At Folsom Prison – The Ongoing History of Protest Music

Protest Music Hall of Fame: Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison – Johnny Cash

March 13, 2025

In 1955, Johnny Cash released the single “Folsom Prison Blues,” a tune that resonated with inmates, many of whom wrote him letters requesting that he perform at their prison. The first time that Cash performed at a prison was at Huntsville State Prison in Texas in 1957. Afterward, he continued to perform several prison concerts. Cash long intended to record one of […]

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Daily Dose of Protest: 25 Minutes to Go – Johnny Cash

January 13, 2018

On January 13th, 1968, Johnny Cash played a concert at Folsom Prison, a maximum-security penitentiary in California. This performance was recorded and released as the album At Folsom Prison in May 1968. The album was considered a true landmark and was also responsible for resurrecting Johnny Cash’s career. After that historical performance, Cash continued to perform a number of prison […]

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