American III: Solitary Man was notable for being Cash’s highest charting solo studio LP since his 1976 One Piece at a Time. Between Unchained and Solitary Man, Cash’s health declined due to various ailments, and he was even hospitalised for pneumonia.

American IV: The Man Comes Around is the fourth album in the American series by Johnny Cash and his 87th overall, released in 2002.  This is the last album released before his death in 2003.  The majority of songs are covers which Cash performs in his own sparse style, with help from producer Rick Rubin. For the song “Personal Jesus”, Rubin asked then-Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante to re-work an acoustic version, which featured a simple acoustic riff that stripped down the song to a blues style.

American V: A Hundred Highways is the 93rd overall album and a posthumous title by Johnny Cash released on July 4, 2006.  The liner notes of “Unearthed”, a box set composed of outtakes from the first four entries into the series, claim “around 50″ songs were recorded during the American V sessions before Cash’s death on September 12, 2003.  However, only two albums worth of material were released, including American VI: Ain’t No Grave, which was released in February 2010.
 
Biography:

John R. “Johnny” Cash (February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was a singer-songwriter, actor, and author, widely considered one of the most influential American musicians of the 20th century. Although primarily remembered as a country music icon, his genre-spanning songs and sound embraced rock and roll, rockabilly, blues, folk, and gospel. This crossover appeal won Cash the rare honor of multiple induction in the Country Music, Rock and Roll, and Gospel Music Halls of Fame.

Cash was known for his deep bass-baritone voice, the distinctive sound of his Tennessee Three backing band, are belliousness coupled with an increasingly somber and humble demeanor, free prison concerts, and trademark look, which earned him the nickname “The Man in Black”. He traditionally began his concerts with the simple “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash.”, followed by his signature “Folsom Prison Blues”.

Much of Cash’s music echoed themes of sorrow, moral tribulation and redemption, especially in the later stages of his career. His best-known songs included “I Walk the Line”, “Folsom Prison Blues”, “Ring of Fire”, “Get Rhythm” and “Man in Black”. He also recorded humorous numbers like “One Piece at a Time” and “A Boy Named Sue”; a duet with his future wife, June Carter, called “Jackson”; and railroad songs including “Hey, Porter” and “Rock Island Line”. During the last stage of his career, Cash covered songs by several late 20th-century rock artists, most notably “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails.

More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Cash

Johnny Cash Website: http://www.johnnycash.com/
  
 ALL JOHNNY CASH/RICK RUBIN PORTRAIT IMAGES BY MARTYN ATKINS