Johnny Cash Tribute Bands Becoming Increasingly Popular
Last Sunday afternoon, my special friend, Debbie, and I had an enjoyable date. We attended a James Garner “Johnny Cash tribute band” concert at an age 55-plus community in Mission Viejo called Palmia, where Debbie lives. The event wasn’t open to the public. It was held in the cozy Palmia Ballroom, which seats approximately 250 people.
Sheila, one of my readers who also lives in Palmia and knows through my previous columns that I was a friend of Johnny Cash and worked with him for three years in the 1970s, alerted me about the concert coming there. I mentioned the concert to Debbie, who entered her name in a ticket-lottery drawing; Debbie scored tickets for us.
It was the third Johnny Cash tribute band concert she and I had attended in the past six months. I love Johnny’s music, and I enjoy seeing how well these musicians emulate the real Johnny that I knew.
In September, we saw the The Man in Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. That show was awesome. There were lots of standing ovations. Debbie, our friend Jim, and I got to meet Shawn, aka Johnny Cash, and his band members before the show.
In January, Debbie and I saw Johnny Cash – The Official Concert Experienceat the Segerstrom Theatre in Costa Mesa, which included full-screen videos from Johnny’s television show with the tribute band playing along. It was breathtaking. When this show returns to Segerstrom, it’s a must-see for Johnny Cash fans.
I first met James Garner and his band members four years ago, when they performed at Soka University in Aliso Viejo. At that time, I signed copies of my book, Prime Rib & Boxcars. Whatever Happened To Victoria Station? for each band member, because the book explains my relationship with Johnny and describes his unique personality. He was a kind and gentle man.
I’ve stayed in touch with James Garner since, but last Sunday was the first opportunity I’ve had to see him in person again.
James, drummer Nick, bass player Chris and guitar player Reggie were flawless, breathtaking, mesmerizing, and the acoustics were perfect in that small Palmia ballroom.
James has mastered Johnny’s mannerisms. He chokes up and strums the neck of his guitar like Johnny did and even blinks his eyes like Johnny did. His voice sounds like Johnny’s.
Every song had a memory attached to it for me.
James knocked the song “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” written by his friend Kris Kristoffersen, out of the park. That song is significant to me because Johnny dedicated it to me at the Sahara Tahoe Resort Hotel Ballroom in 1976.
“Folsom Prison Blues” also had special meaning to me as Johnny took me into San Quentin Prison for a concert with him in 1977, and many memories from that day came floating back to me. When James sang “A Boy Named Sue,”I flashed back to when Johnny sang that song at San Quentin, and the inmates went crazy.
After the show, James met with Debbie and me for 20 minutes. I signed two more books for the new band members.
All attendees were seniors. But they didn’t act like it. They were hootin’ and hollerin’ like teeny boppers and on their feet loving the music. At least 45 of them came up to James after the concert to praise him and the band for an electrifying performance. And James was gracious to each one of them.
Why the upsurge of popularity for Johnny Cash, 21 years after he and his wife June Carter had died? Debbie surmised that the older generation has passed down their love of Johnny and his music to their kids and grandkids, so a much younger generation likes his music also. But this day was for seniors. If you get a chance to see one of these Johnny Cash tribute bands, do it.
Tom Blake is a retired Dana Point business owner and resident who has authored books on middle-aged dating. See his website at findingloveafter50.com. To comment: tompblake@gmail.com.