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Luther Perkins (born January 8, 1928, Como, Mississippi, USA - died August 5, 1968, Nashville, Tennessee, USA) was an American guitarist and a member Johnny Cash's backing band The Tennessee Two which in 1960, with the addition of drummer W.S. Holland, became The Tennessee Three.

Perkins served as Johnny Cash's first guitar player and helped invent Cash's unique country style with his simple boom-chicka-boom guitar patterns. The song Walk The Line is a good example of his style. Perkins' way of playing was one of the factors that made Sam Phillips sign them up for a record deal at Sun Record Company. When he first heard them, he didn't like what they played, but he liked how they played it.

Perkins died as a result of third degree burns and smoke inhalation after he fell asleep holding a lit cigarette in his hand.

APPEARANCES +


Johnny Cash
At The Carousel Ballroom - April 24, 1968
2021,
Country/Bluegrass
Johnny Cash
Blood, Sweat And Tears
2020, CD, Comp, Ltd, RM, Hoodoo Records
Johnny Cash
Canta En Español
2019, 7", RSD, Single, Ltd, Num, Pic, Sleazy Records
Johnny Cash
Blood, Sweat And Tears
2019, 2xCD, Comp, Not Now Music, ,
Country
Johnny Cash
Folsom Prison Blues / Cry, Cry, Cry
2019, 7", Single, Blu, Glamourama Records
Johnny Cash
Essential Original Albums
2017, 3xCD, Comp, RM, Masters Of Music (6)
The Anita Kerr Quartet / The Anita Kerr Singers
We Dig Anita - The Oohs And Aahs Of The Nashville Sound
2016, CD, Comp, Él, Cherry Red, ,
Easy Listening
Johnny Cash
The Christmas Spirit
2016
Various
Sing Me A Song Of The Saddle
2015, 4xCD, Comp, RM, Box, Proper Records (2), ,
Western Swing/Hillbilly/Country/Folk
Johnny Cash
The Man In Black
2015
Johnny Cash
Live At Big 'D' Jamboree
2015
Johnny Cash
Songs Of Our Soil Plus Hymns By Johnny Cash
2013, CD, Comp, RM, Hoodoo Records
Various
Fender (The Golden Age 1950-1970) (Inspirational Guitar Music That Defined The Sound Of Rock'n'Roll)
2012, CD, Comp, Ace, ,
Rock & Roll/Surf/Rhythm & Blues/Soul/Garage Rock/Pop Rock/Country/Folk Rock/Art Rock/Blues Rock/Rockabilly/Promotional
Johnny Cash
Ride This Train
2011, 2x CD, All Media, ,
Country
Johnny Cash
Bootleg Vol II - From Memphis To Hollywood
2011, ,
Country/Rockabilly/Rock & Roll
Johnny Cash
Live Around The World Bootleg Vol III
2011, 2x CD, ,
Country/Rockabilly/Rock & Roll
Johnny Cash
The Gospel Collection
2010
Johnny Cash
Songs Of Our Soil
2010
Johnny Cash
Trilogy
2010
Johnny Cash
The Fabulous
2009, 2xCD, Comp, RM, Not Now Music
Johnny Cash
I Walk The Line 1956-1957
2008
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash's America
2008, DVD Region 0, CD, ,
Country/Country Blues
Cash*
Ultimate Gospel
2007, CD, ,
Country Blues/Gospel
Johnny Cash
Life / Sings The Ballads Of The True West
2006, CD, CD, Box Set, ,
Country Rock/Acoustic
Johnny Cash
At Folsom Prison / At San Quentin (The 2 Classic Prison Concerts)
2006, CD, CD, Box Set, ,
Country Rock
Johnny Cash And The Tennessee Two*
16 Greatest Hits
2005, CD, Comp, A Play Collection
June Carter Cash
Keep On The Sunny Side: June Carter Cash - Her Life In Music
2005, 2x CD Book, ,
Country
Johnny Cash
The Complete Sun Recordings 1955-1958
2005, ,
Country
Johnny Cash
The Collection
2004, ,
Folk/Western Swing/Country/Honky Tonk
Various
Johnny Cash, Gunter Gabriel & Andere - The Man In Black - The International Johnny Cash
2002, CD, Comp, Bear Family Records, ,
Country
Johnny Cash
Ride This Train
2002
Johnny Cash
Sings The Ballads Of The True West
2002, ,
Country Rock/Acoustic
Johnny Cash And The Tennessee Two*
Sings I Walk The Line & Sings Folsom Prison Blues
1999, CD, Comp, Collectables
