Country

Along with rock & roll and pop, country dominated the music scene during the 1950s. Pioneers such as Johnny Cash helped advance the musical style.

Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash was born J. R. Cash on February 26, 1932. J. R. was the fourth of seven children born to a dirt-poor Arkansas family. J. R. grew up loving music. He had a friend who played guitar with a rhythm strum that he began to emulate, and despite his father's protests that it was a waste of his time, J. R. focused on music. His first record, "Cry! Cry! Cry!" backed with "Hey Porter" was recorded with the newly formed Tennessee Two (friends Luther Perkins and Marshall Grant) and hit the charts, so Johnny Cash was born. followed his initial modest success with power hits such as "Folsom Prison Blues" and "I Walk The Line" before his desire to record gospel music conflicted with Sam Phillips' choice not to market same. Cash moved on to Columbia Records, where he recorded the bulk of his major hits throughout the 60's and 70's, including the amazing live albums At Folsom Prison, and At San Quentin, as well as Live at Madison Square Garden, which featured the entire Cash show (including the Carter Family, the Statler Brothers, and Carl Perkins). His famous song "Ring of Fire" is shown to the right.