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THOMAS WAYNE   

 “TRAGEDY“

(Gerald Nelson, Fred Burch)

Fernwood 109

No. 5    March 23, 1959

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Thomas Wayne Perkins  was born in Battsville, Mississippi, on July 22, 1940.  His older brother

was Luther Perkins, Johnny Cash’s guitarist.  While attending Elvis’ alma mater, Humes High

School,  Perkins formed a group with three girls–whose identities remain unknown–called the

De-Lons.  Together, they worked up some numbers and approached Scotty Moore, Elvis’ guitar

man.   Moore, who was a part-owner of  the Memphis-based Fernwood label, swiftly produced

some  De-Lons sides:  “You’re The One That Done It,” released nationally by Mercury Records,

bombed.

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Meanwhile, in Paducah, Kentucky, Gerald Nelson & His Escorts were tying down a take on

something called “Tragedy.”  Early in 1958, Nelson and a buddy named Fred Burch dashed off this

sad, sad ode of  love lost.  Tom Perkins and the fellows at the Fernwood label heard the Escorts’

disk and dreamed up a cover version.

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After Thomas got the shot at appearing on “American Bandstand,” his rendition of  “Tragedy”

rocketed to the top of the charts.  Gerald Nelson & His Escorts never got a shot and remain in

rock’n’roll oblivion.  Two years later “Tragedy” became hit yet again, this time for the ethereal-

sounding Fleetwoods; known for “Mr. Blue” and “Come Softy To Me” (#10, 1961 ).  But the similar-

sounding  follow-up (“Eternally”) and numerous  other–quite fine–offerings by Thomas Wayne

failed to solidify his career.    In the  late ’60s, he took a behind-the-scenes position with Audio

Recorders in Nashville.  Elvis recorded a song he had written:  “The Girl Next Door Went a

Walking.”

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Like brother Luther, he met his life’s end at a young  age–on August 15, 1971, Wayne was killed

in a head-on car crash near Memphis, Tennessee.  He was 31.