Legends of Country Music: Johnny Cash
By James Hoag
()
About this ebook
“Before rock and roll, there was country” – Johnny Cash.
This is the first in the "Legends of Country Music" series.
This is, like the "Legends of Rock & Roll" series, a mini-biography of one the great performers from Country Music, Johnny Cash.
I have always loved every genre of music, but didn't get introduced to Country Music until the early Eighties. Once converted, I was a total country fan.
This book is about Johnny Cash, his life, his ups and his downs. It is a brief biography and I include all of the major points in the life of this great musician. But even more importantly, it's about the music. This series is my way of honoring the people that have brought so much joy to our lives over the years. Johnny Cash defined a music genre for more than one generation.
This is an unauthorized fan tribute.
Inside you'll find:
Introduction - Remarks about Johnny Cash in general and a kick-off for the book.
Growing Up - Johnny grew up during the depression. Times were hard and he learned to work.
A Tour in the Air Force - After high school he left his sweetheart and joined the Air Force.
Meeting Sam Philips - How did he get started in the music business?
“I Walk the Line” - The story behind his first big hit.
Million Dollar Quartet - The coming together of four of the superstars of the Fifties.
“Ballad of a Teenage Queen” - Johnny continues to chart with another number one.
Columbia Records - Why did Johnny switch from Sun to Columbia Records?
Drugs and Alcohol - The two things that almost killed him.
San Quentin Prison - Did Johnny Cash ever go to prison? His songs sound like he did.
The Carter Family - The family that practically invented country music joins Johnny's group.
“Ring of Fire” - Who really wrote this great country standard?
“The Ballad of Ira Hayes” - Who was Ira Hayes? Johnny sang about the downtrodden and the mistreated.
Jesse - Jesse was Johnny's camper and he used it to get in a whole lot of trouble.
“Jackson” - A great duet of Johnny Cash and June Carter.
June Carter Cash - The story of the woman who become Johnny's second wife and his soul mate.
Hitting Bottom - How we came so close to losing Johnny Cash.
Three Number Ones - Then everything turned around and he had three number ones in a row.
Johnny Liked Prisons - Johnny liked to play before prisoners in various prisons.
Richard Nixon and Billy Graham - Two very different people, but both friends of Johnny.
The Man in Black - Does Johnny wear black all of the time and why does he?
The Highwaymen - The country super group of the Eighties.
In Decline - His career starts to decline.
American Recordings - He gets a new label and a new lease on life.
The Passing of a Legend - June and Johnny pass away within four months of each other.
Legacy of Johnny Cash - Every Legends book has a Legacy section where we review the awards and contributions of the artist.
Afterword - My closing thoughts.
Selected Discography - A list of the major works by Johnny Cash.
James Hoag
James Hoag has always been a big fan of Rock & Roll. Most people graduate from high school and then proceed to "grow up" and go on to more adult types of music. James got stuck at about age 18 and has been an avid fan of popular music ever since. His favorite music is from the Fifties, the origin of Rock & Roll and which was the era in which James grew up. But he likes almost all types of popular music including country music.After working his entire life as a computer programmer, he is now retired and he decided to share his love of the music and of the performers by writing books that discuss the life and music of the various people who have meant so much to him over the years.He calls each book a "love letter" to the stars that have enriched our lives so much. These people are truly Legends.
Read more from James Hoag
Legends of Rock & Roll: Bobby Darin Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Legends of Rock & Roll: Billy Joel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Soul: Ray Charles Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll: Simon & Garfunkel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Legends of Rock & Roll: Fats Domino Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Legends of Rock & Roll: Connie Francis Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll: Jerry Lee Lewis Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Legends of Soul: Aretha Franklin Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll: The Everly Brothers Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll - George Harrison (Before, During & After the Beatles) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Country Music: Garth Brooks Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll: Rod Stewart Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll: Fleetwood Mac Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll: Elton John Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll: The Grateful Dead Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll: Neil Diamond Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Country Music: Merle Haggard Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Country Music: Reba McEntire Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll: Donna Summer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll: The Doors Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Legends of Country Music: Waylon Jennings Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll: Chuck Berry Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll: The Jackson Five Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll: Paul Anka Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Legends of Rock & Roll: Roy Orbison Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll: The Bee Gees Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll: Eagles Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Country Music: George Jones Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll: Madonna Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll: Bruce Springsteen Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Legends of Country Music
Related ebooks
Legends of Country Music: Waylon Jennings Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPerspicacious Johnny, Sagacious Cash: A Compilation of 400+ Wise Sayings of Johnny Cash Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCountry Joe and Me Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Man in Song: A Discographic Biography of Johnny Cash Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsClassic Magnolia Rock: History of Original Mississippi Rock and Roll 1953-1970 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll: Heart Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLouisville Jug Music: From Earl McDonald to the National Jubilee Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLonesome Melodies: The Lives and Music of the Stanley Brothers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ain't Got No Cigarettes: Memories of Music Legend Roger Miller Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Legends of Rock & Roll: Eagles Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNever Enough Love Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll: Chuck Berry Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll: Donna Summer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJohnny Cash Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJames Brown's