(PASO ROBLES, CA) – The California Mid-State Fair is pleased to announce that “The Man In Black” will be performing at the 2019 Fair on Friday, July 19, with performances at 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm. The concerts will take place on the Frontier Stage and will be free with paid Fair admission.
Born and raised in a working-class suburb of St. Louis, Shawn Barker took a schoolboy love for singing in church with his family and turned it into a career; a one-of-a-kind tribute to Johnny Cash, one of America’s greatest musical icons. Universally considered the pre-eminent Johnny Cash tribute artist, Barker has an uncanny resemblance to Cash. His strikingly similar looks, voice, and spot-on mannerisms revitalize the true character of Mr. Cash himself and have led Barker to an immensely successful career performing his tribute to the original “Man in Black.”
Barker’s path to his current success wasn’t a straight line from gospel choir. After serving his country in the Army, Barker came home to Missouri, took a job as a carpenter, and spent all of his free time learning to play the guitar. He developed strength and versatility in his voice by modeling his crooning on a cast of American legends- Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, and Gene Vincent. His performances quickly turned from hobby to profession, but oddly enough, Barker’s first touring gigs were portraying Elvis, not Johnny Cash. Everything changed, however, when Barker was asked to audition for the part of Cash in a Hollywood production, as it became evident to the director and Barker himself that Johnny Cash was his true calling. From that point on, there was no turning back.
The 2019 California Mid-State Fair runs July 17-28 and this year’s theme is “Let’s Have S’More Fun!” Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and YouTube.
