Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash (February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was a vastly influential American country music singer, guitarist, and songwriter.

Legacy

From his early days as a pioneer of rockabilly and rock and roll in the 1950s, to his decades as an international representative of country music, to his resurgence to fame as both a living legend and an alternative country icon in the 1990s, Cash has influenced countless artists and left a body of work matched only by the greatest artists of his time. Upon his death, Cash was revered and eulogized by many of the greatest popular musicians of our day, whose comments on the man and his work reflect something of the esteem in which he was held:

Related Topics:
Rockabilly - Rock and roll - 1950s - Alternative country - 1990s

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• "Every man knows he is a sissy compared to Johnny Cash." — Bono
• "In plain terms, Johnny was and is the North Star; you could guide your ship by him — the greatest of the greats then and now." — Bob Dylan
• "Abraham Lincoln with a wild side." — Kris Kristofferson
• "Johnny Cash transcends all musical boundaries, and is one of the original outlaws." — Willie Nelson
• " took the social consciousness of folk music, the gravity and humor of country music and the rebellion of rock 'n' roll, and told all us young guys that not only was it all right to tear up those lines and boundaries, but it was important." — Bruce Springsteen

Cash nurtured and defended artists on the fringes of what was acceptable in country music, even while serving as the country music establishment's most visible symbol. At an all-star concert in 2002, a diverse group of artists paid him tribute, including Bob Dylan, Chris Isaak, Wyclef Jean, Norah Jones, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, and U2. Two tribute albums were released shortly before his death; Kindred Spirits contains works from established artists, while Dressed In Black contains works from many lesser-known artists.

Related Topics:
2002 - Chris Isaak - Wyclef Jean - Norah Jones - U2

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Though he wrote over a thousand songs and released dozens of albums, his creative output was not entirely silenced by his death. A box set, titled Unearthed, was issued posthumously. It included four CDs of unreleased material recorded with Rubin, as well as a "Best of Cash on American" retrospective CD. American V, his final album, will be released posthumously.

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In recognition of his lifelong support of SOS Children's Villages, his family invited friends and fans to donate to that charity in his memory. He had a personal link with the SOS village in Ammersee in Diessen, Germany, near where he was stationed as a GI, and also with the SOS village in Barrat Town, by Montego Bay near his holiday home in Jamaica.

Related Topics:
SOS Children's Villages - Montego Bay - Holiday home - Jamaica

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Walk the Line, a movie about Johnny Cash's life starring Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter is scheduled to be released in the U.S. on November 18, 2005

Related Topics:
Walk the Line - Joaquin Phoenix - Reese Witherspoon - June Carter - November 18 - 2005

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