Feature Article December 4, 2003
LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb HomeJohnny Cash lives on in the music of Randy Kay
When Johnny Cash died a few months ago, fans of Country music mourned the loss of a powerful musical force.
For musician Randy Kay, who lives on the Brewer Road near Sharbot Lake, the loss was a bit more personal. Although Randy says he was not a close personal friend of Johnny Cash, he did meet Johnny on a few occasions, was invited backstage before and after concerts.
For
many years, while I was living in Mississauga, I would go to any
Johnny Cash concert within 100 miles of the city.
Randy Kay moved to his home on Brewer Road in 1989 after selling a profitable trucking business. He has been working as a musician in the intervening years, writing his own songs and performing the old-tyme country repertoire as well. Recently he has been putting together a recording project that was meant as a recognition of the influence Johnny Cashs music has had for him. The project includes a number of Cashs songs as well as some Randy Kay originals.
All of this planning changed in late October, when Randy was invited to Hamilton to audition for a part in a tribute group to the Highwaymen, a super group that toured in the early 80s and produced three recordings. The group was made up of Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash.
The audition went extremely well, and Randy Kay was hired to play Johnny Cash. The group performed at Woodbine Raceway/Casino for four days in November to enthusiastic audiences, and the management company that put the show together is preparing to send The Highwaymen across Canada and into the United States next year.
Its been quite a ride, says Randy Kay of the experience so far. When Randy Kay was hired, The Highwaymen management didnt only get a performer who could look and sound like Johnny Cash, they also got access to Kays knowledge of Cash and the history of country music.
They were originally going to make me look like Johnny Cash did when he was in his late 30s, when he had a bit of a bouffant hairdo. But when the Highwaymen were active, Cash was in his early 50s, was losing his hair, and he looked at least as old as he was.
I showed them some of the material from the Highwaymen, including photographs, and they decided to make me up to look like Johnny the way he looked at the time of the Highwaymen, Randy Kay said.