Various
Original Seeds: Songs That Inspired Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds
1998, CD,
Various
Mystery Train
1997, CD, Comp, Rounder Records, ,
Bluegrass/Country/Folk/Country Blues
Various
Sun Rockabillies Volume One
1995, CD, Comp, RE, RM, Sun Entertainment Corporation, ,
Rock & Roll/Rockabilly/Country
Various
My Rifle, My Pony And Me
1993, CD, ,
Soundtrack/Country/Score/Ballad
Johnny Cash
The Gospel Collection
1992
Johnny Cash
The Essential Johnny Cash (1955-1983)
1992, 3x CD, Box Set, ,
Country
Johnny Cash
Sings I Walk The Line
1991
Johnny Horton
1956 - 1960
1991,
Various
Guitar Player Presents Legends Of Guitar - Rock The 50s, Vol. One
1990, CD, ,
Rock & Roll/Rockabilly
Johnny Cash
The Sun Years
1990, CD, ,
Country Blues/Rockabilly
Johnny Cash With The Tennessee Two*
His Top Hits
1988
Johnny Cash
Columbia Records 1958-1986
1987, CD, ,
Country
Johnny Cash*
I Walk The Line
1985, ,
Country
Johnny Cash
Bitter Tears (Ballads Of The American Indian) Revised Edition
1984
Various
Rockabilly Craze!
1982
Various
The Smithsonian Collection Of Classic Country Music
1981, 8x Vinyl Black Label, Box Set, ,
Country/Folk/Hillbilly
Johnny Cash
Old Golden Throat
1981
Various
Instrumental Country Vol. II
1980, LP, Comp, CBS, CBS
Various
Don't You Step On My Blue Suede Shoes
1979
Johnny Cash & June Carter
Johnny & June
1978
Johnny Cash
Sun Sound Special: Johnny Cash
1978
Various
The Best Of Sun Rockabilly Vol. 2
1977, ,
Rock & Roll/Rockabilly/Country
Various
Sun: The Roots Of Rock: Volume 13: Rockabilly Sundown
1977
Various
Sun: The Roots Of Rock: Volume 10: Sun Country
1977
Various
Sun: The Roots Of Rock: Volume 1: Catalyst
1976
Johnny Cash
The Sun Story. Vol.1
1974
Johnny Cash
Songs Of Our Soil
1973
Johnny Cash And The Tennessee Two*
Gentle Giant Of Country Music
1972, 2xLP, Comp, Sun (9), Sun (9)
Johnny Cash
Hymns By Johnny Cash
1971, ,
Country Rock/Gospel
Johnny Cash
Orange Blossom Special
1970, ,
Acoustic/Country Rock
Johnny Cash
Blood, Sweat And Tears
1970
Johnny Cash
The Legend
1970
Johnny Cash
Ring Of Fire - The Best Of Johnny Cash
1970, ,
Country
Johnny Cash And The Tennessee Two*
Original Golden Hits Volume I
1969
Johnny Cash
More Of "Old Golden Throat"
1969
Johnny Cash
At Folsom Prison
1968, ,
Acoustic/Country Rock
Johnny Cash
From Sea To Shining Sea
1968
Johnny Cash & June Carter
Carryin' On With Johnny Cash & June Carter
1967
Johnny Cash
Everybody Loves A Nut
1966, ,
Country
Johnny Cash
Now, There Was A Song!
1962
Johnny Cash
The Fabulous Johnny Cash
1962, ,
Country/Folk
Tennessee Two And Friend*
Blues For Two
1961
Johnny Cash With The Tennessee Two*
His Top Hits
1958
Johnny Cash And The Tennessee Two*
Ballad Of A Teenage Queen / Big River
1958, ,
Country/Rockabilly
Johnny Cash
With His Hot And Blue Guitar
1957
Johnny Cash
The Man In Black 1954-1958
5x CD, Box Set, ,
Country Rock/Folk Rock/Country/Gospel
Johnny Cash
Hymns From The Heart
,
Folk Rock/Country
Johnny Cash
I Walk The Line
Various
The Great Rock'n'Roll Stringbenders
2015, CD, Album, Comp, Righteous, ,
Rockabilly
Johnny Cash
22 June 1963 • Los Angeles (CA) • USA / 25 July 1964 • Newport (RI) • USA
2019, CD, Unofficial, CBS (Cash Bootleg Series), Columbia (2)
Johnny Cash
14 March 1961 • Houston (TX) • USA / 3 September 1962 • Rising Sun (MD) • USA
2019, CD, Unofficial, CBS (Cash Bootleg Series), Columbia (2)
Johnny Cash
15 November 1958 • Compton (CA) • USA / 8 August 1959 • Compton (CA) • USA
2019
Johnny Cash
10 May 1968 • BBC Studios • Piccadilly • London • United Kingdom
2019
Various
Rock Around The Town
1979, LP, Comp, Mono, Unofficial, Bopcat, Bopcat, Bopcat
Various
We Wanna Boogie
1974