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Johnny Cash was actually born with the name J.R. Cash on February 26, 1932, in Kingsland, Arkansas. His parents, Carrie Cloveree (née Rivers) and Ray Cash, named him after a compromise as his mother wanted John and his father preferred Ray. Johnny was the middle child among his siblings - Roy, Margaret Louise, Jack, Reba, Joanne, and Tommy, who also became a successful country artist.
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As a kid, Johnny worked in cotton fields with his family, singing while they worked. Their struggles during the Great Depression made him empathize with the poor and working class, influencing many of his songs.
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When Johnny joined the Air Force, he couldn't use initials as his first name, so he changed it to John R. Cash. Later, when he signed with Sun Records in 1955, he started going by Johnny Cash.
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In 1951, during Air Force basic training, Johnny Cash met 17-year-old Italian-American Vivian Liberto at a roller skating rink in San Antonio, Texas. A month after leaving the Air Force in 1954, they married in San Antonio. Together, they had four daughters: Rosanne, Kathy, Cindy, and Tara. In 1966, Liberto filed for divorce because of Cash's severe drug and alcohol abuse, constant touring, and repeated acts of adultery. Their four daughters were raised by their mother.
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Johnny Cash encountered June Carter of the legendary Carter Family while touring, and their connection blossomed quickly.
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Thirteen years after their first meeting at the Grand Ole Opry, Cash proposed to June in 1968. They tied the knot in March of that year, in Franklin, Kentucky. Their union blessed them with one child, John Carter Cash, who was born in 1970.
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Their union endured for 35 years until June's passing in May 2003. Following June's demise, Cash expressed his conviction that his sole purpose for living was his music, and he passed away just four months later.
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Johnny Cash also embraced the role of stepfather to Carlene and Rosie, June's daughters from her previous marriages.
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In the early 1970s, Johnny Cash became known as 'The Man in Black'. Cash started wearing all black during his performances. He did this to show support for the poor, prisoners, and those affected by war. Cash believed that many issues in the world still needed to be addressed and changed.
10 / 10
Johnny Cash passed away at Baptist Hospital in Nashville due to diabetes complications on September 12, 2003. At the time of his passing, Johnny Cash was 71 years old. He was buried beside June Carter at Hendersonville Memory Gardens, near his residence in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
Explore the life and legacy of the iconic musician Johnny Cash, whose cause of death marked the end of an era in music history.
Delve into the circumstances surrounding his passing and how his music continues to resonate with audiences worldwide. Discover the lasting impact of Johnny Cash and his enduring influence on the world of music and beyond.
