Walking the line

Cash impersonator says it's a privilege to portray the music legend

SPECIAL TO VIEWJohnny Cash tribute artist Shawn Barker will perform this weekend at Santa Fe Station. Advertisement

The distinctive sound and style of country music rebel Johnny Cash catapulted the troubled star into the ranks of American music iconography in the late 1950s, where he rested comfortably until his death in 2003 -- and according to tribute artist Shawn Barker, Cash's influence will be felt for generations.

"I want to help keep the tradition of his music and the essence of what he stood for going strong," Barker said. "There's something about the lyrics and melodies of his songs that touch people. He was a pioneer early on ... singing and writing about things that nobody else would touch."

Barker will perform his Johnny Cash tribute, "Man in Black" at 7 and 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Chrome Showroom at Santa Fe Station.

"I've been playing Johnny Cash for almost two years now," Barker said. "The one thing I can tell you about the man as an artist and as a human being is that he was soulful, and it's a privilege to play him."

The task of recreating Cash's music and mannerisms has been a process for Barker, one that took great attention to detail and nuance.

"It's a constant progression," he said. "I look very much as he did when he was a young man at Sun Records, and I think that partly is what sets this show apart from others like it. While I do try to give the audience an accurate recreation of the Johnny Cash experience, you won't see me age throughout the show. It is an impersonation, but the ideology behind this production is different than others that I've seen."

The show features songs from throughout Cash's career.

"We include everything from what people call the prison songs, tunes like 'Folsom Prison Blues,' up to the Soundgarden cover he did well into his 70s," producer Kurt Brown said.

According to Brown, audiences can expect an emotional and authentic recreation of Cash's music.

"The show was designed to take people on a musical journey," Brown said. "It will make you smile. It will make you cry. And at times it will seem surreal because Shawn is just amazing in this role. But audiences will leave feeling as though they have just taken part in something very special."

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door.