Johnny

Johnny Cash was born in the town of Kingsland, Cleveland County, Arkansas, to Ray Cash, a farmer, and Carrie Rivers Cash, who takes the family guitar on their travels.1935 - At the height of the Depression, Ray takes advantage of a new farming program, an experiment in American Socialism created by Roosevelt's new administration. With no money down, Cash family is given 20 acres of fertile bottom land and a five-room house in Dyess Colony, in the northeast part of the state, near the 'big river.'1942 - J.R. receives his first guitar on his 10th birthday.1944 - Now at 12 years old, J.R, would be profoundly affected by the death of his older brother, Jack Cash, when he is killed in a tragic accident while on the job at the mill. This was also a growing period for J.R. as he started writing poems, songs and stories.1945 - Mother, Carrie sends J.R. to vocal teacher, in which, after only three lessons, his teacher tells him to never take another singing lesson and never change his natural voice. In the late 1940's - Father, Ray Cash leads Dixie (or Delta) Rhythm Ramblers Country/Western band.1946 - J.R. takes his first non-farm job at age 14, carrying water for work gangs. By this time he had his heart set on a music career and started entering talent contests and singing anywhere and everywhere he could.1950 - John graduates from Dyess High School, heads north to Detroit, to work at Fisher auto body plant in Pontiac, Michigan, a teenager's flight which lasts less than a month.July 7, 1950 - Returns to Dyess, signs up for the Air Force, and takes a basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Dates Vivian Liberto, local high school senior from San Antonio. Assigned as Radio Intercept Operator to Air Force base in Landsberg, Germany, where he writes to Vivian everyday. Organizes a band of five servicemen who share his Country/Western tastes as the 'Landsberg Barbarians,' as he learns to strum guitar and write an occasional verse.July, 1954 - Elvis Presley's debut single is recorded and released on Sam Phillips' Sun Records, "That's All Right" b/w "Blue Moon of Kentucky," Sun 209. Eager to get into music after discharge, John moves to Memphis, takes a radio announcer's course part-time on the G.I. Bill while working as a door-to-door appliance salesman, a job arranged by brother Roy - he works at local Chevrolet dealership, near Sun Studios on Union Avenue. Roy introduces John to two mechanics at Chevy garage: Luther Monroe Perkins and Marshall Grant (both 4-5 years older than John, and formerly in Dixie Rhythm Ramblers), guitar pickers who, with steel guitarist A.W. (ten years their senior) comprise the Tennessee Three. They rehearse gospel songs to play at local parties and church socials, dressed in black, the best wardrobe decision their budget can afford.August 7, 1954 - John marries Vivian Liberto.late 1954 - Befriended by Elvis and Scotty Moore, John and the renames Tennessee Two (Luther on lead guitar, Marshall now on bass fiddle, Kernodle gone) obtain audition at Sun, where they record "Wide Open Road" and "You're My Baby" (Cash originals) with Phillips, who advises them to drop gospel and stick to Country/Western.March 22, 1955 - Cash, renamed 'Johnny' by Phillips (his producer until 1958), returns to Sun with Tennessee Two and records "Hey Porter." Later backed with "Cry, Cry, Cry" (recorded in May) as Sun 221, single edges out Elvis and the Louvins at ..1 in Memphis that summer and hits ..14 on Billboard Country/Western chart. Johnny earns his first royalty check, for $2.41.May 24, 1955 - Rosanne Cash born in Memphis, eldest daughter of Johnny and Vivian.Summer, 1955 - Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two appear at local Memphis shows with Elvis Presley and land a regular spot on 15-minute KWEM Saturday radio program.Sept. 26, 1955 - Carlene Carter (Rebecca Carlene Smith) born in Nashville to country singers June Carter and Carl Smith.December, 1955 - "Folsom Prison Blues" (song first intended by Phillips for Tennessee Ernie Ford as follow-up to "Davy Crockett" and prelude to "Sixteen Tons") b/w "So Doggons Lonesome" by Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two is released, coinciding with their "Louisiana Hayride" debut. Single hits .. 