June Carter Cash
June Carter Cash | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Valerie June Carter |
Born | Maces Spring, Virginia, U.S. | June 23, 1929
Died | May 15, 2003 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. | (aged 73)
Genres |
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Occupation(s) |
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Instrument(s) |
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Years active | 1939–2003 |
Labels |
Valerie June Carter Cash (
Early life
June Carter Cash was born Valerie June Carter in Maces Spring, Virginia, to Maybelle (née Addington) and Ezra Carter. Her mother was a country music performer with June's Aunt Sara and Uncle AP Carter and she performed with the Carter Family from the age of 10, in 1939. In March 1943, when the Carter Family trio stopped recording together at the end of the WBT contract, Maybelle Carter, with encouragement from her husband Ezra, formed "The Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle" with her daughters, Helen on accordion, Anita Carter on bass fiddle and June on autoharp and as front person and comedian. The new group first aired on radio station WRNL in Richmond, Virginia, on June 1. Doc (Addington) and Carl (McConnell)—Maybelle's brother and cousin, respectively, known as "The Virginia Boys", joined them in late 1945. June, then 16, was a co-announcer with Ken Allyn and did the commercials on the radio shows for Red Star Flour, Martha White, and Thalhimers Department Store, just to name a few.[3] For the next year {1946}, the Carters and Doc and Carl did show dates within driving range of Richmond, through Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. She attended John Marshall High School during this period.[4] June later said she had to work harder at her music than her sisters, but she had her own special talent —comedy.[5] A highlight of the road shows was her "Aunt Polly" comedy routine. With her thin and lanky frame, June Carter often played a comedic foil during the group's performances alongside other Opry stars Faron Young and Webb Pierce. Carl McConnell wrote in his memoirs that June was "a natural-born clown, if there ever was one". Decades later, Carter revived Aunt Polly for the 1976 TV series Johnny Cash & Friends.
After Doc and Carl dropped out of the music business in late 1946, Maybelle and her daughters moved to Sunshine Sue Workman's "Old Dominion Barn Dance" on the WRVA Richmond station. After a while there, they moved to WNOX in Knoxville, Tennessee, where they met Chet Atkins with Homer and Jethro.
In 1949, The Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle, with their lead guitarist, Atkins, were living in Springfield, Missouri, and performing regularly at KWTO. Ezra "Eck" Carter, Maybelle's husband and manager of the group, declined numerous offers from the Grand Ole Opry to move the act to Nashville, Tennessee, because the Opry would not permit Atkins to accompany the group onstage. Atkins' reputation as a guitar player had begun to spread, and studio musicians were fearful that he would displace them as a 'first-call' player if he came to Nashville. Finally, in 1950, Opry management relented and the group, along with Atkins, became part of the Opry company. Here the family befriended Hank Williams and Elvis Presley (to whom they were distantly related), and June met Johnny Cash.
June and her sisters, with mother Maybelle and aunt Sara joining in from time to time, reclaimed the name "The Carter Family" for their act during the 1960s and '70s.
Career highlights
While June Carter Cash may be best known for singing and songwriting, she was also an author, dancer, actress, comedian, philanthropist, and humanitarian.
As a singer, she had both a solo career and a career singing with first her family and later her husband. As a solo artist, she became somewhat successful with upbeat country tunes of the 1950s such as "Jukebox Blues" and, with her exaggerated breaths, the comedic hit "No Swallerin' Place" by Frank Loesser. June also recorded "The Heel" in the 1960s along with many other songs.
In the early 1960s, June Carter wrote the song "Ring of Fire", which later went on to be a hit for her future husband, Johnny Cash. She co-wrote the song with fellow songwriter Merle Kilgore. June wrote the lyrics about her relationship with Johnny Cash and she offered the song to her sister Anita Carter, who was the first singer to record the song. In 1963, Johnny recorded the song with the Carter Family singing backup, and added mariachi horns. The song became a number-one hit and went on to become one of the most recognizable songs in the world of country music. In her autobiography, "I Walked the Line", Johnny's first wife Vivian Cash disputes the myth that June Carter co-wrote the song, "Ring of Fire". Vivian relates the story that Johnny told her in 1963 that he wrote the song with Merle Kilgore and Curly while fishing and that he was going to give June half credit because "She needs the money. And I like her."
