Man, of Style

“Hello, I am Johnny Cash” as he would typically introduce himself, was born on 26 February 1932. he was an American country singer-songwriter best known for her songs “Hurt” and “Ring of Fire”. Being one of the most influential musicians of the Post-World War II era, Johnny Cash created his own subgenre that was rock n roll and folk music, becoming one of the country’s biggest stars of 1950s and 1960s selling over a 100 hit singles (n.d.).

Johnny Cash dressed in black, 1957

Having a tough upbringing as the son of an Arkansas farmer alongside his sudden rise to fame resulted in a drug and alcohol addiction that almost costed him his life. With the help of June Carter, his wife, he found his way back. His comeback concert at Folsom Prison still remains unforgettable in music history, a reborn Johnny Cash singing to the inmates. The man all dressed in black.

Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Concert, 1968

Johnny Cash was the contrast of the chiseled All-American country singers, he was authentic and raw and so were his clothes.

Visually unlike his fellow country singers in the early 70s who adorned bright and colorful kitschy country clothes, Johnny Cash chose to wear the darkest of all tones: black, and only black. He was deemed as the “Man in Black”. Favoring leather coats and well-worn shirts in black, he chose to showcase aesthetically how he identified himself in the society: as an outsider (Werle 2010, p. 50).

Johnny Cash in his trademark black, brooding in the recording studio, 1960s

The 1940s and 1950s, decades before the Japanese designers revived black as the classic color In fashion, were filled with lively and vibrant hues in many colors from the golden era of the big screen to the stores Post-World War II. Johnny Cash dressing in only black was a very strange and uncommon choice for the time, with a deeper meaning behind. Considering it a good luck charm, wearing a black t-shirt and jeans for his very first performance onstage, he wore it as the symbol of support for the oppressed. Johnny Cash explained, “I wore black because I liked it. Wearing it still means something to me. It’s still my symbol of rebellion – against a stagnant status quo, against our hypocritical houses of God, against people whose minds are closed to others’ ideas.” In his lyrics “Man in Black”, which was also his nickname, he sings about how he wears black “for the poor and the beaten down”. He argued how no one will see him in white until the social injustices are resolved, and how he felt uncomfortable wearing colors in public, even denim. His style was hence paving the way to a new benchmark not only in music but also fashion. While the other stars adorned glamorous attires, like Elvis in the gold lame suit, Johnny Cash stood in glaring contrast.

The man in black, 1968

However, as important as stylists are to the modern-day influencers in fashion, Nashville-based Mexican costumier, also referred to as “The Rhinestone Rembrandt”, who dressed the likes of Bob Dylan and Elvis Presley and went by his single name, Manuel, was the real man behind making Johnny adopt the color black. Manuel explained his job as “to do for the artists what they need – not what they think they need”. So, he introduced Johnny to nine outfits in all black jokingly telling a surprised Johnny there was a special on black fabric. Manuel felt like Johnny was the man in black, that it was his color, his vibe and his aura. After wearing the black trousers, cowboy boots and a fancily decorated black tailored jacket along with black Ray-Bans, black became the norm to Johnny, with the deep meaning behind what he believed in (Sims 2016, p. 42).

Johnny Cash with Elvis Presley, 1955

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Referencing:

N.D., Johnny Cash / Biography & History,viewed 15 April 2019, <https://www.allmusic.com/artist/johnny-cash-mn0000816890/biography>.

Werle, S 2010, Fashionisto: A Century of Style Icons,Prestel, London.

Sims, J 2016, Men of Style, Lawrence King Publishing Ltd, London, United Kingdom.

Imagery Referencing:

Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Concert,1968, ABC News, viewed 15 April 2019, <https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-10/johnny-cash-folsom-prison-blues-50th-anniversary-1968/9848990>.

The Man in Black, 1968, Gia on the move, viewed 15 April 2019, <https://giaonthemove.com/2012/09/19/the-legendary-man-in-black-johnny-cash-is-back-in-a-new-documentary/>.

Johnny Cash with Elvis Presley, 1955, Amazon, viewed 15 April 2019, <https://www.amazon.com/Johnny-Elvis-Presley-Penned-Photo/dp/B01AY7VPDE>.

Johnny Cash in his trademark black, brooding in the recording studio,1960s, viewed 15 April 2019, <https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/107382772335806848/>.

Johnny Cash dressed in black, 1957, All That’s Interesting, viewed 15 April 2019, <https://allthatsinteresting.com/johnny-cash-photos>.