Johnny Cash: In my little world, in northeast Arkansas on a cotton farm, it was my brother Jack. He was my inspiration. He was two years older than I and he was killed at the age of 14. I always wanted to be like him. He was a strong person, he was a Bible student, he was in perfect shape, physically. I always wanted to be like him. And when he died, my best friend was still my mother, and she always encouraged me to sing. As a matter of fact, we were very poor, and she took in washing from the school teachers, washed their clothes to make money to give me singing lessons, voice lessons. After about three lessons the voice teacher said, “Don’t take voice lessons. Do it your way.” I was glad for my mother that I didn’t have to take them.