Her first notable studio performance with Johnny Cash occurred in 1964 when she duetted with Cash on "
Although she provided vocals on many recordings, and shared the billing with Cash on several album releases, June Carter Cash only recorded three solo albums during her lifetime: the first, Appalachian Pride, released in 1975, Press On (1999), and Wildwood Flower, released posthumously in 2003 and produced by her son, John Carter Cash. Appalachian Pride is the only one of the three on which Johnny Cash does not perform, while Press On is notable for featuring June Carter Cash singing her original arrangement of "Ring of Fire".
One of her final appearances was a nonspeaking/nonsinging appearance in the music video for her husband's 2003 single, "
She won a Grammy award in 1999 for, Press On. Her last album, Wildwood Flower, won two additional Grammys. It contains bonus video enhancements showing extracts from the film of the recording sessions, which took place at the Carter Family estate in Hiltons, Virginia, on September 18–20, 2002. The songs on the album include "Big Yellow Peaches", "Sinking in the Lonesome Sea", "Temptation", and the trademark staple "Wildwood Flower". Due to her involvement in providing backing vocals on many of her husband's recordings, a further posthumous release occurred in 2014, when Out Among the Stars was released under Johnny Cash's name. The album consists of previously unreleased recordings from the early 1980s, including two on which June Carter Cash provides duet vocals.
Her autobiography was published in 1979, and she wrote a memoir, From the Heart, almost 10 years later.[8]
Personal life
Carter was married three times and had one child with each husband. All three of her children went on to have successful careers in country music. She was married first to
Carter and the entire Carter Family had performed with Johnny Cash for a number of years. In 1968, Cash proposed to Carter during a live performance at the London Ice House in London, Ontario. They married on March 1 in Franklin, Kentucky.[8] They had one son, John Carter Cash, who is a musician, songwriter, and producer. The couple remained married until her death in May 2003, four months before Cash died.
She also gained four stepdaughters from her third husband's previous marriage to Vivian Liberto, including Cindy and Rosanne.
Carter's distant cousin, the 39th U.S. president Jimmy Carter, became closely acquainted with Cash and Carter and maintained their friendship throughout their lifetimes. In a June 1977 speech, Jimmy Carter acknowledged that June Carter was his distant cousin.[11]
Carter was a longtime supporter of SOS Children's Villages. In 1974, the Cashes donated money to help build a village near their home in Barrett Town, Jamaica, which they visited frequently, playing the guitar and singing songs to the children in the village.[12]
June Carter Cash also had close relationships with a number of entertainers, including Audrey Williams, James Dean, Patsy Cline,[13] Loretta Lynn,[14] Jessi Colter, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Elvis Presley,[13] Robert Duvall, and Roy Orbison.[15]
At the end of his life, she and her husband attended the First
Death
In April 2003, Carter was diagnosed with a
Awards
Carter and her future husband, Johnny Cash, reached number 2 on the
Carter Cash won the
Philanthropy
June Carter Cash along with her husband, Johnny Cash, worked with and gave money to the group, SOS Children's Villages, throughout their lives. They began this involvement in 1973 when they donated $12,000 ($75,351 in 2022 terms) to build an orphanage in a Jamaican village close to their home in that country.[21] They would visit the nearby village during their time spent in Jamaica and play with the children and sing songs to them. When Johnny Cash died in 2003, their family asked that donations be made to the SOS Children's Villages due to the couple's involvement.[22] In a quote from a representative of the Prime Minister of Jamaica at the time, P.J. Patterson, talks about their charitable works in the country, "A philanthropist extraordinaire, Mrs. Cash made Jamaica her second home and loved and cared deeply for the people of her adopted country. A gifted and talented singer, she and her husband, Johnny Cash, used the very talents for the benefit of many charities in and around Montego Bay."
