John R. Cash, better known by his stage name Johnny Cash, was one of the most influential American singer-songwriters and actors of the 20th century. Born on February 26, 1932, in Kingsland, Arkansas, he grew up during the Great Depression, an experience that deeply influenced his music. He was the fourth of seven children born to Ray Cash and Carrie Cloveree Cash.
Originally named J.R. Cash because his parents could not agree on a name, he adopted the name “Johnny Cash” in 1955 upon signing with Sun Records. In March 1935, the Cash family moved to Dyess, Arkansas, where Johnny began working in cotton fields at the age of five. He would sing along with his family while they worked, an early sign of his musical inclination. The Cash farm was flooded multiple times, an experience he later captured in his song "Five Feet High and Rising." The poverty and hardship he witnessed growing up became central themes in his songwriting, often reflecting the lives of working-class Americans.
In July 1950, Johnny Cash enlisted in the United States Air Force. After basic training at Lackland Air Force Base and technical training at Brooks Air Force Base, both located in Texas, he was assigned to the 12th Radio Squadron Mobile of the U.S. Air Force Security Service in Landsberg, Germany. There, he worked as a Morse Code Intercept Operator, monitoring Soviet military transmissions during the Cold War.
During a brief period of leave in June 1951, Cash met Vivian Liberto at a roller-skating rink in San Antonio, Texas. They spent just three weeks together before he was deployed to Germany, but the two exchanged frequent love letters throughout his deployment. He returned to the United States in July 1954, and the couple married on August 7, 1954, at St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church in San Antonio. The ceremony was officiated by Vivian’s uncle, Father Vincent Liberto. The marriage produced four daughters but eventually ended in divorce in 1966, primarily due to Johnny’s struggles with substance abuse and his developing relationship with singer June Carter.
Following his discharge from the military, Cash and his wife relocated to Memphis, Tennessee. There, he initially worked as an appliance salesman while studying to become a radio announcer. In the evenings, he performed with guitarist Luther Perkins and bassist Marshall Grant as a trio, eventually known as The Tennessee Three. Originally known as The Tennessee Two before Cash joined, the group played regularly in local venues.
Cash approached Sun Records hoping to earn a recording contract. During his audition with producer Sam Phillips, he performed mostly gospel songs. However, Phillips informed him that Sun Records was no longer recording gospel music. Instead, Cash returned with original material that better fit the label’s evolving direction, leading to his first recordings and eventual rise to fame. Though often categorized as a country music artist, Cash’s unique sound combined elements of rockabilly, blues, gospel, and folk, earning him a place among the early pioneers of rock and roll.
| Net Worth 2021: | 60 million |
