Mr. Gene Hartman as Johnny Cash
Mrs. Jenna Miller as June Carter Cash
June’s Got the Cash was formed by June Carter lead vocalist Jenna Miller in 2008. Ever since the movie “Walk the Line” came out she new she had to make this dream of hers a reality. Her vision was a “show band” but not just ANY show band…. A tribute to Johnny and June. Nearly 4 years later the band as seen nothing but success. ” I had no experience in running a band in fact I made a million mistakes. All I had to do was believe in me and believe this was going to happen. Sold out theaters, performances for our US Soldiers & captains, touring the Midwest… I couldn’t ask for anything more. My life is amazing! It’s an honor to play the lovely and talented June Carter Cash!” Back in 1999 Jenna debuted her first hit single “Love You More” with LMP Records. Jenna’s huckleberry humor and sweet songbird voice really come to life when singing with onstage hubby (Gene Hartman).
Gene Hartman is The Man In Black. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee now residing in Crystal Lake, Illinois; Gene lives the music of Johnny Cash and puts passion into every song he sings . Gene has been in previous country bands prior to JGTC and has a baritone voice like no other. “Close your eyes and just listen… Gene will tell you a story, take your breathe away, bring a tear to your eye and make you believe in God all in one song,” says onstage wife (Jenna Miller). Gene participates in the song writing community and his influences include Waylon, Hank JR and the outlaw movement. Gene loves the history, love, laughter and magic the show brings to their audiences.
Jenna uses a shure SM-58 microphone and a wireless shure. Gene uses a Gibson Songwriter Deluxe rhythm guitar, fender-acoustasonic amp, shure SM-58 microphone.
Thomas Swenson as Luther Perkins (Lead Guitar)
Thomas started playing music in clubs and at dances at the young age of 14 in Madison, WI. At the time, he was the youngest member of the local musician’s union. He performed w/ rock bands throughout the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. Thomas has a passion for song writing and instrumental music, and has operated a project studio for the past 10 years, working on music for films and TV. Thomas plays electric and acoustic guitars, bass, and mandolin. Musical influences include early rock and rockabilly artists, in particular, the Sun Records artist roster. Country and folk music, early instrumental rock music, and, the great jazz guitar players of the 50’s and 60’s are also strong influences. Thomas loves the Cash and Carter music and strives to perform the sonically innovative lead guitar lines of the great Luther Perkins with authenticity and honor.
Steve Justman as Marshall Grant (Bass)
Steve Justman is a lifelong Chicago area resident and has been a musician since age 12 when he started on guitar playing and singing folk music. By 16 he was also adept at playing banjo and bass and has been involved professionally in many areas of Americana music spanning into six decades. As a teen he was highly influenced by the country music coming out of both Nashville and Bakersfield from artists such as Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Bobby Bare, Buck Owens, and Merle Haggard.
From the late 70s to mid 80s Steve was the bassist in the Chicago area country-rock band Pony Express. Following that were projects in bluegrass on both banjo and bass. For about the last 10 years Steve has been also performing solo around the Chicago area. Performing with June’s Got The Cash has been a great opportunity to do something he really loves, and that is to play bass in a band doing the country music he loves.
Steve plays his 1978 Fender Precision Bass through a Gallien-Krueger amp.
Zac Dawson as W.S. Holland “Fluke” (Drums)
Zac is truly a drummer’s drummer. Born as Zachary Dawson he went from a humble trailer court home in rural Indiana to gracing the top stages in Chicago to touring North America with punk rock legends The Misfits. Never content with one style he has played reggae, funk, classic rock, blues, hip hop, metal, punk rock and now country. If fact you would be hard pressed to find a style he did not touch over the course of his 22 years of bashing the skins. Zac has graced the stages at the South by Southwest music festival in Memphis, The Congress Theater in Chicago, and opened up on national tours for The Misfits and The Adicts, in addition to local gigs for Night Ranger, Train, and Leslie West from Mountain. Never content to hold still and stagnate Zac has within the past 8 years moved into the production realm and recorded, mixed, and produced local Chicago artists in his home studio. In fact his first live band recording project resulted in a nationally released album Juicehead’s- “The Devil Made Me Do It”. Now he is exploring whole new sound in the country/rockabilly realm with Johnny Cash catalogue. In short Zac provides the rock solid beat that drives the June’s Got the Cash train.
Drums: 4 piece Gretsch Catalina Club Kit w/ green sparkle finish (13’rack tom, 16’floor tom, 26’bass and 14’snare) Cymbals: Zildjian 17’A custom projection crash,18’ A custom projection crash,20’Z custom ride,13’A/Z custom hi hats
