1 / 28 photos Johnny Cash Photo Gallery

Johnny Cash, an Arkansas native, recorded his first single in 1955. He is seen here performing on The Ed Sullivan Show four years later on February 8, 1959.

From 1950-1954, Johnny Cash served in the U.S Air Force. He then settled in Memphis, Tennessee and married Vivian Loberto. The couple is seen here at home with two of their four daughters.

Despite the fact that Cash originally made his living as an appliance salesman, his lifelong love of music never subsided.

This impromptu jam session between Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash took place at Sun Studios on December 4, 1956. The famous foursome was referred to as The Million Dollar Quartet.

In 1956, Johnny Cash released his hit Folsom Prison Blues, which he was inspired to write after seeing a film about a prison with the same name.

Throughout the late fifties and sixties, Cash's drug and alcohol dependance contributed to the ultimate demise of his first marriage. Despite the fact that Cash earned an outlaw image for his many run-ins with the law, he never spent more than one night in jail.

Labeled as The Nation's Newest Singing Sensation, Johnny Cash performed on the musical television show The Ranch Party in 1966.

In 1967, Johnny Cash met fellow country singer-songwriter June Carter. The two enjoyed many collaborative successes including Jackson and Long-Legged Guitar Pickin' Man. Cash and Carter married in 1968.

On April 10, 1969, Johnny Cash performed for about 800 inmates at Cummins Prison Farm.

On The Johnny Cash Show in Nashville, Tennessee, Bob Dylan and Johnny himself performed an acoustic duet. The two became close friends while living near each other in Woodstock, New York.

Perhaps as an homage to one of his most famous country hits, Cash is seen here 'walking the line' of a train track with a guitar strapped to his back.

Throughout the early seventies, Cash continued to succeed with the albums One Step at a Time and A Thing Called Love. He also released the best-selling autobiography Man in Black in 1975.

Cash regularly appeared on music shows such as the Grand Ole Opry and the Louisiana Hayride.

In 1971, Johnny Cash appeared in the western drama A Gunfight alongside Kirk Douglas.

Johnny Cash testified before the Senate subcommittee on national penetentiaries on the subject of prison reform. He is seen here with Senator Bill Brock of Tennessee.

John Carter Cash, age 3, became the youngest person to perform at a Las Vegas Nightclub. With the help of dad Johnny Cash's microphone, he sang Mary Had a Little Lamb to the crowd.

Cash, along with fellow performer and friend Roy Orbison, arrive at Vanderbilt Hospital after Cash's young son suffered serious injuries in a car accident.

On May 8, 1976, Cash received an honorary Doctorate Degree of Human Letters from San Diego's National University.

Cash celebrated becoming the 1,669th entertainer to be awarded with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with his wife June and young son.

In 1980, Johnny Cash was inducted into the Country Music Association Hall of Fame, becoming the youngest person to do so.

Cash teamed up with Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings to form The Highwaymen, who toured together from the late eighties through the early nineties.

For 33 years, author Peggy Knight served as a confidante and caretaker to Johnny Cash.

Both Johnny Cash and former costar Kirk Douglas recieved the National Medal of the Arts on April 22, 2002 from President George W. Bush.

June Carter Cash passed away on May 15, 2003. Johnny Cash is seen here at his beloved wife's memorial.

Johnny Cash died on September 12, 2003, and Time magazine honored the country music icon with a commemorative cover on September 22, 2003.

In 2004, a prison coat and an acoustic guitar belonging to Johnny Cash were auctioned at Sotheby's in New York.

The story of Johnny and June's legendary love affair was made into a feature film starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon. Witherspoon won an Academy Award for her portrayal of June Carter Cash.

Johnny Cash left a legacy of more than just his country music success. However, his darkly rebellious yet famously romantic persona makes his appeal multi-faceted and appealing for young and old fans alike.