VALDOSTA — One of the most memorable parts of Johnny Cash’s legendary music career was his series of prison concerts. Even the Cash bio-pic “Walk The Line” used a prison concert to bookend the movie’s opening and conclusion.

Tommy Cash, Johnny’s brother, keeps that tradition alive this weekend with two concerts scheduled for Valdosta State Prison as well as a public concert for the Valdosta-Lowndes County community.

l Valdosta Prison Ministry sponsors the live concerts at both the Valdosta State Prison annex, 2 p.m. Friday; and Valdosta State Prison, 6 p.m. Friday. Tommy Cash will perform gospel songs as well as some of Johnny Cash’s songs. He will be joined by the Diamonds, a Madison, Fla., gospel group, and Brother Benny Daniels from the long-time gospel radio program “Sunday Morning Comin’ Down.”

l At 7 p.m. Saturday, Cash and The Diamonds join Daniels for the 27th Anniversary Celebration of “Sunday Morning Comin’ Down” with a concert at the Lowndes County Civic Center Fairgrounds, off Highway 84. Concert-goers are asked to bring their own seats. More information: Call 242-7478.

Daniels has hosted Tommy Cash in Valdosta previously. Cash played Daniels’ 25th anniversary concert a couple years ago.

“My voice is similar to Johnny’s but it is not the same,” Tommy Cash said in a 2006 interview with The Valdosta Daily Times. “If I’m trying, I can impersonate him but I don’t do that.”

In concert, Tommy Cash plays some of his original songs, such as “Six White Horses,” “Rise & Shine,” and “That Certain One.” He has recorded more than 20 albums. He often performs songs from Johnny Cash’s repertoire ranging from the earliest hits such as “Cry, Cry, Cry” and “Hey Porter” to songs from his brother’s final years such as “Hurt.”

Often during shows, Tommy Cash, who had performed with his older brother and on his own since 1965, performs Johnny’s songs, gospel songs, and tells stories about his legendary brother.

Tommy Cash struck a balance between his own career and the legendary influence of his brother’s career more than 40 years ago, he says. Johnny Cash casts an enormous shadow, which Tommy Cash is more than aware, especially being the younger brother with a similar line of work.

“I had to come to terms with it early on,” Tommy Cash said of dealing with the residue of his brother’s fame. “I’ve dealt with it so long, it’s just a natural thing now.”