Jonathan Harris is a cowboy. He may not rope calves or hang with horses, but he does ride a big white dream called country music.



And he has a cowboy hat.



Harris is from Tacoma, not a place known for its herds and ranches, but he spent time in Nashville, too.  But unlike most other aspiring country singers, he went to Nashville by express invitation, cuz he’s got friends in high places. Harris has performed in front of audiences as large as 12,000 people and shared the stage with national acts such as Jo Dee Messina, Sammy Kershaw, Black Hawk, Trick Pony, The Charlie Daniel’s Band, Merle Haggard, Asleep At The Wheel, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Tractors and Gary Allen. In 2004, he performed for President Bush and thousands of military personnel at Fort Lewis in a concert for troops returning from Iraq.



Harris just cut a record with Nashville label Region One Records, Where Concrete Don’t Grow, which will be released to the public for the very first time this week. The CD can only be purchased at the CD release party Saturday at JD’s Wild West Saloon (and at his subsequent performances), but in the coming months it will be available online at his Web site www.harriscountry.com. Jonathan Harris will also perform April 19 7 p.m. at the Puyallup Spring Fair Puyallup.



[JD’s Wild West Saloon in the VIP Backroom, Saturday, April 7, 5 p.m., 8402 South Hosmer St., Tacoma, 253.535. 0088]