Shawn Barker brings his uncanny and unique Johnny Cash tribute to Monterey.

When Shawn Barker speaks from a third-person perspective, he is actually in first person. And if that raises a confused eyebrow, consider that he avoids the first-person approach.

It begins to make sense when Barker takes the stage. He is trimmed out in black. His voice is a distinctly resonant baritone. In features and mannerisms, the performer is Johnny Cash launching into “Ring of Fire” or “Folsom Prison Blues.”

“I have the look, but I’m not trying to be Johnny Cash,” Barker explains. “It’s more of a musical documentary narrated by me.”

Barker styles his show The Man In Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash, but he presents something distinct from a typical cover act. While he sings and strums like the legendary singer-songwriter, Barker has also spent decades researching Cash, his life and the stories behind his music. He brings this to the stage. For example, “Sunday Morning Coming Down” was a composition by a little-known janitor-turned-helicopter pilot, Kris Kristofferson. Hoping to get attention, the future star landed on Cash’s lawn.

“There are a lot of fascinating things,” Barker says of Cash, adding that he never tires of learning more about the Man in Black. “He’s definitely an original.”

Barker never had the opportunity to see Cash perform live. He says adopting the singer’s look came about naturally, but he studied concert films and documentaries relentlessly to get the mannerisms down. Although Barker’s long career portraying Cash would suggest otherwise, his first foray into musical impersonation was as Elvis Presley. Barker’s career turned in 2004, when he failed to get the part of Elvis in a Broadway production of Million Dollar Quartet. Director Floyd Mutrux instead tapped Barker for the role of Cash.

In the time it took for producers of the musical to assemble funding, however, Barker found success touring with his tribute act. The idea of taking on Cash’s persona and sound, without fully adopting his identity, came to Barker early on.

“It works out well that way,” he explains. “First-person ties you down; you can’t entertain. On stage, I’m Shawn Barker – third-person.”

If that twist in point of view is still confusing, it’s best to see the show.

THE MAN IN BLACK plays 8pm Thursday, Feb. 19. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. (831) 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com.