Johnny Cash comes back to life when Centrestage presents its tribute to the popular country icon in the show Walk the Line at Old Grey on Friday and Saturday, January 11 and 12.
Although primarily remembered as a country music icon, the genre-spanning songs and sound of the “Man in Black” embraced rock and roll, rockabilly, blues, folk and gospel.
The show celebrates the reuniting of Lionel Hunt with Hugo Kleinhans and Megan du Toit, the latter two having returned to the Centrestage fold after the last year spent seeing the world, performing as a duo on various luxury cruise liners.
Two sides of the enigmatic, rebellious legend are presented by long-time Cash fans Kleinhans and Hunt, both suited for emulate the deep bass baritone's vocal timbre – and both are also superb acoustic and electric guitarists.
Hunt, well known nationally as a top-notch Elvis impersonator, comes in from his home in Port Alfred for the performance.
Vocalist and keyboard player Du Toit features as Cash’s second wife, long-time love interest and oft-times singing partner June Carter.
The double bass also takes pride of place as Andrew Warneke plays the upright fretless instrument which was so central to the late 1950s Tennessee Three rockabilly sound.
The lineup is completed by Kevin Mattheus on drums.
The show takes in some 38 classic Cash songs, including hits played in his famous free prison concerts such as Walk the Line, Ring of Fire, Get Rhythm, Boy Named Sue, I Got Stripes, San Quentin and Folsom Prison Blues.
Duets include the likes of the popular Jackson, It Ain’t Me Babe, Long Legged Guitar Pickin’ Man, I Got a Woman and Time’s a Wastin’.
Covers done in his own inimitable style include I Won’t Back Down, 16 Tons and Solitary Man, while Cash’s association with other top country names in their super-group The Highwaymen also spawned new renditions of hits such as Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys, The Gambler, Me and Bobby McGee, On the Road Again, Help Me Make it Through the Night and Ghost Riders in the Sky.
Cash is one of the best-selling musicians s of all time, having sold more than 90 million records worldwide.
His crossover appeal won him the rare honour of being inducted into the Country Music, Rock and Roll and Gospel Music Halls of Fame.
Tickets cost R160 (R140 each for eight or more), with pensioners’ tickets costing R140 (R120 each for eight or more), and are available through Wendy on 082-661-6921 or at Computicket.