by Dennis Dalman
“Church of Cash,” considered one of the best tribute bands in the state, will perform a concert Friday, Aug. 26 at Milk & Honey Ciders just north of St. Joseph.
The concert will begin at 6 p.m. as one of Milk & Honey Ciders’ summer and fall patio sessions. That establishment, known for its locally made apple ciders, is a rustic venue that offers food, refreshments, musical entertainment, comedy, special events and wedding celebrations.
Church of Cash is a tribute band that celebrates the music of Johnny Cash, arguably the greatest male American country-western singer-songwriter, along with Hank Williams Sr., Willie Nelson and George Jones.
Born in Kingsland, Arkansas, Cash wrote and sang hit songs that included “I Walk the Line,” “Ring of Fire,” “A Boy Named Sue” and “Folsom Prison Blues.” Many of his later songs he sang as duets with his second wife, June Carter-Cash. He died of complications from diabetes in 2003 at the age of 71.
In Church of Cash, the band’s leader, Jay Ernest “channels” Johnny Cash with his deep-down baritone singing voice. In 2019, the Midwest Country Organization named Church of Cash “Best Tribute Band” of that year. As a leader of the band, Ernest, who also plays bass guitar, was inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame in 2021.
Raised on a farm near New Ulm, Jay Ernest Kalk was born with music in his blood and a creative restless spirit that led to a traveling musical odyssey throughout the world.
After studying musical performance at Moorhead State University and singing in the college choir, Kalk (who now uses just his first two names as his full name – Jay Ernest) hit the road in pursuit of music.
He formed or joined many bands throughout the years. One of them, dubbed “3 Minute Hero,” won two Minnesota Music Awards. A second band was called “Warsaw Poland Brothers” and a third was “Go Jimmy Go.” Ernest lived in Los Angeles, Phoenix and Honolulu where he was in an Irish punk-rock band called “Working Class Saints.”
It was in Honolulu in 2010 when Ernest founded Church of Cash, and since 2015 the band has toured throughout the world. Ernest, with help from Tom Pickard, also wrote and acted in a musical named “Folsom Prison Experience,” a 16-cast performance based on Johnny Cash’s performance in 1968 inside the walls of Folsom Prison in California.
Ernest now lives in Minneapolis.
For ticket information, visit milkandhoneyciders.com and then click on “Patio Sessions,” then scroll down and click on “House of Cash.”
Milk & Honey Ciders is located at 11738 CR 1 just north of St. Joseph.
Jay Ernest “channels” the legendary Johnny Cash during a performance by his band, “Church of Cash.” The band will entertain at Milk & Honey Cedars in St. Joseph Friday, Aug. 26. Ernest was born and raised in New Ulm.
