Xiangsu

"Johnny died due to complications from diabetes, which resulted in respiratory failure," said Cash's manager, Lou Robin, in a press release issued by Baptist Hospital in Nashville.


The release said Cash died at the hospital at 1 a.m. EDT. He was released from Baptist on Wednesday where he had spent two weeks being treated for an unspecified stomach ailment.


"I hope that friends and fans of Johnny will pray for the Cash family to find comfort during this very difficult time," Robin said.


Cash had battled a disease of the nervous system, autonomic neuropathy, and pneumonia in recent years and was once diagnosed with a disease called Shy-Drager's syndrome, a diagnosis that was later deemed to be erroneous.


Dozens of hit records like "Folsom Prison Blues," "I Walk the Line," and "Sunday Morning Coming Down" defined Cash's persona: a haunted, dignified, resilient spokesman for the working man and downtrodden.


Cash's deeply lined face fit well with his unsteady voice, which was limited in range but used to great effect to sing about prisoners, heartaches, and tales of everyday life. He wrote much of his own material, and was among the first to record the songs of Bob Dylan (news) and Kris Kristofferson (news).


"One Piece at a Time" was about an assembly line worker who built a car out of parts stolen from his factory. "A Boy Named Sue" was a comical story of a father who gives his son a girl's name to make him tough. "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" told of the drunken death of an American Indian soldier who helped raised the American flag at Iwo Jima during World War II, but returned to harsh racism in America.


Cash said in his 1997 autobiography "Cash" that he tried to speak for "voices that were ignored or even suppressed in the entertainment media, not to mention the political and educational establishments."


Cash's career spanned generations, with each finding something of value in his simple records, many of which used his trademark "boom-chicka-boom" rhythm.


Cash was a peer of Elvis Presley when rock 'n' roll was born in Memphis in the 1950s, and he scored hits like "Cry! Cry! Cry!" during that era. He had a longtime friendship and recorded with Dylan, who has cited Cash as a major influence.


He won 11 Grammys — most recently in 2003, when "Give My Love To Rose" earned him honors as best male country vocal performance — and numerous Country Music Association awards. He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980 and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.


His second wife, June Carter Cash, and daughter Roseanne Cash also were successful singers. June Carter Cash, who co-wrote Cash's hit "Ring of Fire" and partnered with her husband in hits such as "Jackson," died in May 2003.


The late 1960s and '70s were Cash's peak commercial years, and he was host of his own ABC variety show from 1969-71. In later years, he was part of the Highwayman supergroup with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kristofferson.


In the 1990s, he found a new artistic life recording with rap and hard rock producer Rick Rubin on the label American Recordings. And he was back on the charts in with the 2002 album "American IV: the Man Comes Around."


He also wrote books including two autobiographies, and acted in films and television shows.


In his 1971 hit "Man in Black," Cash said his black clothing symbolized the downtrodden people in the world. Cash had been "The Man in Black" since he joined the Grand Ole Opry at age 25.





"Everybody was wearing rhinestones, all those sparkle clothes and cowboy boots," he said in 1986. "I decided to wear a black shirt and pants and see if I could get by with it. I did and I've worn black clothes ever since."

John R. Cash was born Feb. 26, 1932, in Kingsland, Ark., one of seven children. When he was 12, his 14-year-old brother and hero, Jack, died after an accident while sawing oak trees into fence posts. The tragedy had a lasting impact on Cash, and he later pointed to it as a possible reason his music was frequently melancholy.

He worked as a custodian and enlisted in the Air Force, learning guitar while stationed in Germany, before launching his music career after his 1954 discharge.

"All through the Air Force, I was so lonely for those three years," Cash told The Associated Press during a 1996 interview. "If I couldn't have sung all those old country songs, I don't think I could have made it."

Cash launched his career in Memphis, performing on radio station KWEM. He auditioned with Sun Records, ultimately recording the single "Hey Porter," which became a hit.

Sun Records also launched the careers of Presley, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and others.

"Folsom Prison Blues," went to No. 4 on the country charts in 1956, and featured Cash's most famous couplet: "I shot a man in Reno/ just to watch him die."

Cash recorded theme albums celebrating the railroads and the Old West, and decrying the mistreatment of American Indians. Two of his most popular albums were recorded live at prisons. Along the way he notched 14 No. 1 country music hits.

Because of Cash's frequent performances in prisons and his rowdy lifestyle early in his career, many people wrongly thought he had served prison time. He never did, though he battled addictions to pills on and off throughout his life.

He blamed fame for his vulnerability to drug addiction.

"When I was a kid, I always knew I'd sing on the radio someday. I never thought about fame until it started happening to me," he said in 1988. "Then it was hard to handle. That's why I turned to pills."

He credited June Carter Cash, whom he married in 1968, with helping him stay off drugs, though he had several relapses over the years and was treated at the Betty Ford Center in California in 1984.

