Johnny Cash

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

On this day in 1986, Columbia Records dropped country legend Johnny Cash after 16 years. 

 

In honor of Johnny, LIFE.com presents photos of the one and only Man in Black made for a November 1969 feature in LIFE magazine: http://ti.me/PjzaLQ

(Photo: Michael Rougier—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)