Died On This Date (August 5, 1968) Luther Perkins / Played With Johnny Cash

themusicsover August 5, 2010 0 Comments

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.

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