Jack Cash entered the world two years before his famous brother, Johnny. The boys were best friends and Johnny looked up at Jack as his protector. Jack was the religious member of the family and he had a goal of becoming a preacher.
Preachers and Musicians
Bedtime in the Cash household came early for the children. However, Jack and Johnny would stay up late; Jack would read the bible, while Johnny listened to country music on the radio. Invariably Ray Cash, the boy’s father would tell Johnny to turn off the radio and go to bed. Ray would not yell at Jack, saying, “future preachers should be treated with kid gloves.” While Johnny would spend his time singing songs, Jack would carry his bible with him everywhere, to school church, and sometimes into the cotton fields.
Johnny and Jack walked to church together on Sundays. As they sat in the pews, the preacher terrified Johnny with the antics of the fire and brimstone service. On the way home, Jack explained the service to his younger brother and told Johnny that God would watch over him in ways that he could not. Jack held such influence over Johnny that when Johnny was twelve he jumped out of his seat, took the preachers hand, and pledged his spiritual accountability. Johnny later remembered that on the walk home that day he felt the two could walk together forever, as children of God.