Favorite Uncle: The Hal Neely Story Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSummary of John Lingan's A Song For Everyone Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll: The Grateful Dead Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLegends of Rock & Roll: Neil Diamond Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPrince: Chaos, Disorder and Revolution Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Legends of Rock & Roll: The Doors Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5At The Crossroads Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJoe Strummer and the Legend of the Clash Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Louis Jordan: Son of Arkansas, Father of R&B Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Man Called CASH: The Life, Love and Faith of an American Legend Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Legends of Soul: Aretha Franklin Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSideman: A Story about the Invisible Heroes of the Music Business Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOne Man Grand Band: The Lyric Life of Ron Hynes Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Legends of Rock & Roll: The Bee Gees Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSummary of Stevie Van Zandt's Unrequited Infatuations Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Music For You
Me: Elton John Official Autobiography Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Music Theory For Dummies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Circle of Fifths: Visual Tools for Musicians, #1 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Learn Guitar A Beginner's Course Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Weird Scenes Inside The Canyon: Laurel Canyon, Covert Ops & The Dark Heart Of The Hippie Dream Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Singing For Dummies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Easyway to Play Piano: A Beginner's Best Piano Primer Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Learn Jazz Piano: book 1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Making Rumours: The Inside Story of the Classic Fleetwood Mac Album Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5How to Play Ukulele: A Complete Guide for Beginners Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Strange Loop Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Songwriting: Essential Guide to Lyric Form and Structure: Tools and Techniques for Writing Better Lyrics Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Singing Coach Secrets Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bowie: An Illustrated Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Can I Say: Living Large, Cheating Death, and Drums, Drums, Drums Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Becoming a Great Sight-Reader–or Not! Learn From My Quest for Piano Sight-Reading Nirvana Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Piano For Dummies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Everything Songwriting Book: All You Need to Create and Market Hit Songs Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Hal Leonard Pocket Music Theory (Music Instruction): A Comprehensive and Convenient Source for All Musicians Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Complete Piano Rags Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Songwriting For Dummies Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Popular Lyric Writing: 10 Steps to Effective Storytelling Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Related categories
Reviews for Legends of Country Music
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Legends of Country Music - James Hoag
Legends of Country Music – Johnny Cash
By
James Hoag
~~~
Smashwords Edition
Copyright © 2013 by James Hoag
Discover other titles by James Hoag at Smashwords.com
Cover by James Hoag
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Publishers Notes
Disclaimer
Legends of Country Music – Johnny Cash
Copyright 2013 James Hoag.
All rights reserved.
No parts of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without written permission from the publisher. The only exception is for a reviewer. A reviewer may quote brief passages in a review.
Published by
www.number1project.com
Monument Marketing Publishing LTD.,
53 Hanover Dr., Orem, Utah 84058
Table of Contents
Introduction
Growing Up
A Tour in the Air Force
Meeting Sam Phillips
I Walk the Line
Million Dollar Quartet
Ballad of a Teenage Queen
Columbia Records
Drugs and Alcohol
San Quentin Prison
The Carter Family
Ring of Fire
The Ballad of Ira Hayes
Jesse
Jackson
June Carter Cash
Hitting Bottom
Three Number Ones
Johnny Liked Prisons
Richard Nixon and Billy Graham
The Man in Black
The Highwaymen
In Decline
American Recordings
The Passing of a Legend
Legacy of Johnny Cash
Afterword
Selected Discography
About the Author
Introduction
Before rock and roll, there was country
– Johnny Cash.
This is the first volume in a projected series about the great legends of country music. You don’t have to be dead to be a legend. There are many people alive today that I consider legends. Even if you’re a big country fan, my goal is to bring you nuggets of information you did not know before.
If you’ve read any of my other books, this one might surprise you. I have been writing about Rock and Roll for the past two years or so and there are some people who don’t think Rock and Roll and Country should mix.
I am not one of those people. I’ve been a fan of all types of music for as long as I have been alive. However, I really didn’t discover country music until about 1980 when I met the guy who became my best friend. He worked as a disc jockey at a local country music station and one day he asked me, Do you like country music?
I told him I hadn’t really listened to it that much. He proceeded to convert me and I’ve been a big fan of country music ever since. So, with that we start a new series about the Legends of Country Music, and, who else better to start off that series than the Man in Black, himself, Johnny Cash.
For you rock and roll purists out there, Johnny was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame (and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame), so he really straddles both genres of music. Johnny had a rough life. He was into everything, drugs, alcohol, you name it. He almost lost his life a couple times, but, in the end, he cleaned himself up and died an honorable man.
This is my tribute to Johnny Cash.
Growing Up
Johnny Cash was born J.R. Cash on February 26, 1932 in Kingsland, Arkansas. Kingsland is a small town of about 450 people today, about 70 miles south of Little Rock. I don’t know how many lived there in 1932, but it was probably much less. This was a small, poor town and the people who lived there were mostly sharecroppers, working the land. They lived in what is called a shotgun house
, three rooms all in a row. It was a shack, really and right next to the railroad tracks. The house would shake every time a train went by.
Johnny’s parents were Ray Cash and Carrie Cloveree Rivers and they are both of Scottish descent. In fact, in later years when Johnny researched his ancestry, he found he was descended from royalty. He claims his father is descended from Malcolm IV of Scotland, although I’m not sure how, since Malcolm died at only 24 years of age with no wife or children. Johnny was the fourth of seven children. He had