A memorial service for Suzi Fray will be held in Nelson next Saturday. The frontwoman of all-girl Johnny Cash act The Johnnys died on Thursday, after what loved ones describe as “a brave and courageous (stubborn)” fight with cancer. “We all love you Suzi. ‘Peace, Love and Johnny Cash’,” Fray's obituary notice reads. In April Fray revealed she had been diagnosed with a very rare type of uterine cancer that had spread to her lungs. She refused up give up hope, saying she believed “in the power of love to heal”. A concert and online fundraiser, supported by people from all walks of life, allowed her to travel to Germany for an alternative healing approach. Fray leaves behind Amy, her soul mate, who she recently married. She also had a young daughter, Rio Star, and two stepchildren. “I want to live. I want to see our children grow up, watch them running in a race on sports day, singing in the school choir and hear them laughing and playing in the sea in summer. My love for my children, my fiancé, my family and friends and living life has lead me on a determined journey to seek hope and healing in alternative therapies to treat my cancer,” she said earlier this year. In the gay community, Fray was known for her rock act The Johnnys, which played at first Auckland Pride Festival and a stripped down version of Out in the Park this year, happy to be part of the show going on at a bar when weather prevented the event happening outdoors. She told GayNZ.com the idea came to her while sitting in a studio one day, as “this kind of bizarre thing, to come out of the blue.” Joining forces with bandmates Jo Taylor and Liala Gianstefani, they immediately clicked, and had a rollicking musical ride that included an appearance at the Johnny Cash Music Festival in California, sharing the stage with the legendary Wanda Jackson and being hosted by Johnny Cash’s daughter, Cindy Cash. She said being part of The Johnnys made her feel lucky. “There are not many things you get to do in life where you have that kind of connection. And we do. And you do feel it. It’s a two-way exchange performance, the energy that’s created by us and the audience back to us … it’s actually very, very empowering.” A memorial service for Fray will be held at Deville's Café, New Street, Nelson on Saturday 4th July 2015 commencing at 4.00pm. Messages can be sent to 66a Norwich Street, Stoke, Nelson or left here Suzi Fray was 51.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 28th June 2015 - 9:39am