Died On This Date (August 5, 1968) Luther Perkins / Played With Johnny Cash
themusicsover Luther Perkins
January 8, 1928 – August 5, 1968
Luther Perkins was working as a mechanic in Memphis when, in 1954 his co-worker, Roy Cash, introduced him to his brother, Johnny Cash. Already a pretty good guitarist, Perkins, Cash and another co-worker, Marshall Grant started playing together for kicks. Within a few months, they were playing their first gig and going by the Tennessee Three. Perkins’ now iconic riffs would help Cash become a country music superstar. In 1954, Cash auditioned for Sam Phillips who quickly signed him to Sun Records thanks, in part to Perkins’ guitar playing on such songs as “Folsom Prison Blues,” and “Hey Porter.” Perkins went on to record and tour with Cash for the next several years. He was there with Cash during his highs and lows, and has been credited with helping Cash get clean. On January 13, 1968, Perkins participated in what we become known as one of the most significant events in popular music history when he, Cash and Grant performed for the inmates at Folsom Prison. The show was recorded and memorialized on film and would be the best documentation of Perkins’ guitar playing. Just seven months later, Luther Perkins fell asleep on his couch with a lit cigarette. Although he awoke and tried to make it out of the house, he passed out after being overcome by smoke. He later died of burns and smoke inhalation. He was 40 years old.
What You Should Own
Born into a musical family, Jeff Porcaro began playing the drums at an early age. His father was well-known session drummer, Joe Porcaro, and his brothers, Steve and Mike Porcaro are active studio musicians as well. Drum lessons began for Jeff at age seven, leading to a career as one of the most respected drummers of his time. At seventeen, Porcaro landed his first job, playing in Sonny & Cher’s touring band. By his twenties, he was playing with the likes of Steely Dan and Boz Scaggs. In 1977, Porcaro, Steve Lukather, and David Paich co-founded Grammy-winning rock band, Toto. Having sold some 30 million albums to date, they are considered to be one of the most successful mainstream rock bands of all time. Even with all that success, Porcaro had time to play on recordings by a who’s who of popular music, including Bruce Springsteen, Dire Straits, Paul McCartney, 