4 Country/Western, Johnny gets a second royalty check, this time for $6,000. Joins 'Elvis Presley Jamboree' package tour with Carl Perkins and others.April 1, 1956 - Daughter Kathleen "Kathy" Cash is born.April 1956 - After two misses, Carl Perkins' first hit single breaks through, "Blue Suede Shoes" b/w "Honey Don't," Sun 234. He and his brothers go out on package tours with Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, George Jones et al.April 2, 1956 - "I Walk the Line" b/w "Get Rhythm" by Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two is released, reportedly a 2 million seller, hits ..1 Country/Western and top 20 pop. Cash signs his first management deal with Bob Neal, Presley's manager prior to Col. Tom Parker.December 4, 1956 - 'Milion Dollar Quartet' legend is born when Memphis newspaper photographs Cash and Elvis who have dropped in on Carl Perkins session (for "Matchbox") at Sun Studios, with Jerry Lee Lewis as piano sideman.January 19, 1957 - Cash performs on "The Jackie Geason Show" (almost one year to the week after Elvis), following success of "There You Go" (..1 Country/Western) b/w "Train of Love" (..7 Country/Western).July 29, 1957 - Country/Western/Pop crossover Sun hit singles released: "Next In Line" b/w "Don't Make Me Go"; "Home of the Blues" b/w "Give My Love To Rose."Early/Mid 1958 - Two more ..1 Country/Western/Top 20 Pop Sun hit singles (with new producer Jack Clement) succeed in catching youth market: "Ballad of a Teenage Queen" (..1 Country/Western for 10 weeks) b/w "Big River"; "Guess Things Happen That Way" b/w "Come In Stranger."Summer, 1958 - Success prompts his signing to Columbia Records by Don Law (on "a simple handshake agreement") as Sun contract concludes. With Columbia advance, Cash moves family to Ventura near Los Angeles. "The Ways of a Woman In Love" (written by Charlie Rich) b/w "You're the Nearest Thing To Heaven" is final Sun single under old contract.July 24, 1958 - First Columbia session at Bradley's Barn in Nashville with Don Law, who produces him for next decade (with Frank Jones); yields "What Do I Care" b/w "All Over Again," top 5 Country/Western/Top 40 Pop.December 8, 1958 - The Fabulous Johnny Cash, first Columbia LP enters Top LPs chart, hits ..19.January, 1959 - "Don't Take Your Guns To Town" hits ..1 Country/Western/Top 40 Pop, ignites string of western gunslinger tunes and quasi-historical sagas on Columbia by Johnny Horton ("Battle of New Orleans"), Marty Robbins ("El Paso"), Stonewall Jackson ("Waterloo"), and others.May 1959 - Hymns By Johnny Cash, second Columbia LP released, described as "the album he came to Columbia to record," because of Sam Phillips' reluctance to allow him to record gospel material at Sun.October, 1959 - "The Rebel" TV Series premiere starring Nick Adams, features "The Ballad of Johnny Yuma" theme sung by Johnny Cash (not issued as single until June, 1961); again ignites a new genre (Civil War Songs), as Horton hits Top 10 Country/Western that month with "Johnny Reb."1959-1960 - After a succession of studio drummers (including J.M. Van Eaton and Buddy Harman), W.S. Holland joins touring and recording group as a regular member for decades to come.January 1, 1960 - San Quentin is first free show of many by Cash at California prisons, finds 22-yearold inmate Merle Haggard sitting in first row.September, 1960 - Ride This Train released, subtitled "A Stirring Travelogue of America in Song and Story, " his first "concept" album interweaving music and narration.1961 - First Hollywood recording sessions yield "Tennessee Flat Top Box" (#1 Country/Western hit for Rosanne in 1987) and "The Big Battle, " metaphor for his separation from wife and family as early hints of drug and alcohol abuse seep into public notoriety.Auguse 25, 1961 - Daughter Tara Cash is bron as the Carter Family joins the Johnny Cash road show, burgeoning folk music boom, centered in New York, fosters connection to his reservoir of alienated and disenfranchised Americana, which is likened to the best of Woody Guthrie, John Steinbeck, and young Bob Dylan.summer, 1962 - Back in Nashville, first recordings with Carter Family include folk music ("The Legend of John Henry's Hammer") and gospel numbers ("There'll Be Peace In the Valley For Me," "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord").1962/1963 - Consecutive Country/Western hits