He was the brother of Luther Perkins (see link below), Johnny Cash's guitar player. A musician himself, he recorded one single for Phillips International and had a huge hit record in 1959 with the song "Tragedy", recorded under the name Thomas Wayne.
The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee) 17 Aug 1971 - page 19
Thomas William Perkins, who recorded the million-selling record "Tragedy" under the name of Thomas Wayne, was killed in a two-car wreck early Sunday on the way from Nashville to a recording session in Memphis.
The record, which told of the heatbreak of a young man after his girlfriend mysteriously left him, was recorded in 1959 at Fernwood Studios in Memphis. It went on to become one of the big records of 1959-60.
The same recording was re-released last month by Belle Meade Records of Nashville.
The recording was produced by Scotty Moore, who was the original guitarist for Elvis Presley in the 1950s.
"Thomas and I had been friends for years. He was one of the top country-and- Western singers," said Moore from Nashville yesterday.
The 31-year-old Perkins was the brother of the late Luther Perkins who died three years ago in a fire at his home near Nashville. Luther Perkins played with singer Johnny Cash.
Perkins was on his way to Memphis to engineer a recording session at Allied Recording Studios, police said, when his automobile swerved across the median strip as it headed north on Airways at Interstate 240 at 3:30 a.m. Sunday. The section was scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday.
His automobile struck a car driven by Vance E. Simelton, 23, of Little Rock, Mr. Simelton and a passenger in his car, Miss Brenda Jenkins, 22, of Little Rock, were treated and released at Methodist Hospital.
Following "Tragedy," Mr. Perkins also recorded "Laura," "No One," Kiss Away' and "This Time."
Born in Panola County, Miss., near Sardis, he moved to Memphis as a young man and began his recording career. He moved six years ago to Nashville, where he was employed as an engineer for Music City Recorders.
He leaves his wife, Mrs. Charlene Perkins, and a daughter, Maria Elena Perkins, both of 3730 Outland; a brother, the Rev. Ira S. Perkins of Sardis, and two sisters, Mrs. L. S. Sinquefield of 2347 Long and Mrs. J. E. Parker of Pass Christian, Miss.
Services will be at 1 p.m. today at Madison Heights Baptist Church at Madison with burial in Woodland East Cemetery at Hendersonville. Memphis Funeral Home on Union has charge.
Contributor: J. Faulkner (47192216)
The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee) 17 Aug 1971 - page 19
Thomas William Perkins, who recorded the million-selling record "Tragedy" under the name of Thomas Wayne, was killed in a two-car wreck early Sunday on the way from Nashville to a recording session in Memphis.
The record, which told of the heatbreak of a young man after his girlfriend mysteriously left him, was recorded in 1959 at Fernwood Studios in Memphis. It went on to become one of the big records of 1959-60.
The same recording was re-released last month by Belle Meade Records of Nashville.
The recording was produced by Scotty Moore, who was the original guitarist for Elvis Presley in the 1950s.
"Thomas and I had been friends for years. He was one of the top country-and- Western singers," said Moore from Nashville yesterday.
The 31-year-old Perkins was the brother of the late Luther Perkins who died three years ago in a fire at his home near Nashville. Luther Perkins played with singer Johnny Cash.
Perkins was on his way to Memphis to engineer a recording session at Allied Recording Studios, police said, when his automobile swerved across the median strip as it headed north on Airways at Interstate 240 at 3:30 a.m. Sunday. The section was scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday.
His automobile struck a car driven by Vance E. Simelton, 23, of Little Rock, Mr. Simelton and a passenger in his car, Miss Brenda Jenkins, 22, of Little Rock, were treated and released at Methodist Hospital.
Following "Tragedy," Mr. Perkins also recorded "Laura," "No One," Kiss Away' and "This Time."
Born in Panola County, Miss., near Sardis, he moved to Memphis as a young man and began his recording career. He moved six years ago to Nashville, where he was employed as an engineer for Music City Recorders.
He leaves his wife, Mrs. Charlene Perkins, and a daughter, Maria Elena Perkins, both of 3730 Outland; a brother, the Rev. Ira S. Perkins of Sardis, and two sisters, Mrs. L. S. Sinquefield of 2347 Long and Mrs. J. E. Parker of Pass Christian, Miss.
Services will be at 1 p.m. today at Madison Heights Baptist Church at Madison with burial in Woodland East Cemetery at Hendersonville. Memphis Funeral Home on Union has charge.
