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.