WEXT Radio interview Dave Michaels with Harold Ford as Johnny Cash Tribute Artist

– May 19, 2010 transcript

Dave: 97.70 XT I’m Dave Michaels and there you go, The Man In Black here in spirit and boy this guy right here. This is Harold Ford and The Cash Band. Harold plays Johnny Cash and does a really really good job. Harold thanks for dropping by here today.

Harold: Well its fun. I’m glad to have the opportunity to do it.

Dave: Can you do that just one more time? Say “Hello I’m Johnny Cash”

Harold: “Hello I’m Johnny Cash”

Dave: Wow, he doesn’t have to push that, it just comes naturally. Sounds like you have been playing Johnny Cash all your life. A friend of yours a little over a year ago talked you into an open mic, is that true?

Harold: Yes, that’s true. Actually our business manager and fiancé, she really had to get on me to go up there. I mean I said yes and I thought she would forget it and she didn’t so she got me again and I said okay okay and I thought she would forget it and she didn’t, so finally an open mic came and she said “you’re going.” So I said okay so I did, then everything started to happen.

Dave: What was the reaction and why did you choose Johnny Cash?

Harold: I don’t think I did. I think she did. She said do a couple of those Johnny Cash songs.

Dave: What was the reaction that night?

Harold: Of the crowd? Uh, well I noticed they really got into it. I mean their hands were clapping and their feet were stomping and we had the people from downstairs come upstairs and I was thinking to myself “hey, this isn’t bad.”

Dave: Did you always get that reaction? You played guitar before you got a band together. You have always played music.

Harold: I have played for pleasure and for families. I always had a good reaction. But this seemed like a hand in a glove situation where I really got a lot more reaction than I thought I would get.

Dave: For those people at home; Harold you are not an impersonator. But you really do channel the spirit of Johnny Cash in everything he embodies from you know, his movements and gestures and his stage presence and boy you just sound just like him. It’s amazing.

Harold: Thank you

Dave: Johnny Cash was truly a legend and there are so many people out there who didn’t get a chance to see him in concert and you are the next closest thing. You really embody everything that Johnny was and when you have Lucy up there singing, it’s really just a great connection you two have.

Harold: Thank you.

Dave: Checking out your performance it is just like watching Johnny Cash and the Band play. Really great stuff you don’t want to miss these guys. Well we wish you the very best in the future and thanks for coming on in.

For more information visit Johnny Cash Impersonator Harold Ford at his website:
thejohnnycashband.com

Learn more about Harold Ford:
Harold Ford’s Johnny Cash Impersonator Profile

Follow Harold Ford & The Spirit of Johnny Cash concert schedule at:
http://www.thejohnnycashband.com/show-schedule/