It Was 45 Years Ago Today That Johnny Cash First Became the Man in Black [VIDEO]

We have known Johnny Cash as the man in black but when did that all start? We tend to think he was born with that nickname but he didn't always dress in black. That didn't come until later in his career. Long after he fell into a ring of fire or walked the line he found his image that stayed with him until his dying days. The Man in Black found his theme song in 1971.

On this date 45 years ago at the Columbia Recording Studio in Nashville, Johnny Cash recorded what would become his signature song, "The Man in Black." Take a trip back with me to February 17, 1971 when one day after finishing writing and recording the song, Johnny performed it live for the first time.