Legacy
In 2003, Carter was included by
June Carter was played by Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line, a 2005 biographical film of Johnny Cash (played by Joaquin Phoenix). The film largely focused on the development of their relationship over the course of 13 years, from their first meeting to her final acceptance of his proposal of marriage. Witherspoon performed all vocals for the role, singing many of June's famous songs, including "Juke Box Blues" and "Jackson" with Phoenix.[24] Witherspoon won an Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress in the role.[25]
Musician and actress Jewel portrayed June Carter Cash in the Lifetime television movie Ring of Fire, which aired on May 27, 2013. The film is based on John Carter Cash's memoir Anchored in Love: An Intimate Portrait of June Carter Cash.[26]
June was played by Erin Beute in the 2019 television movie Patsy & Loretta. [27]
Discography
Albums
Year | Album | Chart Positions | |
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US Bluegrass
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US Country | ||
1975 | Appalachian Pride | — | — |
1999 | Press On | — | — |
It's All in the Family | — | — | |
2003 | Wildwood Flower | 2 | 33 |
Louisiana Hayride | — | — | |
2005 | Keep on the Sunny Side: June Carter Cash - Her Life in Music
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— | — |
Church in the Wildwood: A Treasury of Appalachian Gospel | — | — | |
Ring of Fire: The Best of June Carter Cash | — | — | |
2006 | Early June | — | — |
Albums with Johnny Cash
- Note: this list only lists albums on which June Carter Cash received co-billing. Most 1970s and 1980s album releases by Cash featured at least one duet with her, and/or she provided backing vocals.
Year | Album | Chart Positions | |
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US Country | US | ||
1967 | Carryin' On with Johnny Cash and June Carter
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5 | — |
1973 | Johnny Cash and His Woman | 32 | — |
1978 | Johnny & June | — | — |
2000 | Return to the Promised Land | — | — |
2006 | 16 Biggest Hits: Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash | 26 | 126 |
June Carter and Johnny Cash: Duets
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— | — |
Singles
Year | Single | Peak positions | Album | |
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US Country | CAN Country | |||
1949 | "Grandma Told Me So" | — | — | — |
1950 | "Root Hog, or Die" | — | — | |
"Bashful Rascal" | — | — | ||
1951 | "Thing" | — | — | |
"Mommie's Real Peculiar" | — | — | ||
1953 | "No Swallerin' Place" | — | — | |
"You Flopped When You Got Me Home" | — | — | ||
1954 | "Tennessee Mambo, Left Over Mambo" | — | — | |
1955 | "He Don't Love Me Anymore" | — | — | |
1956 | "Strange, Strange Woman" | — | — | |
"Baby I Tried" | — | — | ||
1961 | "Heel" | — | — | |
1962 | "Mama Teach Me" | — | — | |
"Overalls and Dungarees" | — | — | ||
1963 | "I Pitched My Tent (On the Old Camp Ground)" | — | — | |
1964 | "Tall Lover Man" | — | — | |
"Go Away, Stranger" | — | — | ||
1965 | "Everything Ain't Been Said" | — | — | |
1971 | "A Good Man" | 27 | 12 | |
1973 | "Follow Me" | — | — | The Gospel Road |
1975 | "The Shadow of a Lady" | — | — | Appalachian Pride |
2003 | "Keep on the Sunny Side" | — | — | Wildwood Flower |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
Singles with Johnny Cash
Year | Single | Peak positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||
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US Country | US | CAN Country | CAN | CAN AC | AU | UK
| ||||
1964 | "It Ain't Me Babe" | 4 | 58 | — | — | — | 85 | 28 | Orange Blossom Special | |
1967 | "Jackson" | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Carryin' On with Johnny Cash and June Carter | |
"Long-Legged Guitar Pickin' Man" | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
1969 | "If I Were a Carpenter" | 2 | 36 | 1 | 13 | 11 | 52 | — | Hello, I'm Johnny Cash | |
1971 | "No Need to Worry" | 15 | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | International Superstar | |
1972 | "The Loving Gift" | 27 | — | 22 | — | — | — | — | Any Old Wind That Blows | |
1973 | "Allegheny" | 69 | — | 35 | — | — | — | — | Johnny Cash and His Woman | |
1976 | "Old Time Feeling" | 26 | — | 24 | — | — | — | — | Greatest Hits, Vol. 3 | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
Featured singles
Year | Single | Artist | Peak positions |
Album |
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US Country | ||||
