For the past 12 years, James Garner and his band have faithfully recreated Johnny Cash’s biggest hits with stunning accuracy.
“A Tribute to Johnny Cash” is set for 3 p.m. Jan. 12 at The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Garner previously performed at The Tarkington in September 2018.
The group plays all of Cash’s hits, such as “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Ring of Fire” and “I Walk the Line.”
Garner and his band have performed more than 500 professional shows, including a special concert at Folsom State Prison in 2008 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Cash’s famous live album recorded behind prison walls. On the 50th anniversary of Cash’s historic performance, Garner’s show, with special guest Tara Cash, Johnny Cash’s youngest daughter, returned to the city of Folsom for two sold-out concerts at the Harris Center for the Arts. The shows included songs from the “Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison” album and stories by Tara Cash about her legendary father.
In addition to performing across the United States, Garner’s group has released three full-length albums, making it the most recorded and published Johnny Cash tribute show in the nation. For Garner, the love of Cash music started at an early age.
“I started listening to Johnny Cash music when I was about 12 years old,” Garner stated. “The first song I heard by him was ‘Don’t Take Your Guns to Town’ and I was hooked. A few years later, I saw the ‘Man in Black’ in concert and got to meet him backstage following the show. Shaking hands with Johnny Cash is still the coolest experience I’ve ever had.”
