who is Luther?

Dayna Wills · Post by **Dayna Wills** » 15 Mar 2007 11:33 pm

As some of you may know, I sing for the "Old Folks" when I am in town which is most of the year. I refer to my CD deck as Luther. Luther is old and slow, but dependable. Luther plays all the solos. He's easy to get along with, but once in awhile he wants to start on a song different than I have just announced. It's a little bit embarrassing, sometimes. Anyhoo, one of the ladies told me that I should have a picture of Luther so people would know to whom I am speaking. So fellas, who is Luther? What does he look like? Anybody got any pictures (suitable for familys now) that you can put email to me? It can be anybody, a lond dead cousin, a cartoon, whatever. I am not a visual person and I know that most guys are visual, so can ya help me out here?

John Parker · Post by **John Parker** » 15 Mar 2007 11:44 pm

Dayna,

When I read "Luther" my first thought was Luther Perkins.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 16 Mar 2007 12:08 am

I have always thought Luther "IS" Luther Perkins..

Is there another Luther out there ?

erik · Post by **erik** » 16 Mar 2007 2:51 am

I'm more interested in why you would choose that name.

Steve Hitsman · Post by **Steve Hitsman** » 16 Mar 2007 4:59 am

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 16 Mar 2007 5:21 am

I believe it may have been Johnny Cash who said..

"Pick it Luther"....

and it stuck..forever....

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 16 Mar 2007 5:41 am

That pic of Luther playing the Fender Esquire looks like Boomhauer on "King of the Hill".

Luther Perkins was a one of a kind. He had an influence on so many guitarists with his so simple and yet so powerful playing.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 16 Mar 2007 5:55 am

I have some old Tex Riter shows on DVD that have Johnny Cash with the Tennessee Two on them.

The only emotion that Luther shows when he plays is rolling his eyes once in a while at Johnny.

One time Johnny says: "Calm down, Luther". It's a hoot!

Richard Bass · Post by **Richard Bass** » 16 Mar 2007 6:05 am

Wonder where that guitar of Luther's is now. Must be worth a kings ransom. He certainly did influence a lot of pickers including me.
Richard

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 16 Mar 2007 7:05 am

Back in 87 I was in the Country Music Hall Of Fame and there was a Johnny Cash exibit there. One of the things on display was Luther's Esquire.

Randy Phelps · Post by **Randy Phelps** » 16 Mar 2007 11:54 am

speakin' of pickin' and creatin'... that feller there did quite a bit of fruit and vegetable creation... but, I'd pick mister perkins too...

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 16 Mar 2007 2:27 pm

Tommy Cash told me where Luther's original guitar is. I don't remember the name of the person he said that had it, but it's not the one in the HOF.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 17 Mar 2007 10:05 am

Luther had STYLE,STYLE,STYLE, He proved you did'nt have to be a HOT LICK player to become a legend,I would'nt doubt if his licks have been copied more than any other guitarist out there.

Russ Wever · Post by **Russ Wever** » 18 Mar 2007 11:02 am

and there's Vandross . . .

Larry Strawn · Post by **Larry Strawn** » 18 Mar 2007 5:36 pm

I also refer to my drum machine as "Luther", however I wasn't thinking about Luther Perkins when I named it, but if I had of been I believe it would have been a compliment to a Legendary Guitar player! Luther was a great influence on me when I was growing up, so much power and feelings in his playing. And I think most all 15 yr. old kids with a $35.00 guitar can play the intro to Folsom Prison.

So come to think about it I think my drum machine should be honored to carry such a legendary name as "Luther"

Larry

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 18 Mar 2007 10:22 pm

SUPERMAN'S ARCH ENEMY

Didn't you guys go to the movies or read comic books when you were kids?

Dayna Wills · Post by **Dayna Wills** » 19 Mar 2007 9:06 pm

You guys are sooo funny. I forgot about Luther in Superman. I just always got a kick out of "pick it, Luther" But "Calm down, Luther" is even funnier.
You guys are right about his simple style. Like when we were talking about musical hooks awhile back. Every kid could play the intro to Johnny B. Goode too.
Who was the guitar player for Ernest Tubb who had that 4 note riff he would put on the end of a line?

John Parker · Post by **John Parker** » 19 Mar 2007 9:38 pm

But Dayna,

Inquiring minds got to know, what picture are you going to use????

Are you going to start telling Luther (your CD player) to calm down when he kicks off a song other than the one you announced??

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 20 Mar 2007 5:36 am

Dayna,
Ernest Tubb had several different lead guitar players who used that same hook but I believe it was Billy Byrd who initiated it.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 20 Mar 2007 8:38 am

Billy Byrd for sure.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 20 Mar 2007 9:04 am

A catchey original style sells,Luther and Dwayne Eddy[which was one of the biggest selling guitarist in history] Proved that.How about Bill Doggett's Honky Tonk.Huge hit.Most of the non musician people reconize these guys,But other than we musicians,very few could tell you who Paul Franklin or Scotty Anderson is.Keep it simple and it will sell,Achey Breakey Heart proved this.

Kevin Ruddell · Post by **Kevin Ruddell** » 20 Mar 2007 2:22 pm

Any fan of Luther Perkins should hear the great song by Stan Ridgway called " Luther Played Guitar " on his album " Black Diamond " on the New West label from a couple of years ago . The whole album is great.

Dayna Wills · Post by **Dayna Wills** » 20 Mar 2007 6:05 pm

Yeah, I thought if I got a cool picture, I would use it as Luther. Of course, I would tell which one I use. I thought it would give some of you guys something silly to do. I know you can get silly. And yes, I'll tell Luther to "calm dowm." I wonder if anyone will catch it?
The other day I introduced my next song as practicing my Spanish. I speak a little Spanish, not enough to be bi...or anything. A guy in the crowd said, "You mean bi-lingual, don't you?" He was the first one who caught it. The song was Quando.
Thanks for the Billy Byrd. That's the guy I was thinking of.