Presentation by Pete Flanders Johnny Cash was born

Presentation by: Pete Flanders

• Johnny Cash was born on February 26, 1932 In Kingsland, Arkansas • He was one of seven children born to Ray and Carrie Rivers Cash • He grew up in Dyess, Arkansas where his family farmed cotton and other crops on 20 acres of land.

• The next 15 years of his life was spent working out in the fields with his family • They sang as they worked picking cotton • Music was one of the ways the Cash family fou escape from some of their hardships

• Johnny first picked up a guitar at age 12 • He took just 3 singing lessons before his teacher told him to stop taking lessons and never deviate from his natural voice

• Religion was the second thing that strongly impacted Johnny’s life • His mother was a strong member of The Pentacostal Church of God • Johnny’s faith in God seemed to be solidified with the death of his brother Jack

• Johnny graduated from high school in 1950 and moved to Michigan • He work a short time sweeping floors at a auto plant before joining the Air Force

During his 4 years in the Air Force Johnny was able to turn to music once again He started writing songs while stationed in Germany, and it was there that he wrote “Folsom Prison Blues’’

• In 1954 he was discharged from the Air Force • On August 7, 1954 Johnny married his first wife Vivian Liberto • He then worked as a appliance salesman

Formed a tight bound with Marshall Grant and Luther Perkins As they joined together in music and called themselves, “Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two” “He was a decent singer, not a great one, but there was power and presence in his voice. ” -Marshall Grant

1954 -“Johnny and the Tennessee Two” was turned down by Sun Records because their music was too gospel driven 1955 - “Cry, Cry”- Hit No. 14 on the Billboard charts Followed by top ten singles “So Doggone Lonesome” and “Folsom Prison B Walk the Line” came soon after and hit No. 1 on the charts and sold over 2 million cop

• With fame came great pressure and pressure led to struggles with drugs and alcohol. His family life began to struggled while his career continued to succeed with Popular hits- “Ring of Fire” and “Understand Your Man”

• His wife Vivian stay home with their 4 children while he toured and was on the road 300 nights of the year

• In 1966 Vivian filed for divorce and Johnny fell deeper into drugs and alcohol • He was arrested in El Paso, Texas and found hiding prescription drugs in his guitar case. “I was taking pills for awhile, and then pills started taking me. ” -Johnny Cash

• 1967 Johnny met June Carter. • Their duet “Jackson” won a Grammy Award in 1967 • They married in 1968

1969 • The Johnny Cash Show • Two Grammy Awards for “Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison” 1970 • John Carter Cash was born • Hits “A Thing Called Love” and “One Piece at a Time”

• In 1977 his problems with drugs return and he entered The Betty Ford Clinic • Able to clean up for a few years until again dependent on drugs and entered drug rehab in 1989

• Accepted as the youngest member of Country Music Association Hall of Fame • The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame • The Songwriters Hall of Fame

• Shy-Drager Syndrome and hospitalized several times • May 2003 June Carter died • Johnny Cash died on September 12, 2003 due to complications from diabetes

• Written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore • Recorded on March 25, 1963 • Biggest hit of Johnny’s career • Major mode • High pitch and cheerful Spanish tune • Johnny’s slow paced bass-baritone singing • Fast paced melody • Desire and fire

• Song about love • When you're in love you'll do anything • Humming to get the pitch • “Because your mine, I walk the line” • 2 -note strum in-between 3 chord rhythm • Written by Johnny Cash • “Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two” • First No. 1 on the Billboards • Sold over 2 million copies

• Written by Johnny Cash • Wrote while serving in the Air Force • One of his signature songs • First Grammy Award in 1969 • Prisoner inside the Folsom Prison and how life goes on outside the prison walls • Fast “pick up” from the guitar • 2 measures of guitar melody • Guitar solo melody upbeat and fast rhythm • Bass guitar background 2 -note strum • Higher pitch • 2 measure upbeat melody

“Jackson” • Written by Billey Edd Wheeler and Jerry Leiber in 1963 • Johnny and June released their version in 1967 • Reached No. 2 • Grammy Award in 1968 • Johnny proposed to June while preforming this song onstage • Major mode • Quick upbeat fast paced rhythm • Slower 2 -note rhythm bass guitar • Sung in duet • “fire went out” • Humming, singing slowly decrescend

• Written by Johnny Cash • Released in 1955 • No. 14 on the charts • Johnny’s first successful song that kicked off his music career • “Pick up” from guitar • Rising contour melody • Love is not returned • Background 2 -note strum of bass guitar • Cry, Try, Bye, Lie, Why • Crescendos “cry, cry” • Repeating melody

REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Gross, Terry, All I did was ask: Conversations with writers, actors, musicians, and artist pg. 34 2. 2006 Autobiography of Marshall Grant, I Was There When it Happened: My Life with Johnny Cash 3. http: //www. biography. com/people/johnny-cash-9240610 4. Cash: The Autobiography by Johnny Cash pg. 7 5. www. johnnycashonline. com/. . . /johnny-cash-and-june-carter-cashphoto-. . .