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Hello, he's Johnny Combs.
The real Man in Black has moved on to that big Folsom Prison in the sky, but Johnny Combs stills hears that train a comin'.
Combs is a Johnny Cash tribute performer who sings uncannily like the leather-faced, bass-and-baritone-voiced Cash, who made an indelible mark on American country music with treasures like "I Walk the Line," "Ring of Fire" and "Jackson," which he sang with his wife, June Carter Cash.
"I've pretty much devoted my life to performing Johnny Cash songs," Combs said in a telephone interview with the Kenosha News.
A Cincinnati resident who was born in West Virginia, Combs retains the southern drawl.
"I started playing his songs when I was in the Army, and I realized my voice sounded just like his," said Combs.
"So I would play Johnny Cash songs constantly," he said. "I was so serious about it I would not play my guitar unless I was dressed in black. It was like I was putting myself in the spirit of things, so I could get the feel."
Combs spent 11 years in the Army, and after he got out and returned to Cincinnati he began playing Cash songs publicly at, contrastingly enough, area honky-tonks and churches.
The recently retired school custodian has played Cash tribute shows for more than two decades, performing songs from all periods of Cash's life. He's doing some touring, and will appear for the second time at the Brat Stop on Saturday, Feb. 17.
Intriguingly, Combs met Cash in the early 1980s when the country icon was filming a TV movie, "The Pride of Jesse Hellam," in Cincinnati.
"I was dressing in black and had my big Johnny Cash International Fan Club button on," Combs said. "I told him I played nothing but his songs."
Cash autographed Combs' guitar, then made a surprising, and somewhat ironic, comment.
"He told me to be myself," Combs said.
For the next few years, Combs wrestled with exactly what Cash meant. And finally he came to terms with it.
"When I sing Johnny Cash songs I am being myself," he said. "I can sing Ricky Nelson or Fats Domino songs – and I'll sound like Johnny Cash singing Ricky Nelson or Fats Domino songs. That's my natural voice."
Combs, who performs with a backup band, is completing a CD of original songs, which he expects to release soon.
"So it's kind of come full circle," he said. "I sound like Johnny Cash naturally, and I'm recording my own songs. I'm being myself and at the same time I'm carrying on the Johnny Cash tradition."
Still, sometimes he feels like a musical medium.
"I feel like his spirit is with me when I'm on stage," Combs said. "It's almost like he's doing the show instead of me – he's working through me to get his songs out."
Stopping by to see what’s new, say hello, and wish that you’ll have a fantastic week.
"A hundred times a day I remind myself that my inner and outer life depends on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the measure as I have received and am still receiving." ** Albert Einstein
___________________Hello ___________________Ninure __________________Has Come ________________To Wish You _______________Merry Christmas ______________And Also, A Happy _____________New Year To You For ____________2009... I Hope The New ___________Year Brings You Loads Of __________Happiness And Good Health. _________I Hope You Have a Truly Jolly ________Christmas Day, Filled With Lots Of _______Family Time.....And Of Course Eating ______Lots Of Food, And Good Music. I Hope _____That Santa Is Good To You As Well And He ___Brings You Loads OfPresantsOnChristmasDay _________________.*(¨..•.•..¨)..•.¸ ______________...•.¸.(¨..•.•..¨) ..•.¸. ________. ?..•.¸.•..?. (¨..•.•..¨)..•.¸..•.¸ _________________. .(¨..•.•..¨). .?..•.¸. _________________,??..•.¸.•..?? ...•. ¸
My friend, the late great Jimmy Mc Nealy (former drummer for Wizard and the Sonny Moorman Group) passed on around this time of year, and I was thinking about him today. Jimmy's normal drink set-up was a shot of Beam and a Bud. So join with me in saying "Jimmy, this Bud's for you!" *** for those who aren't familiar with Jimmy's work, go track down a copy of Sonny Moorman's "Telegraph Road" CD. Jimmy does some awesome drum work on that recording, and his Irish tenor pipes are given a good workout, too. Check out, "Metal Cowboy Blues" for some phenomenal drum work, and Sonny and Jimmy's duo "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby" where Jimmy croons with that Irish tenor like a bird.
Sometimes I still can't believe he's gone...a good friend, and one hell-uv-a nice guy, too! I'm sure he's up there playing that "Great gig in the sky...".
Hey Just dropping in to say hello and let you know about my Next Show w/The Little River Band May 3rd at Myrtle Beach House Of Blues in North Myrtle Beach SC Jeff The Little River Band-total record sales around the world have eclipsed the 25 million mark. 16 hit singles by 1985, as well as gold, platinum, and multi-platinum album sales awards. All-told LRB have notched up eight top 10 singles in the US.I hope to see yall at this INSANE SHOW!!!! For tickets go to www.hob.com/myrtlebeach
Hey Just dropping in to say hello, and thanks so much for having me as a myspace friend and let you know about my next shows.I hope to see you at a show soon. Jun 5 6:P The Vine Coffeehouse (Acoustic Show) MB Jun 12 9:P Princess Carma Benefit in Lugoff South Carolina Tickets 803-408-0550 Jun 13 8:P HOUSE OF BLUES /w COLT FORD MBeach SC Tickets Call 843-272-3000 Jun 14 8:P TBA-Carolina Entertainment Complex Marion Jun 27 8:P Conway Chamber Of Commerce Around The Fourth Jul 3 9:P Beach Wagon Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Jul 4 9:P Beach Wagon Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Jul 17 8:P Now Booking This Date Call 843-450-0171 Jul 18 8:P Now Booking This Date Call 843-450-0171 Jul 25 8:P KOA KOUNTRY KAMPER ROUND-UP MB SC Aug 1 9:P TBA Lugoff/Camden South Carolina Aug 8 8:P TBA Carolina Entertainment Complex MotoJam
Hey just dropping by to let you know we have a new song up on our page called "Dont blame me" Also to show you our video clip of 'Wonderland" I hope you enjoy them !! Now you can download Sidewalk gray songs from itunes,Amazon,Emusic,Napster or Rhapsody
Cheers
SIDEWALK GRAY ps Heres the link to our music at Rhapsody and itunes
I have Backers muscular dystrophy do not know how long I have to live I'm trying to get million friends for Disabled Civil Rights cause goal and short video Added me to your top friends please. Goal to have the Supreme Court Olmstead decision 6 to 3 Law enforced and have community-based programs for all who qualify for med waiver and consumer directed care which will save the taxpayers approximately 50% and provide opportunities for jobs instead of having disabled institutionalized or a nursing home. Also the George W. Bush presidential Executive Order 13217.Which means it has been designated a nationwide problem! To be Moses for all disabled people to remove the yoke the burden on our disabled back and set disabled people free.Keep Rock 'n rolling on!
“GAME OVER” for Cup & Saucer Café Current mood: melancholy Category: Life
We regret to announce the closing of Cup & Saucer Café after three and a half years in business. Call 513-544-7017 for information on buying the business. It was a good run for a mom & pop business, longer than many expected, especially considering that Marcy had a stroke just one month after we started. We had a lot of nice employees, customers, and entertainers but there were too many factors working against us. Maybe we’ll write a book about it when things calm down, but basically we had too many expenses, not enough income, and way too much stress. Health problems are the primary cause of failure of small business, and we had to bail out before it killed one or both of us. So everybody take care while we do the same. Some day we’ll get back to making Marcy Burgers, presenting great performers and taking photos of them. In the meantime keep in touch. We’d love for you to share your memories of Cup & Saucer and we’d also love to hear about your progress, especially if you got your start on our stage. Please leave comments on our page so everyone can share.
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melancholy 
