Johnny Cash, the legendary "Man in Black," was among the first to meld country music with rock. His brooding baritone voice, signature marching bass lines and plaintive lyrics about love lost, convicts, cowboys and bar brawls made him a "musical hero to millions."

Cash died Friday at Baptist Hospital in Nashville of complications from diabetes, which resulted in respiratory failure, said his manager, Lou Robin. He was 71. His death came just four months after the death of his wife, singer-songwriter June Carter Cash, who died of complications from heart surgery at 73 (HR 5/20).

In and out of hospitals for several years, Cash was battling Shy-Drager disease, a Parkinson's-like illness that attacks the nervous system and affects muscle control.

"We take solace in the knowledge that he is again reunited with his dearest companion, June," the Cash family said in a statement. "Our lives, and indeed the entire planet, will forever feel the emptiness of his loss, but his music and the greatness of his spirit will endure."

It was a solemn Friday in Nashville as the country music community mourned the loss of its brightest and most influential star.

Merle Kilgore, Cash's best man at his 1968 wedding to Carter and co-author of the hit "Ring of Fire," said: "It's a sad day in Tennessee but a great day in heaven. The Man in Black is now wearing white as he joins his wife June in the angel band."

Said Kenny Chesney: "To me, Johnny Cash was the original badass in music. Not just country music, but all music. Everybody strives to be universal, but he was the first one to make it so."

Cash's former son-in-law Rodney Crowell called him a "musical hero to millions, a trailblazing artist, humanitarian, spiritual leader and social commentator.

"I am deeply saddened by the loss of my children's grandfather and my very dear friend," he added. "I loved big John with all my heart."

Ray Charles said: "He made a giant contribution to music, not just country style, and his legacy speaks for itself. I will miss him dearly and will happily remember recently being included on his duets album and being a small part of his lofty and rich musical life. And, as we said on that album, we were just two crazy old souls fighting a war of our own."

A member of the Rock and Roll, Country Music and Songwriters halls of fame, Cash won 11 Grammy Awards during his five-decade career, including the Living Legends Award in 1990. He took home his last Grammy in February for best male country vocal performance for "Give My Love to Rose."

Cash was born Feb. 26, 1932, in Kingsland, Ark., to Southern Baptist sharecroppers. At 12, he was already playing guitar and writing songs. He performed on local radio stations throughout his high school years, and he joined the Air Force as a radio operator in Germany shortly after graduation. In 1954, he married Texan Vivian Liberto and settled in Memphis, where he attended radio announcers school on the GI Bill.

Cash soon began working with guitarist Luther Perkins and bassist Marshall Grant (who were nicknamed the Tennessee Two by Sam Phillips). In 1955 he was signed to Phillips' Sun label and released such hits as "Cry, Cry, Cry" and "Folsom Prison Blues." In 1956, Cash recorded his signature song "I Walk the Line." While at Sun, Cash worked with such greats as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.

Of his early Memphis recordings, Cash once said: "That music has got a simple beat people can relate to and a haunting quality that tries to go right to the gut and to the heart, and sometimes it does."

Cash's "Man in Black" nickname stems from his Grand Ole Opry debut in 1957. While the other country performers that night were decked out in rhinestone-studded, custom-made outfits, Cash took the stage in all black.

He headed west in 1958 to Ventura, Calif., signed with Columbia Records and began what would be a long history of alcohol and drug abuse. During the next few years, Cash released a slew of hits, including "Don't Take Your Guns to Town" and "Frankie's Man Johnny." By the mid-1960s, Cash had left his family and moved to New York. Drugs and alcohol began taking their toll on Cash's musical output as his releases slid down the charts. It was June Carter (who was then married to one of Cash's drinking buddies) and Kilgore who gave Cash another shot at the charts with their song "Ring of Fire." The song, recorded in 1963, went to No. 1.

By 1965, however, Cash had sunk deeper into addiction. He was arrested in El Paso, Texas, for trying to smuggle amphetamines out of Mexico in his guitar case. After a serious car accident and a near-fatal drug overdose, Liberto divorced Cash in 1966.

Cash packed up his bags and moved to Nashville, where he became very close to Carter, who was then divorced. She helped him get sober and inspired him to become a Christian fundamentalist. By the late 1960s, the two had recorded such hits as "Jackson," "Long-Legged Guitar Pickin' Man," a cover of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me, Babe" and Tim Hardin's "If I Were a Carpenter."

