Johnny and Dee in key: Rhythm Riders duo still impresses with Cash/Cline tribute

Johnny and Dee Price are excited to greet and entertain their hometown audience when The Rhythm Riders take the Placer High School stage to benefit Auburn State Theatre. The Rhythm Riders will perform Saturday, June 14, at the Placer High School Theater. Tickets are available at AuburnStateTheatre.org or call the State Theatre Box Office: 530-885-0156. Growing up in Auburn, Johnny and Dee spent a lot of time at the State Theatre. Johnny first attended the theatre when he was 5 years old and remembers it vividly: "The elementary school (now City Hall) was just down the street and we children walked to a Christmas program. I was awestruck by the beauty of the theatre with its chandeliers and red velvet curtain." Johnny Price's dream as a child was to perform music. He recounts that he used to play hooky from school to stay home alone and sing in front of a make-believe audience. In the course of time he went public, winning first place at an elementary school talent competition – to his parents' surprise. At 12 years old, he was transfixed when he first heard Johnny Cash on the radio. He started singing Cash songs with older neighbor kids who played music in their garage; a year later, he met his idol when Cash performed at Rocklin's Stardust Skating Rink. Price was hooked for life. "I loved him then, I love him now." Dee followed a similar path with Patsy Cline; she remembers, "I was 6 years old and sitting on my front steps when I heard 'Walking After Midnight.' I wanted to know who that was and to hear everything she did. Her delivery, she had a style that no one could touch. My mother sang at the NY Metropolitan Opera House and the only entertainer I ever picked up on that had tone, diction and everything she talked about was Patsy." It seemed destined for Johnny and Dee to meet. Dee tells the story: "Johnny was working with my brother at Cal Ida Lumber Mill and came over to show him a car he was selling. We caught each other's attention." They were soon harmonizing to the Byrds "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" recording. Reminiscing, they spontaneously break into an a capella rendition of "Blue Canadian Rockies" from that album. Johnny and Dee have sung together for 56 years now. They started The Rhythm Riders band shortly after Cash's death in 2003. Gaining the Cash estate's permission to record the songs, The Rhythm Riders recorded their first album at Memphis' famed Sun Records, where Cash got his start. Sun was impressed and did a write-up on them, which garnered considerable attention and eventually led to W.S. Holland, Johnny Cash's drummer for 37 years, joining The Rhythm Riders. Price still marvels: "I first met him in '61 at Rocklin. Who could know that he would someday be playing in my band?" Their first shows were two sold-out concerts at Placer High School and then, "The stars all aligned and we took off," performing at venues from the Phoenix Shriner's Auditorium to Camp Pendleton to Harrah's big room to the UK. They recall playing in Wales, "We were accompanied by a Welsh band who knew the music note for note, and the entire audience would be singing along. "We are overwhelmed with gratitude for all the experiences our music has given us. We've traveled the world but the most exciting shows we ever get to do are right here at home." Dee cuts in, "It's wonderful when it's your own hometown and of course we both go through wondering, 'Will more than seven or eight people show up?' We love them so much and of course the faces, so often, right up front, are so familiar, they never miss a show. We love meeting people after the show and have had so many incredible moments." Johnny and Dee agree, "We love everybody out there and encourage them to come out for a night of good music and support the State Theatre." THE RHYTHM RIDERS When: Saturday, June 14, 7 p.m.; doors open at 6:30. Where: Placer High School Theater, High and Agard streets, Auburn Reserved seating: $60 (includes $5 fees) Box office: AuburnStateTheatre.org or 530-885-0156