“HE just had a very special presence about him,” says Clive John the UK’s leading Johnny Cash impersonator who brings his successful tribute show to Aylesbury Waterside Theatre next month.
The act features hits from the 1950s to 2002 – including classics such as Ring of Fire, Walk the Line and the Johnny and June Carter duets – along with a giant video projection showing moments from the man in black’s life.
The tribute has proved extremely popular so far, and attracted many younger fans who were introduced to Cash’s music through the 2005 Hollywood film Walk The Line.
Clive says: “He appeals to a lot of people, I think, it is more than just a niche audience.
“But we are finding more and more people coming back because we have been touring now for two and a half years.
“We get a lot of people in their 30s and a big percentage in their 60s and early 70s.”
“When the Johnny Cash film came out, initially people wanted to see a copy of the film.
“But if people come looking to see Joacquin Phoenix or Reece Witherspoon then they are watching a tribute of a tribute.
“I try to create as accurately and respectfully as I can the songs of Johnny Cash
“He just had a very special presence about him, an individual uniqueness and an aura.
“He constantly toured, he did 300 shows a year every year for 40 years. So everywhere we go there is usually someone who comes up to you to say they have seen him perform.”
Clive is more than just a tribute artist, and has released seven albums.
“My solo work was nominated for best British country music in 2011 and one song was a ‘hot disc’ single of the year.
“I also play my own song The Spirit In the second half of the Johnny show.
“Critics have said ‘this is Johnny Cash only better, can you believe it’.
“It gives me a wonderful feeling of satisfaction because the show does take over my life and I work very hard at it.
“I travel the length and breadth of the UK – and those comments help make it all worthwhile.”
{http://www.johnnycashroadshow.com|The Johnny Cash roadshow visits Aylesbury Waterside Theatre on January 5, click here for the official website|more details here}