Raised in Dyess, Arkansas

Joined the Air Force for a four-year stint; stationed in Germany

Teamed with two friends to form a small gospel band

Signed with producer Sam Phillips at Sun records as as Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two; released "Cry Cry Cry" as their debut single

Released a second single, "Folsom Prison Blues," and shortly after its follow-up, the dual country and pop hit "I Walk the Line"

Released debut album Johnny Cash with His Hot & Blue Guitar

Made his Grand Ole Opry debut, appearing all in black, earning him the nickname "The Man in Black"

Signed with Columbia Records, and released the moderate pop/top hit Don't Take Your Guns to Town

Started working with June Carter of the legendary Carter Family

Began taking amphetamines, which was reflected by a declining number of hit singles and albums

Returned to the top of the charts with "Ring of Fire" co-wrote by future wife June Carter

Arrested at the El Paso international airport in possession of stimulants and tranquilizers

After being found near death in a small Georgia town, Cash decided to reform and with the help of June Carter cleaned up his act

Achieved crossover success with the live album At Folsom Prison, which was recorded before an audience of prisoners

Hosted a smash variety program for television, "The Johnny Cash Show"

Appeared in first feature film "A Gunfight," with Kirk Douglas

Produced, cowrote, and narrated documentary film "The Gospel Road"

Wrote autobiography Man in Black

Became the youngest inducted into the Country Music Association Hall of Fame

Joined Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson to tour and record as the Highwaymen

Reunited with old Sun alumni Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Roy Orbison for Class of '55, contributing "I Will Rock and Roll With You"

Appeared in the television movie "Stagecoach," with the other Highwaymen, and Davey Crockett

Signed with Mercury Records and released Johnny Cash Is Coming to Town

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Contributed a vocal performance to "Zooropa," by rock superstars U2

Signed a contract with American Records, and released the album American Recordings, a stark, acoustic collection of songs

Recorded an album with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, which featured several Cash originals

Garnered considerable acclaim and media attention for the Mark Romanek-directed video for his cover of Nine Inch Nails' Hurt; earned a nomination for video of the year at the MTV Video Music Awards

American V: A Hundred Highways a posthumous album was released by longtime producer and friend Rick Rubin