The Ultimate Johnny Cash Quiz | Music

Answer: Arkansas

He was born in Kingsland, Arkansas and raised in Dyess, Arkansas. As a small boy he worked in the cotton fields. The death of his teen age brother, Jack, coupled with the tough economic conditions he was reared in, shaped much of his music.

Answer: The Man in Black

Cash and his band originally wore black shirts because those were the only matching colors they had. Soon he became famous for his black outfits and was dubbed "The Man in Black" by his fans. In the 1971 song "Man in Black" the singer explains that he wears black for "the poor and the beaten down". U.S. Navy sailors refer to their dark blue winter service uniforms as "Johnny Cashes".

Answer: I Walk the Line

"I Walk the Line" was recorded in 1956 with Sun Records. The song reportedly was about him staying faithful to his first wife, Vivian, while touring on the road.

Answer: Ring of Fire

The hit was written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore. Released in 1963, Cash's use of a mariachi sound by the horn section was considered a major musical innovation in the field of country music and cemented his reputation as a pioneer in developing new and original sounds in his genre. The song was first released by sister in law Anita Carter.

Answer: June Carter

June and John married in 1968, two years after he divorced his first wife Vivian Liberto. Carter was a member of the famous singing family, Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters. June and Johnny toured together for twelve years. Johnny proposed to her on stage in Canada. They were married for 35 years.

Answer: San Quentin and Folsom

The albums "Johnny Cash at Folsom" (1968) and "Johnny Cash at San Quentin" (1969) were commercial successes. He also recorded a live album at a Swedish prison in 1973. One of his biggest hits was the song "Folsom Prison Blues".

Answer: Sue

"A Boy Named Sue", written by Shel Silverstein, vaulted to number one on the country charts and number two on the pop charts. A male attorney, Sue K. Hicks, who participated in the famous Scopes Trial, is reportedly the inspiration for the songs title.

Answer: Jackson

Written by Jerry Leiber and Billy Edd Wheeler, the song portrays the desire of two unhappily married individuals who want to go to Jackson where they can live a life free from their gloomy marriage.

Answer: Merle Haggard

The four country music superstars joined to record three albums. "Highwayman" (1985) "Highwayman 2" (1990) and "The Road Goes on Forever" (1995). The first album was the most successful of the three commercially, with the title track reaching number one on the country charts.

The second album was more critically acclaimed, being nominated for a Grammy while the third album had limited success.

Answer: The Gospel Road

In the early 1970's Cash began to kick his addiction to amphetamines and barbiturates. He developed a strong faith in Christianity. Encouraged by Billy Graham, Cash helped write and develop "The Gospel Road". The movie, filmed in Israel, was a moderate success and the accompanying double album became a top twenty seller on the country charts.

Answer: He was never sentenced to prison

Cash had an outlaw image but in fact never served a prison sentence. However, on seven occasions he was charged with a misdemeanor which led to seven one night stays in various local jails.

Answer: Joaquin Phoenix

Phoenix spent several years learning to play the guitar, taking singing lessons, and rehearsing Cash's persona. Cash, before his death in 2003, selected Phoenix for the role. Co-star Reese Witherspoon won a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of June Carter Cash.

Answer: The Tennessee Three

The band stayed with Cash for over 40 years. Original band members were Luther Perkins on electric guitar and Marshall Grant on bass guitar. Later drummer W. S. Holland joined the group.

Answer: Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame

Cash was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980 (Nashville, TN), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Cleveland, OH) in 1992 and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame (Burns, TN) in 1997. He is also in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Although he recorded several successful gospel songs the singer is not a member the Southern Gospel Hall of Fame.

Answer: Hurt

"Hurt" written by Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) was Cash's last hit. Recorded in 2002, the song was selected as the Country Music Association's 2003 Single of the Year. Cash's rendition also won a CMA and a Grammy for the best video of the year. The somber tone of the song has some fans speculating that this song was the singer's epitaph.