Throughout the mid-1950s, country music dynamo Johnny Cash established himself as one of America’s rising stars with hit singles like “I Walk the Line.” Cash initially made a name for himself on the Sun Records roster. Headed up by producer Sam Phillips, the label took America by storm with its rockabilly sound and trailblazing artists like Carl Perkins.
As much success as Cash had already had with Sun Records, he yearned for something different. Even during his initial auditions for Phillips, he played gospel songs. Though his first two albums had more raucous stylings, he continued to ask Phillips when he’d get the chance to record a gospel album.
