My Career

Born: Omaha, Nebraska

Mom & Dad, along with me and my siblings moved from Omaha to Portland, Oregon when I was 3 years young. I moved to Nashville, TN in 1993.

Elementary School: Richmond, in S.E. Portland (Graduated)
High School: Franklin, in S. E. Portland (Graduated)          

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NETWORK TELEVISION & EMMY AWARD

My network television break came in 2 separate events,

thanks to CBS & ABC. First, in 1986, Will Vinton

Productions was seeking someone to provide a specific

kind of voice for the starring role of "Rex" in the stop-action

CBS special, A Claymation Christmas Celebration. I auditioned, 

and was awarded the part. For all of our combined efforts,
the television special won an EMMY in 1987. 

~Additional television appearances are listed below, not including the many local/regional programs on which I've appeared.....yikes, over a 40 (and counting) career.

FIRST FEATURE FILM & MUSIC VIDEO

I continued the ​role I created as "Rex" in 1987, for the full length feature film, Will Vinton's Festival of Claymation, and provided the voice of 

​the "Statue of Liberty" in the Michael Jackson "Moonwalker" video.
 

In 1990, ABC Television in Hollywood contacted me to appear in their new network show, America's Funniest People. Over the next few years, my segment continued in reruns, then was sold to other ​television shows for airing.

HOMETOWN-SHOWBUSINESS-HIGHLIGHT

​The achievement of seeing my name on the marquee of

the exclusive Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, in 

my home town of Portland, Oregon was very gratifying.  

The former Paramount Theater had been built in 1928, 

renovated in 1984, and is located in the heart of the

downtown area, on Broadway. 12 years into my career,

my performance here in 1993, just prior to my moving

to Nashville, TN was a personal as well as

a professional milestone. 

MOVING TO NASHVILLE, TN

Moving to Nashville, TN September 13, 1993 was a wise decision. Before I decided to relocate, I made several trips to the city, performing there and meeting with industry professionals. By virtue of my voice

impressions and comedy, within one year of moving to Nashville, I found myself performing on the Grand Ole Opry (March 25, 1994....and 25 years hence), and the popular Music City Tonight television show, on TNN-The Nashville Network (circa November 1994).

SONY PICTURES-LIFETIME MOVIE NETWORK

2019: I added (on-camera, speaking role) Movie Actor to my credentials, upon completing two separate roles in the Sony Pictures/Lifetime
​Movie Network film, Patsy & Loretta. Release date: October 2019.

PBS TELEVISION: During 2020, I enjoyed the airing of a concert special I recorded for the Song of the Mountains syndicated presentation.

RADIO & STREAMING

I continue enjoy airplay on radio stations around the world, as well ​as streaming on Spotify, and Pandora. Many Internet based programs feature me on their syndicated programs too. 

Currently, you will find me on music and comedy related television shows, and Internet based reruns of my many network television appearances. 

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​Employment:

I worked while in the 7th & 8th grade earning money repairing cars, and mowing lawns. In High School, and into my mid 20's some of my jobs included loading/unloading and driving trucks, general warehouse duties, pouring utility boxes, covers, and vaults in a concrete plant, for electrical and plumbing customers.

        The reaction of Actor, Ernest Borgnine is priceless as I perform

      my John Wayne impression for Hollywood Producer, A.C. Lyles >>>

Most disliked jobs:

• Picking Pole Beans from fields now under      landing strips at the Portland, Oregon International      Airport, and picking Strawberries in Gresham, Oregon fields.
   
• Unloading a sheet-rock delivery truck by  hand, and carrying the double panels up several flights of stairs.
    
• Streaming services companies feature songs      Johnny has written and recorded in his own voice. Internet television and radio feature Johnny, worldwide.
• Political Affiliation: NONE, unless you want to count our U.S. Constitution.
  

 Politicians get away with only what We the People  allow......Johnny Counterfit

​​Johnny Counterfit recordings with Country Artists

George Jones "MCA" CD: It Don't Get Any Better Than This, 

with George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Bobby Bare,

and Johnny Counterfit as Johnny Cash (George Jones asked 

Johnny Counterfit (see liner notes) to fill in for an ailing

Johnny Cash on the recording)

Merle Haggard "Hag" CD: Cabin in the Hills. Merle Haggard asked

Johnny Counterfit (see liner notes) to perform his singing impression

of Johnny Cash, on the title cut. 

​Johnny Counterfit (partial list) CD, DVD's

Live in Concert 1, 2, 3 * Counterfit Politics * On Stage * Johnny Counterfit Sings with an Orchestra

Songs I've Written, vol. 1 (15 songs)

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​​Other Interests: 

• Continued writing of songs, comedy, and      books; currently writing second book: The Other Me
• Studying American History, Economics, and      current events of the day.
• Developed a theory on the practical application of Helium-3 to      power fusion nuclear reactors, including transporting the isotope      from the moon. When the Internet came along, I discovered I wasn't the      only one working on the theory.
• Study the U.S. Constitution and laws      abridging it.
• Notre Dame Cathedral: ​Created and      Submitted (roof) restoration designs for the Notre Dame Catherdral in      Paris, France. UPDATE: "Cathedrale Notre-Dame De Paris"      sent a letter dated: Paris, 2 June 2020, informing me my designs have      been sent to the architects in charge.