Contributor: J. Faulkner (47192216)
He was the brother of Luther Perkins (see link below), Johnny Cash's guitar player. A musician himself, he recorded one single for Phillips International and had a huge hit record in 1959 with the song "Tragedy", recorded under the name Thomas Wayne.
The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee) 17 Aug 1971 - page 19
Thomas William Perkins, who recorded the million-selling record "Tragedy" under the name of Thomas Wayne, was killed in a two-car wreck early Sunday on the way from Nashville to a recording session in Memphis.
The record, which told of the heatbreak of a young man after his girlfriend mysteriously left him, was recorded in 1959 at Fernwood Studios in Memphis. It went on to become one of the big records of 1959-60.
The same recording was re-released last month by Belle Meade Records of Nashville.
The recording was produced by Scotty Moore, who was the original guitarist for Elvis Presley in the 1950s.
"Thomas and I had been friends for years. He was one of the top country-and- Western singers," said Moore from Nashville yesterday.
The 31-year-old Perkins was the brother of the late Luther Perkins who died three years ago in a fire at his home near Nashville. Luther Perkins played with singer Johnny Cash.
Perkins was on his way to Memphis to engineer a recording session at Allied Recording Studios, police said, when his automobile swerved across the median strip as it headed north on Airways at Interstate 240 at 3:30 a.m. Sunday. The section was scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday.
His automobile struck a car driven by Vance E. Simelton, 23, of Little Rock, Mr. Simelton and a passenger in his car, Miss Brenda Jenkins, 22, of Little Rock, were treated and released at Methodist Hospital.
Following "Tragedy," Mr. Perkins also recorded "Laura," "No One," Kiss Away' and "This Time."
Born in Panola County, Miss., near Sardis, he moved to Memphis as a young man and began his recording career. He moved six years ago to Nashville, where he was employed as an engineer for Music City Recorders.
He leaves his wife, Mrs. Charlene Perkins, and a daughter, Maria Elena Perkins, both of 3730 Outland; a brother, the Rev. Ira S. Perkins of Sardis, and two sisters, Mrs. L. S. Sinquefield of 2347 Long and Mrs. J. E. Parker of Pass Christian, Miss.
Services will be at 1 p.m. today at Madison Heights Baptist Church at Madison with burial in Woodland East Cemetery at Hendersonville. Memphis Funeral Home on Union has charge.
Contributor: J. Faulkner (47192216)
The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee) 17 Aug 1971 - page 19
Thomas William Perkins, who recorded the million-selling record "Tragedy" under the name of Thomas Wayne, was killed in a two-car wreck early Sunday on the way from Nashville to a recording session in Memphis.
The record, which told of the heatbreak of a young man after his girlfriend mysteriously left him, was recorded in 1959 at Fernwood Studios in Memphis. It went on to become one of the big records of 1959-60.
The same recording was re-released last month by Belle Meade Records of Nashville.
The recording was produced by Scotty Moore, who was the original guitarist for Elvis Presley in the 1950s.
"Thomas and I had been friends for years. He was one of the top country-and- Western singers," said Moore from Nashville yesterday.
The 31-year-old Perkins was the brother of the late Luther Perkins who died three years ago in a fire at his home near Nashville. Luther Perkins played with singer Johnny Cash.
Perkins was on his way to Memphis to engineer a recording session at Allied Recording Studios, police said, when his automobile swerved across the median strip as it headed north on Airways at Interstate 240 at 3:30 a.m. Sunday. The section was scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday.
His automobile struck a car driven by Vance E. Simelton, 23, of Little Rock, Mr. Simelton and a passenger in his car, Miss Brenda Jenkins, 22, of Little Rock, were treated and released at Methodist Hospital.
Following "Tragedy," Mr. Perkins also recorded "Laura," "No One," Kiss Away' and "This Time."
Born in Panola County, Miss., near Sardis, he moved to Memphis as a young man and began his recording career. He moved six years ago to Nashville, where he was employed as an engineer for Music City Recorders.
He leaves his wife, Mrs. Charlene Perkins, and a daughter, Maria Elena Perkins, both of 3730 Outland; a brother, the Rev. Ira S. Perkins of Sardis, and two sisters, Mrs. L. S. Sinquefield of 2347 Long and Mrs. J. E. Parker of Pass Christian, Miss.
Services will be at 1 p.m. today at Madison Heights Baptist Church at Madison with burial in Woodland East Cemetery at Hendersonville. Memphis Funeral Home on Union has charge.
Contributor: J. Faulkner (47192216)
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