June Carter Cash was the daughter of country music great Mother Maybelle Carter, and the mother of singer Carlene Carter. Together, the couple had one child, John Carter Cash. He is a musician and producer.

Singer Rosanne Cash is Johnny Cash's daughter from his first marriage, to Vivian Liberto. Their other three children were Kathleen, Cindy and Tara. They divorced in 1966.

In March 1998, Cash made headlines when his California-based record company, American Recordings, took out an advertisement in the music trade magazine Billboard. The full-page ad celebrated Cash's 1998 Grammy award for best country album for "Unchained." The ad showed an enraged-looking Cash in his younger years making an obscene gesture to sarcastically illustrate his thanks to country radio stations and "the country music establishment in Nashville," which he felt had unfairly cast him aside.

Jennings, a close friend, once said of Cash: "He's been like a brother to me. He's one of the greatest people in the world."

Cash once credited his mother, Carrie Rivers Cash, with encouraging him to pursue a singing career.

"My mother told me to keep on singing, and that kept me working through the cotton fields. She said God has his hand on you. You'll be singing for the world someday."

Cash lived in Hendersonville, Tenn., just outside of Nashville. He also had a home in Jamaica.



I dont know what to say...

Esen

We lost the Man in Black

This is truly a sad day Johnny Cash died last night in Memphis.

At least we can keep his music playing.

__________________
~Esen
What is everyone doing in my room?

Averett

This makes me so sad

__________________
Absence is to love what wind is to fire. It extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.

tinfoil

I have been a fan since the first time I remember my father (also dead) played his music for me some 23 years ago, back when I was in grade 1.

If you have not seen the video Johnny released for his cover of Hurt, grab it. It's a biographical video. The man lived hard. Download it if you must.

The legend has died but the legacy lives on.

__________________
Get off your fuckin cross. We need the fuckin space to nail the next fool martyr.

jimk

rip original man in black.

__________________
raw power is a guaranteed o.d.

raw power is a laughin' at you & me

-iggy

Averett

I'll be going to my favorite bar tonight and knocking back a few drinks for Johnny. And I'll play every song they have of his on the jukebox.

__________________
Absence is to love what wind is to fire. It extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.

hawkeye

Rest in Peace, Johnny. You touched me like few others did. Thank you. I hope God has a special place for you.

__________________
You're not fat,
You're just a giant ball
of love, covered in anger.

meff

Bah shit! Why did he have to die

*slumps around sadly*

__________________
Toy-like people make me boy-like.

shalafi

Yep that definitely sucks. John Ritter died last night too.

costello

Like the beatles, he had so many copycats but nobody could pull it off with such conviction as he. a true icon and legend. rip

__________________
"They don't even know what it is to be a fan. Y'know? To truly love some silly little piece of music, or some band, so much that it hurts."

-Almost Famous

Dano069

Yep, although I don't like country music all that much, I really liked Johnny Cash. His deep voice and excellent lyrics made listening to country bearable. I'll miss him.

__________________
I may look attentive, but I'm taking peeks down your blouse faster than the human eye can follow.

Troublebot

Johnny Cash was THE MAN. NO one can touch him.

No matter if you like country music or not, Cash transended the label, influencing musicians from all walks of life.

Let's give it up for the man in black folks, he gave up alot for us.

__________________
Howard Moon: The wind is my only friend.
Wind: [whistling] I hate you.

YaWhateva

It is such a sad day indeed. Johnny Cash was and always will be the man. He will never be forgotten. I agree with whoever said get the video for Hurt, it is such an amazing video. Godspeed Johnny Cash, I will keep you in my prayers.

__________________
“If the Americans go in and overthrow Saddam Hussein and it's clean, he has nothing, I will apologize to the nation, and I will not trust the Bush administration again.” - Bill O'Reilly

"This is my United States of Whateva!"

PoteMatic

He was my grandpas favorite singer he grew up listening to him but my grandfather past in April but right before he got me listening to him and some of his songs helped me a lot after the death of my grandfather Johnny Cash did so much in the short time ive been listening to him....

R.I.P. Johnny Cash

ssander9

He will be missed

__________________
I never said you had to.

mrcraptastic

what a great singer, the only country artist i even listen to anymore...
rip johnny

GSRIDER

All I can say is Cash opened my eyes to so many different levels of music. Cash could read out of the phone book and make it sound like poetry.

His loss is great and will be felt around the world.

<img src="http://www.legacyrecordings.com/johnnycash/images/photos/mirror.jpg">

__________________
No signature at this time.

GSRIDER

Johnny Cash is immortal through his recordings. His voice will always be with us.

He will be greatly missed.

__________________
No signature at this time.

Memnoch

As much sadness as I feel in his passing, I can't help but be so incredibly uplifted by how that man lived his life, especially as he got older and wiser. I know he's in heaven, smiling down on all of us, wanting us to know that he is whole. I only wish I could have seen him live.

