Seattle - November 12, 2007

A Boy Named Who?

Vince Mira, a.k.a. “Juanny Cash”

In a former life, you were a soul singer or a Grand Ole Opry star.

Too bad in this one you’re nothing but karaoke roadkill. (Karma’s a bitch).

Drown your sorrows and live vicariously through Vince Mira, a 15-year-old whose voice eerily evokes the late, great Johnny Cash.

Mira, who grew up listening to “Ring of Fire,” was discovered by Can Can owner Chris Snell while the boy was busking in the market. Call it divine intervention or a freak of nature, but he has star-quality presence and his idol’s freight train pipes.

He performs Cash’s songs under the stage name Juanny Cash, but the kid’s more than just a knockoff. He recently recorded with Cash’s son, John Carter Cash, and was tapped by Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard for a forthcoming Hank Williams Sr. tribute album.

We predict his Tuesday night shows will soon be crawling with talent scouts.

So keep your eye on the man in back.

Catch Juanny Cash on Tuesdays, 8 p.m., at Can Can, 94 Pike Street (206-652-0832); online at myspace.com/juannycashmusic.

  Music