1949 | "Baby, It's Cold Outside" | Homer and Jethro | 9 | Non-album song |
Music videos
Year | Video |
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2003 | "Keep on the Sunny Side" |
References
- ^ "June Carter Cash in the 1930 US Census", Root dig, March 2007, archived from the original on September 21, 2013, retrieved August 24, 2008
- ^ "Awards". Christian Music Hall of Fame and Museum. 2009. Archived from the original on May 15, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
- ^ a b "June Carter Cash", Artists (biography), CMT
- ^ "Walk the line, drive the road". Virginia. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
- ^ Bufwack, Mary (1998), "Carter Sisters", in Kingsbury, Paul (ed.), The Encyclopedia of Country Music, New York: Oxford University Press, p. 85
- ^ "June", Johnny Cash.com, archived from the original on August 13, 2008
- ^ Goode, Stephen (August 5, 2014). "Jesse James: Dad and especially mom (Part 2)". Los Angeles Post-Examiner. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
- ^ a b c Downey, Ryan J. Country Star June Smith First Wife Carl Smith 73. MTV.com. 2003-05-15. Archived December 9, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash", Marriage (profile), About, archived from the original on April 12, 2008, retrieved May 28, 2012
- CMT.com. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
- ^ Carter 1978, p. 1115 (Conference on HIRE, June 14).
- ^ "Johnny Cash". Spotlight on. SOS Children's Villages. 2006. Archived from the original on May 18, 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2008.
- ^ a b Boucher, Geoff (May 16, 2003). "From the Archives: June Carter Cash, 73; Lifelong Star of Country Music". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
- ^ "Son Pays Loving Tribute to June Carter Cash". NPR.org. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
- ^ "Photo of Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, & June Carter Cash". royorbison.com. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
- ^ Timothy Cockes, Johnny Cash documentary tells faith journey of Man in Black, baptistpress.com, USA, December 1, 2022
- ^ Tragic Details About Johnny Cash, retrieved August 15, 2023
- ^ Billboard, Stars Mourn June Carter Cash, billboard.com, USA, May 19, 2003
- ^ "COUNTRY MUSIC - Capital News". Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved August 24, 2008.
- ^ "Cash Buried Near Nashville". Fox News. September 15, 2003. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
- ^ "Cash Family Support Boosts Children's Charity". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
- ^ "The family of Johnny Cash ask for donations for SOS Children's Villages - SOS Children's Villages International". www.sos-childrensvillages.org. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
- ^ Staff August 28, 2002, CMT com. "40 Greatest Women Announced". CMT News. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "The Reel Deal", Oregon Herald, December 2005, archived from the original on October 25, 2006, retrieved March 23, 2007
- ^ "Awards for Walk the Line". IMDb.
- ^ "Jewel Will Play June Carter Cash in TV Movie". People. May 6, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
- ^ "TV Insider". TV Insider. October 14, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
- ^ "British single certifications – Johnny Cash – Jackson". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
Bibliography
- Carter, James 'Jimmy' (1978), Public papers of the presidents of the United States: Jimmy Carter, 1977, Government Printing Office.
Further reading
- Cash, June Carter (1979), Among My Klediments, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, ISBN 0-310-38170-3.
- Dawidoff, Nicholas (1998), In the Country of Country: A Journey to the Roots of American Music, Vintage Books, ISBN 0-375-70082-X.
- McConnell, Carl P (January 24, 1976), A Brief History of My Family and an Autobiographical Sketch of My Musical Life. Background for liner notes for a Doc and Carl album recorded at Johnny Cash's Nashville studio. Online at "Southern music".
- Zwonitzer, Mark; Hirschberg, Charles (2002), Will you miss me when I'm gone? The Carter Family and their legacy in American music, New York: Simon & Schuster.
External links
- June Carter Cash Official Site
- "June Carter Cash", Music, Yahoo!, archived from the original on April 24, 2006.
- June Carter Cash at IMDb
- A.P. Carter Museum, Virginia, archived from the original on May 28, 2008.
- Official Carter Family Fold Website