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Dear Johnny,
First of all, I want to thank you and the band for your professionalism in booking the shows and getting right back to me with all of the information I requested. I also appreciated your friendly attitudes, making your band one of the easiest and most pleasant to deal with. I want to tell you that I was very excited anticipating having the CASH KINGS on the entertainment roster this year at the San Diego County Fair. Everyone seems very into Johnny Cash right now on the heels of the movie and so forth.
Well, I must say that you guys really delivered a superb, first class, Johnny Cash tribute. Your look, the song choices, and the way you guys sounded just like Johnny Cash and his band, was truly amazing! You definitely exceeded all of my and my staff’s expectations.
The stage manager and others told me that during your show we had more spectators for your band than for any other band on that stage. I think we may have to put you guys on a bigger stage next year if you can come back. I also received many good reports from the vendor booths surrounding the stage that they and their customers thoroughly enjoyed your show from start to finish.
Once again it was a pleasure working with you again this year and I look forward to seeing you and the Cash Kings back in 2007.
Sincerely,
Will McClatchy
Entertainment Director
San Diego County Fair
- Reference letter
Discography
CASH KINGS Promo EP, featuring seven of Johnny Cash's best known and most popular hits. Look for and listen to the "CASH KINGS 7 Medley" in our EPK audio section for a sample of these vintage style sound recordings. These recording sessions were initially captured on old fashioned analog tape the same way Johnny Cash recorded his first hits in the 1950's & 60's. Through this recording technique a warmer more authentic sound is produced. Most folks wouldn't notice, but we know and can hear the difference. It's this attention to detail that makes the CASH KINGS a cut above when you're considering a Johnny Cash Tribute Band.
Please email us if you are considering booking the CASH KINGS Johnny Cash Tribute Band, and we will be happy to send you a copy of this promo CD. Be sure to include your NAME, MAILING ADDRESS, COMPANY, EVENT TYPE, & PHONE NUMBER.
Photos
Bio
CASH KINGS
Johnny Cash Tribute Band
BAND BIO
On September 12th, 2003, we all lost one of the Greatest American musical legends and a Great American in the passing of JOHNNY CASH. His voice, integrity, songwriting skill, charm, and devotion to God and Country will be greatly missed the world over.
Although we can't bring him back, we can celebrate his life and musical legacy through the performances of the CASH KINGS Johnny Cash Tribute Band. The CASH KINGS honor the Man In Black's musical legend by recreating the biggest hits and best loved songs of Johnny Cash's career. Every effort is made to remain true to the original spirit, look, recordings, keys, arrangements, and live performance energy! The band is currently based in San Diego, California and is available to perform throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan.
Johnny G. d'Artenay- Lead vocals, acoustic guitar
The leader, and front man, for the CASH KINGS is the six foot four inch tall Johnny G. d'Artenay. Johnny G. has been professionally playing and singing Johnny Cash tunes for the past fifteen years. As one of the lead vocalists and a founding member of the award winning San Diego Rockabilly band, Hot Rod Lincoln (HRL), he was constantly approached by fans who told him that the highlight of their evening was his vocal renditions of the Johnny Cash classics that HRL performed. Such enthusiastic and continued support was enough encouragement to do the obvious, and form a top-notch Johnny Cash Tribute Band!
The path to the goal is not always straight forward, and being an in-demand sideman for many great artists delayed the fruition of Johnny G's dream. However, working with artists such as Billy Lee Riley, Brian Setzer, Lee Rocker, Billy Zoom, Robert Gordon, The Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash, and Chuck Berry were invaluable experiences that provided insight and credibility to Johnny G's musical career. Through the many musical projects that Johnny G. has been a part of, he was finally able to find like-minded musicians to take on this recreationist approach to help make the CASH KINGS a uniquely authentic entertainment experience.
Hal "Junior" Smith * Drums, backing vocals
Award-winning Traditional jazz and American roots music drummer Hal "Junior" Smith took up drumming in 1963. His discography includes more than 160 recordings and performances with the likes of The Carl Sonny Leyland Trio, Yerba Buena Stompers, James Harman, Nathan James and Ben Hernandez, and many more. Junior and Johnny G. had been performing together in their roots country band, Big Rig Deluxe, for a few months, when one night after a show a rabid fan's ravings about their Johnny Cash covers prompted Johnny G. to share his aspirations to form a top-notch Johnny Cash Tribute Band. Junior immediately exclaimed "ALL ABOARD THE OLD 97 EXPRESS!" As an avid railroad enthusiast, Junior was excited about the many classic Johnny Cash railroad songs to be performed. He promptly claimed the drumming position as his own. At this point the band still did not have a name, but within a few days, Junior suggested The CASH KINGS, and the name stuck.
Jon Harford * Electric & acoustic guitar, backing vocals
The simplistically elegant guitar lines of Luther Perkins, Johnny Cash's formative guitarist, would require a dedicated and spot-on electric guitarist. Johnny G. and Junior knew one prime candidate in Big Rig Deluxe six foot five inch tall guitarist, Jon Harford. However, they ruminated that he might have been already spoken for considering his involvement in no less than five other projects ranging from western swing and jazz, to leading an eight piece Motown and soul revue called SmokeStaxx. Jon very soon got wind of the project and immediately tossed in his anti as lead guitar picker and backing vocalist. Jon's highly acute musical ears have been essential in discerning the subtleties and nuances of those original Johnny Cash Sun and Columbia recordings. Jon and Johnny G. have painstakingly spent many hours pouring over what may seem to the casual observer to be simple country ditties, and attempted to capture the character and essence that made each song special in its own right. And there will be no doubt in any audience's mind why this band chose "Kings" as part of their moniker when they're faced with theses two tall titans of roots country music.
Katie Cavera * Upright & electric bass, backing vocals
There was one more fundamental player that The CASH KINGS had yet to secure: a bassist that could play upright and electric, as well as sing. Although the band tried several great players, they all had other previous or more pressing commitments. Junior had worked with international traditional jazz star and multi-instrumentalist Katie Cavera in his highly successful "Hal's Angels" project and hoped she would bring her sunny disposition and her deft upright bass slapping to complete the CASH KINGS line up. He introduced her to Johnny G. at a mus
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