taking him from Sun Records to Columbia Records by 1958. In 1971, Cash wrote and recorded "The Man in Black," a protest song, but also a nickname for the man himself, who was known for his distinctive style of clothing worn on stage.
Cash went on to host a prime-time variety show, appear in made-for-TV movies, and record music, although his hit records grew more infrequent as he bounced from label to label.
Health problems didn't stop Cash from continuing to record and release albums until his death on September 12, 2003 at age 71. He was preceded in death by his wife, June Carter, who passed away on May 15, 2003.
Inducted to the Music City Walk of Fame on October 6, 2015.
