Log in

Touring performer keeps alive Johnny Cash’s music, spirit

Scott Moreau scheduled to bring tribute show to Peoria

Posted 12/14/20

Live performers no doubt are looking forward to brighter days in 2021, and that definitely includes Scott Moreau.

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor

Touring performer keeps alive Johnny Cash’s music, spirit

Scott Moreau scheduled to bring tribute show to Peoria

Posted

Live performers no doubt are looking forward to brighter days in 2021, and that definitely includes Scott Moreau.

A native of Litchfield, Maine, Mr. Moreau has seen his performing career take him from his home state to Osaka, Japan, in productions ranging from “Oliver!” to “Guys and Dolls” and to portraying Johnny Cash on the first national tour of the Tony-award winning musical “Million Dollar Quartet.”

The music of Johnny Cash has always hit a high note for Mr. Moreau.

“I was working at record store in my home state of Maine called Bull Moose Music in the early 2000s when a coworker said he had something to play me in the store,” he recalled over email, adding that he had grown up with the music of his parents’ era like Johnny Horton, The Everly Brothers, The Beatles, and, in his words, “a bit of Johnny Cash.”

“(My coworker) mentioned Johnny, and I said that I didn’t like country music at all (because I am NOT a fan of ‘modern’ country). He said that I should give it a try….I still don’t remember if it was ‘American Recordings’ or ‘Unchained (American II)’, but it didn’t matter; I was totally hooked. I bought that record when I left work that day, bought ‘American IV’ when it came out, and then just started buying all of his back catalogue in an obsessive way.”

His career blossomed into starring in tribute shows to celebrate and keep alive the music and spirit of The Man In Black.

He’s scheduled to bring his tribute show, “Walkin’ The Line,” to Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria, from Friday, Jan. 29 through Feb. 21. Tickets are tentative, waiting to see if coronavirus precautions prevent the event.

That’s been a familiar refrain for Mr. Moreau in an unpredictable 2020.

“To be honest, all of my bookings are gone,” he said. “To date, I’ve lost about seven months of shows that I had booked, whether it be the musicals I generally perform or my Johnny Cash tribute shows. I’ve lost thousands of dollars, my health insurance…it’s been extremely bleak.”

He had just finished a week of performing in San Antonio and south Texas when the shutdown initially happened, although Mr. Moreau did get married in September, “which has really been the only bright point in 2020” he adds.

In the meantime, he had performed some live-streamed concerts from his New York apartment, and is considering launching more soon.

“I was able to raise about $2,000 for AONL (American Organization For Nursing Leadership) and ProtectTheHeroes.org; giving money, PPE and various other necessities to doctors, nurses and frontline workers,” he said.

Assuming the Peoria shows go on as scheduled, audiences will be able to relive the music catalog of Johnny Cash, from classics like “Folson Prison Blues,” “Ring Of Fire” and “A Boy Named Sue,” accompanied by a live country band.

Visit azbroadway.org or call 623-776-8400.

Learn more about Mr. Moreau’s career at scottmoreau.com.