a
vid James always liked Johnny Cash but he didn’t live and breath the singer until he saw Walk The Line.
“It wasn’t until I saw the movie that I got really interested and I realized that I could mimic him rather well,” said the Nanaimo-based performer.
Now James has been dubbed North America’s favourite Johnny Cash tribute act and he and his group Big River have performed to sold out crowds around Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C, among other places.
David James and Big River, along with Patsy Cline impersonator Bonnie Kilroe, will be performing the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre Feb. 18 in a show called Country Legends.
James was a lead guitarist playing rock n’ roll covers when he discovered his talent for portraying Johnny Cash. Now he takes on Cash’s persona, not only singing like him but mimicking his mannerisms as well.
James will be accompanied by his three-piece band and together they’ll rock the Cash favourites like Folsom Prison Blues, Ring of Fire and Walk the Line.
James’ partner in crime at the Country Legends show, Bonnie Kilroe, has been receiving high praise for her one-woman show Divas-Vegas meets Vaudeville for years. In that show she impersonates Cher, Madonna, Dolly Parton and Patsy Cline, among many other larger-than-life characters.
The Vancouver-based performer has been a huge Patsy Cline fan since she was young and portrays the star with passion and enthusiasm in her interactive show.
To top off the Country Legends show, Nanaimo’s Aleah Zado will sing as June Carter. The 20-year-old has performed with James in this role before.
Tickets for Country Legends are $35 available at local Mulberry Bush Bookstores. The show starts at 7:30.
For more on James visit www.johnnycashtribute.ca, for more on Kilroe visit www.celebrity-imposters.com.