THE MAN IN BLACK

By:Jaimie Anderson

CHILDHOOD born February 26,1932 in

Kingsland, Arkansas. one of seven children born to

Ray and Carrie Cash. May 12, 1944 Johnny’s older

brother Jack was killed in a table saw accident. 

Childhood continued

exposed to music on a regular basis by his mother

His favorites were Grand Ole Opry regulars: Hank Snow, Ernest Tubb, Cowboy Copas, and the Carter Family.

YOUNG ADULTHOOD graduated from Dyess Colony

High School In 1950. moved to Pontiac, Michigan enlisted in U.S. Air Force met Vivian Liberto shipped to Landsberg, Germany started first band, “The

Landsberg Barbarians”

Adulthood returned from serving

1954.  married Vivian Liberto,

August 7, 1954.  moved to Memphis,

Tennessee door-to-door salesman Took a radio announcers’

course.

START OF THE MUSIC CAREER Johnny took notice of Sun records

Recording studio and tried to get a recording with owner, Sam Phillips.

Johnny and the Tennessee three  formed the “Tennessee

Three”  played gospel music for

local events, churches, and concerts

Wore signature black look at each concert

JOHNNY AND THE TENNESSEE TWO In 1955,   returned to Sun Records in hopes of recording gospel music.

recorded “Hey Porter” and   “Cry, Cry, Cry”

The rise of the Man in Black released, “So Doggone Lonesome”

and “Folsom Prison Blues” In 1956, released “I Walk the Line”

which really started his career. Johnny also began performing at

the Grand Ole Opry.

THE ROCKY ROAD began taking “bennies”(1950)

1958 signed with Columbia records

Took more than 50 pills everyday(1960s)

Pranks and practical jokes

June Carter 1966 met June

Carter. June joined

Johnny’s band June helped with

drug problem.

JOHNNY’S DIVORCE AND NEW LIFE released “Ring of Fire”, “Understand Your Man” mid 1960’s

Divorced Vivian 1966. Quit performing

The Prison Blues

married June on March 1, 1968.

John Carter Cash born March 3,1970.

started playing at prisons

In 1980, inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

HEALTH ISSUES Health issues (1990’s) June died in May of 2003. After June died Johnny 

would sit with his phone to his ear, talking as if June were on the other line.    

The Man in Black died on September 12, 2003.      

Composition HIstory

Johnny wrote “Cry, Cry, Cry” for his first record in 1955. 

The song is about “a woman whose wicked ways would lead to her heartbreak” said by Anne E. Neimark, author of a Johnny Cash Biography.

FOLSOM PRISON BLUES one of Cash’s earlier

songs.  The most famous line in

this song is, “but I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die.”

first recorded in 1956 recorded live at Folsom

prison on January 13, 1968,

I Walk the LIne

“I Walk the Line” released in 1956

Johnny’s all-time best seller. “I Walk the Line” has a lot of

meaning behind it became a country to pop

crossover,

SAN QUENTIN “San Quentin” was recorded live

February 26, 1969.  The lyrics riled up the inmates won five Country Music Association

awards

Man in Black

fans questioned why he was always wearing black 

became known as the “Man in Black” and his sultry and somber appearance

in 1971, released “Man in Black”

LISTENING GUIDE “Cry, Cry, Cry” conjunct and narrow ranged verse chorus form guitar plucks individual notes bass is playing the beat. Johnny repeats the refrain” Cry, cry, cry”

at the end of each verse

“Folsom Prison Blues”

recorded live, at Folsom Prison. conjunct and narrow ranged. The bass alternates between two

sets of two different notes The guitar alternates between

playing individual notes, and a palm muted strum.

“I WALK THE LINE” AAA form refrain, “because you’re mine, I walk the line.”

intriguing rhythm slow tempo

“San Quentin”

Unique melody Bass: switching

between a few notes Guitar: strumming

chords and muting cohesive and smooth.

“MAN IN BLACK” AAA format bass: alternate between two notes

major, higher, and happy sound

harmonica is also Builds in intensity

Wrap UP

WORKS CITED Cambell, Garth. Johnny Cash: He Walked

the Line, 1932-2003. London:John Blake Publishing Ltd., 2003.

Neimark, Anne E.. Up Close: Johnny Cash. London:Penguin Books Ltd., 2007.

Sony Music Entertainment. Johnny Cash Biography. URL:http://www.johnnycashonline.com /biography

Streissguth, Michael. Johnny Cash: The Biography. De Capo Press. 2006.