Johnny Cash

The Sun Records artist who joined the Million Dollar Quartet jam on December 4, 1956.

Johnny Cash is a Sun artist who arrived at Sun Record Studios on December 4, 1956, during a jam session involving Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins. Cash wrote in his autobiography that he had been first to arrive that day, wanting to listen in on the Perkins recording session. His voice does not seem to appear on any of the released tracks from the session, though Cash himself insisted he was there and that his voice is on the tape, singing high to stay in key with Elvis. The session is known as the "Million Dollar Quartet" after an article in the Memphis Press-Scimitar.

Quick Facts

Other names

"Man in Black", John R. Cash

Birth name

J. R. Cash

Born

26 February 1932

Birthplace

Kingsland, Arkansas, U.S.

Died

12 September 2003

Place of death

Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.

Resting place

Hendersonville Memory Gardens

Occupation

Singer
songwriter
musician
actor

Facts from the source article.

Lore & Background

Johnny Cash's presence at the December 4, 1956 session has been a matter of discussion. Colin Escott reports that according to attendee Bob Johnson, Cash joined Presley, Perkins and Lewis on "Blueberry Hill" and "Isle Of Golden Dreams." This was confirmed by Carl Perkins in a 1972 interview, who stated they did songs including "Blueberry Hill," "Island Of Golden Dreams," "I Won't Have to Cross the Jordan Alone," "The Old Rugged Cross," "Peace in the Valley," "Tutti Frutti," and "Big Boss Man"—of which only "Peace in the Valley" has been released. Cash wrote in his autobiography that he was the first to arrive and the last to leave, contrary to what has been written. Other reports, including one in Peter Guralnick's book Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley, suggest Cash stayed for only a short time and then left, possibly to do some Christmas shopping. Colin Escott also reports that Cash might have been brought in for the last part of the session, after Sam Phillips had decided to call the Memphis Press Scimitar.

Reader's Guide

His voice does not seem to appear on any of the released tracks from the Million Dollar Quartet session. The point at which Cash arrived has been a matter of discussion. Colin Escort reports that according to attendee Bob Johnson, Cash joined Presley, Perkins and Lewis on "Blueberry Hill" and "Isle Of Golden Dreams." Cash's presence for the entire session might be confirmed or denied by four pieces of "chatter" caught on the tapes. In his liner notes to The Survivors Live, a 1982 album that reunited Cash, Lewis and Perkins, Cash claims that Elvis performed "This Train is Bound for Glory" and "Vacation in Heaven" during the 1956 session, but neither track has surfaced.