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• Studying the John F. Kennedy administration      and assassination. NO, I don't believe the wild conspiracy theories, but for      decades, I've read many books and reviewed official documents,      television specials and interviews dealing with all aspects of his      administration and murder. I continue to study the administration and      assassination.* 
• *Johnny is available for panel      discussions, after Dinner speeches, and interviews on his more than 50      years studying the JFK assassination and administration. The focus      on the assassination will NOT be the many conspiracy theories;,      but will be from the standpoint of current facts and displays.

Interview Information

Schedule today: jcvoices@aol.com

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~Rare Encounters~

Below are a few stars with whom Johnny's has worked, and known, that will be of special interest to your viewers/readers/listeners. 

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Jimmy Doohan (Scotty-Star Trek) Late 1980’s-1992
Jimmy Doohan and Johnny were friends; they shared some scotch, some voices,

meals together, dialects, and lots of laughs. Johnny was Jimmy's a guest at a Star

Trekkie convention-Los Angeles, CA, and afterward, wrote some comedy lines

for Jimmy's convention appearances.
 

Cash & Counterfit
Performed I Walk the Line for Johnny Cash & June Carter-Cash
Johnny Cash said of Johnny Counterfit: Cash nephew, Mark Alan Cash asked his uncle, who would sing in the (yet to be filmed, Walk the Line movie)? Cash replied, if they don’t use my recordings, I want Johnny Counterfit to do it; he’s the best I’ve ever seen.
 

Lynda Evans: I missed out on a dinner date with the Dynasty star, in 1990. At the time, I was appearing in America's Funniest People at ABC Television Studios, in Los Angeles.

 

Richard Burton Impression: "Outrageously Funny" Shakespeare & Country Music

Johnny's voice impression of Shakespearian actor, Richard Burton as a country music

artist singing, Camelot, from the hit Broadway musical of the same name. Johnny wrote the arrangement for his show.

~The set-up of this bit is designed so that some who may not know who actor, Richard Burton was, will still enjoy it~

Adam West: Television’s Batman. Timberline Lodge, Mt. Hood, Oregon. Johnny and Adam appeared in concert. Prior to the show, Johnny and Adam visited together at the lodge; Adam asked Johnny to teach him how to do the voices and mannerisms of John Wayne, and Ronald Reagan; imagine the spectacle this created! 

Frankie Laine: Johnny was part of a concert show, with Frankie as the headline artist, in Central California. Mr. Laine was an American singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spanned nearly 75 years, from his first concerts in 1930 with a marathon dance company to his final performance of "That's My Desire" in 2005. His hits included "That's My Desire", "That Lucky Old Sun", "Mule Train", "Jezebel", "High Noon", "Save Your Sorrow", "I Believe", "Hey Joe!", "The Kid's Last Fight", "Cool Water", "Rawhide", and "Lord, You Gave Me a Mountain". He sang well-known theme songs for many movie Western soundtracks, including 3:10 To Yuma, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and Blazing Saddles, although his recordings were not charted as a country.

Carol Lawrence-Actress/Singer, whose stardom ascended with her role in West Side Story, in 1957: When Johnny was a senior in High School, he attended a concert performance by Carol Lawrence. Carol needed someone from the audience to help her with a skit, and (she) chose Johnny from the audience. This was before Johnny had even considered show business as a career, although he had been performing in concert since his junior year of High School, during open mic nights with local bands.

Milton Berle, Legendary Television, Film, and Radio Comedian: Though we spent only part of one day together, making each other laugh, we were kindred spirits. He made me feel as though we’d known each other all our lives. ~Johnny Counterfit

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Johnny is included in a series of DVD collector sets entitled, Country's Family Reunion; some of the greatest legends of country music are in this series.

Though I don't consider myself a legend, I'm honored

to be in this series with so many artists who

are true country music legends!

                                                    ~Johnny Counterfit

Songs I've Written volume 1

Another dimension to Johnny's successful career

This CD features 15 songs Johnny wrote and recorded in his own singing voice. Add to that, the songs are written in 6 different formats: Traditional Country * Contemporary Christian * Folk * Soft Rock * Bluegrass * Comedy

Streaming platforms have added Johnny's new CD to their list of artists

Spotify * Apple Music * iTunes * Napster  Amazon * Tidal * KDigital * Deezer * Yandex YouTube Music* Google Music Store

August 29, 2016: Inducted into the Traditional
Country Music Association's Hall of Fame

Biggest Career Challenge:Those standing between me and the audience.

Blending today with yesterday is very important; this is how I keep my show fresh! ​~Johnny Counterfit

Copyright 2021 Johnny Counterfit, Voice Impressionist/Comedian. All rights reserved. 

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