Shawn Barker wasn乌鸦传媒檛 born to play Johnny Cash 乌鸦传媒� but you乌鸦传媒檇 be forgiven for thinking otherwise.
The St. Louis native, who once sang gospel in church with his family and worked as a carpenter after serving in the U.S. Army, now sells out theatres around the world with The Man in Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash.
Barker is bringing his one-of-a-kind tribute show to Kelowna, and fans of Cash and classic country in general can expect an energetic journey through the life and music of one of America乌鸦传媒檚 greatest icons.
乌鸦传媒淲ith his strikingly similar looks, baritone voice, and spot-on mannerisms, Barker has become known as the preeminent Johnny Cash tribute artist,乌鸦传媒� a media release for the event states.
Since launching the show in 2004, Barker has performed over 1,000 times in 12 countries, from Europe and Australia to across Canada and the U.S.
The concert walks audiences through the various eras of Cash乌鸦传媒檚 career, featuring favourites like Folsom Prison Blues, I Walk the Line, Ring of Fire, Hurt, and A Boy Named Sue. A full band backs Barker, who stays in character throughout the performance.
Barker乌鸦传媒檚 musical journey mirrors Cash乌鸦传媒檚 in more ways than one. Both men grew up in working-class families, sang in church, served their country, and developed their distinctive voices by modelling themselves after musical giants.
Barker乌鸦传媒檚 path to becoming Johnny Cash wasn乌鸦传媒檛 straightforward. In fact, his first gigs on the road were portraying Elvis Presley.
But in 2004, during an audition for the Broadway show Million Dollar Quartet, director Floyd Mutrux saw something else in Barker.
乌鸦传媒淲e have 100 people who can play Elvis, but we only have one who can play Johnny Cash, and that乌鸦传媒檚 Shawn,乌鸦传媒� Mutrux said.
Barker took the part and has never looked back.
According to the late W.S. 乌鸦传媒淔luke乌鸦传媒� Holland, Cash乌鸦传媒檚 longtime drummer, Barker乌鸦传媒檚 performance is the real deal.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 exactly like The Johnny Cash Show from the 1960s,乌鸦传媒� Holland once said. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 amazing. When I saw it, it was like I was starting all over again.乌鸦传媒�
The Man in Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash takes place at Revelry Food + Music Hub on Saturday, Aug. 16.
Tickets are available through .
