Johnny Cash before he was famous

He sold appliances door to door. Then: Sun Records.

The nobody years

1932 Born J. R. in Kingsland
In Kingsland, Arkansas, a boy is born and given no first name at all — just two initials, J. R. Cash. That's what goes on the paperwork, and that's what everybody calls him.
Was born J. R. Cash in Kingsland, Arkansas - initials, not a name. Source
1935 New Deal colony, Dyess
The family packs up for Dyess, a New Deal farm colony carved out of the Arkansas bottomland. They're handed cotton fields to work, and the work never really stops.
The family moved to Dyess, a New Deal farm colony, and worked its cotton fields. Source
1937 Picking cotton at five
By the age of five he's out in the rows with the rest of them, dragging a sack down the cotton. And he sings while he picks — the family's voices carrying across the field.
Picked cotton alongside the family from the age of five, singing at work. Source
1944 Brother Jack dies
His older brother Jack takes a job at the mill. An accident there costs him his life, and the family is never the same.
His older brother Jack died after an accident at the mill where he worked. Source
1950 Enlists in Air Force
Weeks after he finishes high school in Dyess, he signs up for the US Air Force. The cotton fields are behind him, and a uniform is waiting.
Enlisted in the US Air Force weeks after finishing high school in Dyess. Source
1951 Morse operator, Landsberg
The Air Force sends him to Landsberg, West Germany. He sits with headphones on, pulling Morse code out of the static, hour after hour.
Posted to Landsberg, West Germany, as a Morse code intercept operator. Source
1952 First band on base
Off duty, he and a few Air Force buddies pick up guitars and start a band. They call themselves the Landsberg Barbarians — his first group, thousands of miles from Arkansas.
Formed his first band with Air Force friends: the Landsberg Barbarians. Source
1954 Selling appliances door to door
He's discharged as a staff sergeant and heads for Memphis. To pay the rent he walks the streets selling appliances door to door.
Discharged as a staff sergeant, moved to Memphis and sold appliances door to door. Source
1954 Radio announcing school
He uses the GI Bill to enroll at a Memphis broadcasting school. He's learning radio announcing — how to speak into a microphone and be heard.
Studied radio announcing at a Memphis broadcasting school on the GI Bill. Source
1954 Turned away at Sun
He gets himself an audition with Sam Phillips at Sun Records and sings gospel songs. Phillips turns him away.
Auditioned for Sam Phillips at Sun Records singing gospel, and was turned away. Source
1955 First single with Tennessee Two
He comes back to Sun, this time with the Tennessee Two behind him. They cut Cry! Cry! Cry! — his first single.
Returned with the Tennessee Two and released his first single, Cry! Cry! Cry! Source