The REAL Story behind Folsom Prison Blues And Folsom Prison would forever be associated with Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues. The anthem would become one of Cash’s most beloved and well-known songs, one that continues to inspire musicians today. Having a single on a Billboard chart was nothing new for Johnny Cash, but this particular song represented a turning point in the legendary musician’s career and made an indelible mark on the history of Folsom. Four months later, Folsom Prison Blues hit the Billboard Top 100 chart. On January 13, 1968, Johnny Cash performed live in front of an audience of guards and inmates at Folsom Prison.