Johnny Cash records a live album in the cafeteria of Folsom Prison

Folsom State Prison was opened in 1880 as the first maximum security prison in the nation since the California Gold Rush. Located along the American River, this prison is California’s second oldest penitentiary and the world’s first jail with electricity. It took approximately two years to build, and its 4×8 feet cells only contain air holes on the cell doors with 6 inch eye slots. Johnny Cash empathized with inmates and started holding free concerts at various prisons.

On this day, January 13th, in 1968 Johnny Cash held a concert at Folsom State Prison to debut his new album. “Folsom Prison Blues” a single from his album charted high on both the Billboard Country and Pop Charts. The single also won Cash a Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.

From Cash’s concert in the cafeteria he found inmate Glen Sherley, a singer and song-writer who later joined Cash on road shows and other performances.