Suit Formerly Owned by Johnny Cash

This charcoal gray suit coat and trousers were worn by singer/songwriter Johnny Cash (1932-2003), most likely in the mid-1950s when he began recording for Sun Records. He first wore this style when he performed with his backing band, the Tennessee Three in 1954.  

After he left the trio, Cash stuck with this somber aesthetic and adopted black as his color of choice. Over the years, a style that was merely practical became more significant for him. As he stated in his 1997 autobiography: “I wore black because I liked it. I still do, and 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.” His all-black stage outfits led to his nickname, “the man in black.” 

“Cry, Cry, Cry” was his first single in 1955— it made only a tiny dent on the Country charts, but subsequent songs such as “Ring of Fire” and “I Walk the Line” were widely popular. Cash, known for his serious demeanor and understated baritone voice appealed first to Country music purists, and later to the Rock’n’Roll charts with crossover appeal leading to his induction into the Country Music, Rock’n’Roll, and Gospel Music Halls of Fame.