Before They Were Legends: Johnny Cash [VIDEO]

Johnny Cash was born in Kingsland, Arkansas, the fourth of seven children.

He was named John R. Cash because his parents couldn't think of a name, but he went by J. R. all throughout his childhood as a shortened version of his real name.

When Cash enlisted in the Air Force, they wouldn't let him use initials as his name, so he began to use his legal name of John R. Cash. In 1955, when signing with Sun Records, he took Johnny Cash as his stage name.

In March 1935, when Cash was three years old, the family settled in Dyess, Arkansas. J.R. was working in cotton fields beginning at age five, singing along with his family simultaneously while working. The family farm was flooded on at least two occasions, which later inspired him to write the song "Five Feet High and Rising".

His family's economic and personal struggles during the Great Depression inspired many of his songs, especially those about other people facing similar difficulties.

Cash's early memories were dominated by gospel music and radio. Taught by his mother and a childhood friend, Cash began playing guitar and writing songs as a young boy. In high school he sang on a local radio station; decades later he released an album of traditional gospel songs, called My Mother's Hymn Book.

Johnny enlisted in the United States Air Force on July 7, 1950. After he was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant on July 3, 1954, he returned to Texas.

Johnny Cash - Documentary

Johnny Cash's last interview (final) - 'I Expect My Life To End Soon'

Via [Wikipedia]