JOHNNY CASH was an American singer and songwriter who become one of the most important, influential, and respected artists in the history of music.

Johnny Cash didn’t just sing country music; he was country music. We need not explain why that is the case, but the bottom line is that Johnny Cash was and always will be the epitome of country music.

This is FRESH AIR. I'm Terry Gross. Next in our series of interviews on R&B, rockabilly and early rock 'n' roll, we have my 1997 interview with Johnny Cash, one of country music's most influential ...