Johnny Cash became interested in Folsom State Prison, California, while serving in the United States Air Force Security Service. In 1953, his unit watched Crane Wilbur’s 1951 film Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison. The film inspired Cash to write a song that reflected his perception of prison life.

The result was “Folsom Prison Blues”, Cash’s second single on Sun Records. The song became popular among inmates, who would write to Cash, requesting him to perform at their prisons. Cash’s first prison performance was at Huntsville State Prison in 1957. Satisfied by the favorable reception, he performed at several other prisons in the years leading up to the Folsom performance in 1968.

Sauce