Johnny Cash, the King of Country, and Marvin Gaye, the Prince of Motown, come from different genres of musical royalty, but they had the same heart throb.
At least they do in the hands of Brian Owens, who will combine the music of both musical giants in his Thursday night concert at the Garner Performing Arts Center. The last time he was at the GPAC he focused on Gaye, who helped shape the sound of Motown.
This week, he is combining the sounds of Gaye with the music of Cash. To Owens, the two legendary entertainers often told the same message in different ways.
Rolling Stone magazine agrees.
Brian Owens played to a sold out crowd at GPAC 2017.
“Thanks to his passionate delivery and gift for interpretation, Owens successfully proves that the songs of Johnny Cash belong every bit in the soul canon as they do in country,” Rolling Stone wrote in October 2017.
The revelation of the link between Cash and Gaye came to Owens while studying the origins of Soul music. He was struck that Sam Cooke, who is called the King of Soul, and Cash had a shared inspiration.
“Sam Cooke and Johnny Cash grew up singing beneath the cross of Christ,” Owens said. “That was the starting place for both of them.”
From those similar roots, they followed different paths, helping to create distinctive sounds that out-lived either of them.
The lyrics that Cash sang and the music he played touched Owens. Owens was doing a tribute concert in St. Louis a few years ago. In addition to singing the songs of Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye and Otis Redding, Owens wanted to include Cash’s “Walk the Line” in his set.
Owens decided to sing Cash’s songs an octave higher and add his on groove to the music.
The reaction of audiences convinced Owens that he wasn’t the only one who could see the connections between the King and the Prince.
Owens said that at the GPAC, you’ll hear “Ring of Fire” and “What’s Going On.” “Mercy Me” and “Man in Black.” “Walk the Line” and “How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You.”
It all comes together to him.
Owens told Rolling Stone, “‘Folsom Prison’ is a blues song. ‘Sunday Morning Coming Down’ speaks to his ability to interpret the work of others. And ‘The Man in Black’ is the quintessential biographical song. This is why I do the things I do – I identify with every single line in that song.”
Owens will be accompanied by his musicians, The Deacons of Soul.
Brian Owens
Thursday, Sept. 12
7:30pm
$28 advance, $33 at door
Or Box Office: 919-661-4602 Tuesday – Thursday 1:30-5pm