BASS’n Blues owner Trevor Brown clearly remembers the first time James Johnston walked into his store.

“He was this little four-year-old kid,” Trevor says. “His mum brought him in to ask about some keyboard lessons. His sister Shona was getting keyboard lessons with us at the time, but James wasn’t interested.”

So Trevor’s partner, Tania, asked James if he could sing. “And we worked out very quickly that he had a voice,” says Trevor.

This was the starting point of what has grown into a hugely successful musical friendship.

Like many Manning Valley residents over the past few weeks, the Browns have followed James Johnston’s Australian Idol rollercoaster with much interest.

They cheered the 18-year-old on as he blitzed the competition at the Sydney auditions. They watched with bated breath as he won through to the Top 24. And both Trevor and Tania will be glued to their TV screen this Thursday night as the boy from Cedar Party performs for a spot in the prestigious final 12.

Unlike most of James’ supporters, the Browns have been able to watch his musical evolution from up close.

Tania and Trevor have been there all the way as James has transformed from a young country music performer into a mature singer-songwriter who can more than hold his own on the guitar.

“I remember backing him on guitar when he was just a kid,” Trevor says. “He was only four when we started busking and doing a few local gigs here and there. I’d just work out a key and get him singing. He’d do the rest.”

Trevor and Tania were also a major force behind James entering in the early childhood section of the Taree and District Eistedfodd.

“Most of the kids in his section were singing nursery rhymes,” Trevor says. “James came out and sang a Garth Brooks song from start to finish. It was incredible. He’s always had an incredible memory for lyrics.”

Trevor also remembers accompanying a 10-year-old James with his family to the Tamworth Country Music festival in 2001.