In 1968, Cash released the live album "Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison," which went on to sell millions, and the No. 1 country single "Folsom Prison Blues" crossed over to the pop charts. His follow-up album, "Johnny Cash at San Quentin," spawned a No. 2 pop single with "A Boy Named Sue."

By 1969, Cash's career was on track -- sales were strong, and he had his own TV series on ABC, "The Johnny Cash Show," which ran for two years. Also that year, Dylan asked him to sing the duet "Girl From the North Country" on "Nashville Skyline" and write the album's liner notes. The following year, Cash tried his hand at acting in "The Gunfight," with Kirk Douglas, and played for President Nixon at the White House.

During the early 1970s, Cash had hits with "Sunday Morning Coming Down," "Flesh and Blood" and "Man in Black." He also took on numerous civic causes and did campaigning for Native American rights and prisoners. Additionally, he was associated with evangelist Billy Graham's initiatives.

In 1980, Cash became the youngest inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame. But the '80s marked a rough career stretch for Cash as his record sales declined and his 25-year relationship with Columbia Records ended. He did have some success, however, with his Highwaymen group, also featuring of Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson.

"Johnny Cash has always seemed larger than life to me," Kristofferson said. "He is a true American hero, beloved the world over as much for his kindness and compassion and championing of the underdog as for the power of his art. He's been my inspiration, my faithful friend, my champion -- a constant oasis of unconditional love and support. His fierce independence and free spirit, balanced with his love of family, children and his fellow man, will stand as a shining example of the best of what it means to be human. And he was damn funny, even in the darkest times."

Cash continued to tour during the late 1980s, mostly with Carter Cash and her sisters Helen and Anita Carter. He also acted in a few Western films and TV shows.

Things began to turn around again in the 1990s. Cash was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and began attracting a younger audience beginning with a guest vocal with U2 on "The Wanderer," a track from the Irish band's "Zooropa" album.

After an unsuccessful record deal with Mercury Nashville, Cash signed with producer Rick Rubin's American Recordings in 1993. The debut album for the label, the stark and acoustic "American Recordings," earned Cash critical acclaim and a legion of alternative rock fans. Cash's second solo album for American, "Unchained," featured Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and won the Grammy for best country album.

"It is a profound blessing to have Johnny occupy such a large place in my life," Rubin said. "Our challenge is to listen to music with the same passion and emotion he put into making it."

Cash was diagnosed with Shy-Drager in 1997 after experience bouts of dizziness and tremors, and he retired from the road.

Last year, Cash released "American IV: The Man Comes Around" on American through Lost Highway. The album went gold in April, giving him his first gold record in 32 years.

Lost Highway chief Luke Lewis said: "Johnny Cash was one of the most amazing people to grace the Earth. His talents as a songwriter and an artist speak for themselves. I'm grateful to Rick Rubin for the opportunity to work with him and Johnny. ... He and Rick made beautiful music together."

"American IV" featured covers of such classics as Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," featuring Fiona Apple; Hank Williams' "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" featuring Nick Cave; and a cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt." Cash's version of "Hurt" became a runaway hit and was nominated for six MTV Video Music Awards. Because of his illness, Cash was unable to attend last month's ceremony and pick up his win for best cinemato-graphy.

Cash also was nominated this year for four Country Music Assn. Awards, which will be handed out in November. CMA executive director Ed Benson called Cash "an international ambassador for country music."

Shortly before his death, Cash was working on a new album.

Said George Jones: "I just went out and visited him a few weeks ago, and he looked so good and was busy recording new material. I know that the angels will sing today and heaven is a better place with the addition of Johnny Cash. I'm sure he is happier now that he is with his beloved June."

Of the funeral arrangements, Robin said: "In honor of the Cash family's privacy during these times, the decision has been made to hold private both the visitation and the funeral services. They wish to thank everyone for their prayers at this difficult time."

A memorial poem from Kristofferson to his longtime friend reads: "I love you, John/In the cold and holy darkness/You were always shining brighter than a star/God bless you, John/For the love and joy you've given/And the living inspiration that you are."

Reuters contributed to this report.