“Church of Cash” performing in Colfax at Cozy Theater September 21
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By LeAnn R. Ralph
COLFAX — “I Walk the Line” — “Folsom Prison Blues” — “Ring of Fire” — “A Boy Named Sue.”
Even if you are not a huge Johnny Cash fan, chances are, you’ve heard these songs.
The “Church of Cash,” a Johnny Cash tribute band, will be performing at the Colfax Municipal Building’s Cozy Theater on Saturday, September 21.
According to the “Church of Cash” website, “Whether you are an ‘ol timer (who) grew up listening to Mr. Cash in your tractor or a young soldier driving your tank across the deserts of the Middle East with the Man in Black in your headphones, the Church of Cash will bring his music, with style and energy, to fans everywhere.”
Church of Cash has performed all over the Midwest and out east in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. The band had performed internationally as well in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Troy Knutson, the events coordinator for the Colfax Municipal Building Restoration Group, says he is “always looking for different events” to bring to the municipal building’s Cozy Theater.
In a bygone era, when movies were shown in the auditorium on a regular schedule, the venue was known as the Cozy Theater, and Knutson says he likes to refer to the auditorium as the Cozy Theater as a way to tie together past history and current show events.
“I try to get a wide range of acts and events in hopes of bringing in more people,” Knutson said.
“With Colfax being an ‘older’ rural farming community, my thought is that people like classic country music, and the Church of Cash show will be just that kind of classic country music,” he said.
The Church of Cash performed at the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts in Menomonie earlier this year.
“I did not get over there to see the show, but I heard some very positive comments,” Knutson said.
“I am always looking for feedback on whether people like the events we are having, don’t like them, or what they would like to see,” he said.
Receiving feedback, it turns out, has been a little difficult.
“Our attendance has been very low, and we are not sure why. Any ideas or feedback is welcome,” Knutson said.
“It is such a grand building, and we just want to the building to be used,” he said.
During the past decade, the Colfax Municipal Building Restoration Group has spent well over $100,000 on upgrading the electrical system in the building, including new lighting for the auditorium, and on renovating the auditorium.
Johnny Cash
Music legend Johnny Cash was born in February of 1932 in Arkansas, the fourth of seven children. He died September 12, 2003, only four months after his wife, June Carter Cash, had passed away.
Known as one of the best-selling musicians of all time, Cash has sold more than 90 million records worldwide.
Although Cash is mostly remembered as a country music star, his songs cover many genres, including rock and roll, rockabilly, blues, folk and gospel.
Because of his musical versatility, Cash has been inducted into three Music Halls of Fame: Country Music, Rock and Roll and Gospel.
Cash was named J.R. Cash at birth. When he enlisted in the United States Air Force, he changed his name to John R. Cash. When he signed with Sun Records in 1955, he began using the name “Johnny Cash.”
Cash was 12 years old when he began playing and writing songs. His mother taught him how to play the guitar.
June Carter Cash died in May of 2003 at the age of 73.
After June’s death, during the last four months of his life, Johnny Cash continued to record music and completed another 60 songs.
Cash’s public image as “The Man in Black” was established by the early 1970s when he regularly performed dressed all in black, including a black, knee-length coat.
Cash said he dressed in black as a way of calling attention to the poor, prison inmates, the elderly, those addicted to drugs, and to show mourning for those lost in Vietnam.
Church of Cash
The Church of Cash performance at the Cozy Theater on Saturday, September 21, will begin at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m.
General admission is $15.
The event is sponsored by the Colfax Municipal Building Restoration Group and the Colfax Commercial Club, with concessions provided by the Commercial Club, including beer and wine.