__________________
Doing my best not to end up like Kathleen Chang.

wwcd101

Cash was awesome. A huge contributer to the popular music scene right up to the end. How cool it was to have "Hurt" break through on MTV and on the radio. How appropriate a last song. We will all miss him.

Thanks for listening.

tj2001cobra

I heard about this when I got to work this morning. It has me bummed out. He was a great artist and will be missed. RIP Mr. Cash.

weasel2112

It is a very sad day indeed.. a moment of silence for Johnny..

__________________
My Bad Ass Hummer

rev_skarekroe

Now Playing: "American Recordings"

sk

__________________
"If I could have one wish, as in the fairy tales, I would unmake my past, and rise like Lazarus and stand in sunlight and banish all the dark."
D. Tibet

KillerYoda

This sucks to bad.

Now playing "Live At Folsom Prison."

__________________
"So you're Chekov, huh? Well, this here's McCoy. Find a Spock, we got us an away team."

marcopolo

You'll never be forgotten .

__________________
Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others.

YaWhateva

I've had my cds of Johnny Cash playing on my computer all day in my dorm loudly, and some people came to complain but as soon as i said he died today and it was a sort of tribute to him, they all understood. So very sad a day this is.

__________________
“If the Americans go in and overthrow Saddam Hussein and it's clean, he has nothing, I will apologize to the nation, and I will not trust the Bush administration again.” - Bill O'Reilly

"This is my United States of Whateva!"

Gortexfogg

Definitely a very sad day... I know I'll miss his voice the most. At least his records will live on for years and years...

World's King

*bows head*

__________________
heavy is the head that wears the crown

crackpot

So damned sad. But that he no longer suffers is good. And that man doesn't need to suffer.
Rest In Peace.

Mr. Spacemonkey

Damn, it really sucks too. Just after he remade hurt. And he didn't even win a fucking award for it either.

Johnny Cash was the man!

__________________
"I hope that when the world comes to an end, I can breathe a sigh of relief, because there will be so much to look forward to." -- Donnie Darko

DownwardSpiral

Yes Johnny Cash was nominated for 5 MTV awards and comes out with nothing but a nod from Justin Timbelake, oooh boy isn't that something? Well, screw MTV! They suck anyway.

__________________
"So Keep on Pretending.
Our Heavens Worth the Waiting.
Keep on Pretending.
It's Alright."

-- H.I.M., "Pretending"

eple

Rest in peace Cash.
*playing solitary man*
And in the immortal words of ABBA: thank you for the music!

stldickie

thats a true loss...rip

Mr.Deflok

Awfully sad, so many of our longstanding Heroes and dying this year.

rodgerd

Timberlake shows more class than MTV. Who'd'a' thunk it?

K-Wise

Dammit thats aweful. I hope every last one a those fuckers who didn't give him an award this year feel like shit. Cause thats what they are...nothing but useless shit!

R.I.P.


The man

Asta!!

__________________
"I love music and it's my parents fault (closing statement)." - Me..quoting myself...from when I said that...On TFP..thats here...Tilted Forum Project

It ain't goodbye, it's see ya later! I'll miss you guys! - Asta!!

gwr_gwir

requiescat in pace, Johnny Cash. You of all people were a true Man. by the career you had, and the lives you touched, even if no one else remembers, you will not be forgotten. I remain, I remember.

__________________
Being intelligent is not a felony. But most societies evaluate it as at least a misdemeanor.
-- Robert Heinlein

Shyla Loral

Johnny Cash was so awesome. I went to go see him with my dad when I was little. *shit* Makes me miss my dad, too, sniff (he killed himself last year). His cover of NIN's "hurt" was so awesome, I cried when I heard it, and even more when I saw the video. I think he just missed his wife too much.

__________________
"Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead" Ben Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanac.

Meff r0x

anleja

Johnny Cash couldn't be any more real.


"Well there's things that never will be right I know
And things need changin' everywhere you go
But 'till we start to make a move to make a few things right
You'll never see me wear a suit of white
Oh, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day and tell the world that everything's okay
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back
'Till things're brighter I'm the man in black."

QuasiMojo

I hear the train....

Can't really describe the shivers I've been getting all day as I read all the tributes and postings about Mr.Johnny Cash.

Here was a man who lived as he felt, and felt as he lived. And I sincerely believe that the world has lost a true, great representative of the human race and everything that THAT title entails.

The music of Johnny Cash has been part of my life forever, but I hadn't really developed a true appreciation for who he was until I read his Autobiography, "Cash" last year. It was the only autobiography that actually ever moved me. Reading it, you can't help but be impressed by the honesty that comes out in every sentence...in every word. In an age of Bullshit, the life of Mr. Johnny Cash is welcome respite.

Join me in raising a few tonight... in honor of Mr. Johnny Cash.

B.

__________________
AzAbOv ZoBeLoE