Grew up in Hardy, Arkansas, about 3 hours from Memphis. In the 50s my parents owned a restaurant outside of town on US 63. Last one night a young singer came in on his way back to Memphis from a gig. He gave my mom a signed record and picture...Tragedy was the A side of the record. Can not remember the B side. We loved him, especially my older teen aged sisters!
According to the Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits Thomas Wayne & The Delons' version of Tragedy made the Top 40 charts on 2/16/59 just days after the Holly/Valens/Big Bopper tragic plane crash. No coincidence that it later peaked at #5. But the number of hit covers of this tune is a good indication of what a great song this is! As was mentioned the ultimate irony is that Thomas Wayne was himself the victim of a tragedy years later.
@49flattie...sorry, but your were told wrongly. Thomas Wayne Perkins was NOT the brother of Carl Perkins, but was the brother of Luther Perkins of Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two fame.
Great sound! Thomas Wayne Perkins was the Late Great Carl Perkins' brother. (As I was told years ago.) Brings back fondest memories of the late 50's - early 60's. The Greatest Music came out of Memphis back then.
This was recorded at Fernwood Studios in Memphis, not Sun. In 1961, I was in Fernwood recording our first record and Thomas Waynes Gibson Hummingbird guitar was sitting in a case on the floor of the studio. The Engineer told he he needed money and wanted $300 for it. I really wanted that guitar, but that was like $3,000 to me at the time... I couldn't afford $30 .
@SlimmAaronGrimm Hello... yes, my group "The Squires" recorded at Fernwood in the spring of 1961 for Chan Records. We also provided backup for a group called "The Cupids" also for Chan.
A top five hit for Thomas Wayne in April 1959. It was kept out of the top spot by The Fleetwoods (Come Softly to Me). Sadly, he left us this coming Sunday (August 15) 39 years ago (1971). Thomas, this is your legacy. We love you and miss you.
That 45 record would be very hard to come by, especially in near mint condition, and even more rare, the Fernwood 78 RPM record. That tune actually had coincided with the plane crash that took the lives of the Big Bopper, Richie Valens and Buddy Holly when it was recorded at that time.
I am glad they posted this song. After digging through my collection I find that I have the original 45 Fernwood label bougth in Memphis Tenn in the year it released.
@tbear4pa i have this on 45, just happened to run across it at a flea market. how rare is it? another neat thing about this record was that it was produced by none other than scotty moore, elvis' guitarist from 1954 - 1958.
Grew up in Hardy, Arkansas, about 3 hours from Memphis. In the 50s my parents owned a restaurant outside of town on US 63. Last one night a young singer came in on his way back to Memphis from a gig. He gave my mom a signed record and picture...Tragedy was the A side of the record. Can not remember the B side. We loved him, especially my older teen aged sisters!
casteaukid 2 days ago
The melancholy feel of the melody - the imagery of the lyrics - and the threadbare instrumental backing do evoke the feeling of lost love!
Petemonster62 1 month ago
Another great song from this era,I still have the original 45 of this with the middle missing,such memories.
MrCountrynut 2 months ago
It is just my opinion, but i think "Tragedy"by Thomas Wayne is the best rock and roll song ever recorded.
yrdbird 4 months ago 3
@yrdbird And you are surely entitled to that opinion, but I've got to think it's a stretch to rate this above EARTH ANGEL.
Alikah1 2 months ago
According to the Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits Thomas Wayne & The Delons' version of Tragedy made the Top 40 charts on 2/16/59 just days after the Holly/Valens/Big Bopper tragic plane crash. No coincidence that it later peaked at #5. But the number of hit covers of this tune is a good indication of what a great song this is! As was mentioned the ultimate irony is that Thomas Wayne was himself the victim of a tragedy years later.
owensclock 4 months ago
@49flattie...sorry, but your were told wrongly. Thomas Wayne Perkins was NOT the brother of Carl Perkins, but was the brother of Luther Perkins of Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two fame.
jfart2006 6 months ago
Great sound! Thomas Wayne Perkins was the Late Great Carl Perkins' brother. (As I was told years ago.) Brings back fondest memories of the late 50's - early 60's. The Greatest Music came out of Memphis back then.
THANKS FOR POSTING!
49flattie 6 months ago
Great versions by 1.) Thomas Wayne, 2.) The Fleetwoods 3.) Brenda Lee
Rjay290 7 months ago
Yes, this is the original.. I have it and it used to play on the radio - often.. in early 1959.
Century25 9 months ago
this song makes me cry :DD jk but still im happy to hear this :D
swineboi 9 months ago
Definitely a great arrangement - Vinny Smith "The Past Tells"
TheCahoonzie 1 year ago
Comment removed
tunesmith09 1 year ago
This was recorded at Fernwood Studios in Memphis, not Sun. In 1961, I was in Fernwood recording our first record and Thomas Waynes Gibson Hummingbird guitar was sitting in a case on the floor of the studio. The Engineer told he he needed money and wanted $300 for it. I really wanted that guitar, but that was like $3,000 to me at the time... I couldn't afford $30 .
GLarryB 1 year ago
@GLarryB
Mark Wallace here ,Grandson of Fernwood records Owner Ronald "SLIM" Wallace
what did you record there?
SlimmAaronGrimm 8 months ago
@SlimmAaronGrimm Hello... yes, my group "The Squires" recorded at Fernwood in the spring of 1961 for Chan Records. We also provided backup for a group called "The Cupids" also for Chan.
GLarryB 8 months ago
recorded at Sun studios in Memphis
arizonaghost1 1 year ago
This is the best version, although the Fleetwoods did a nice cover.
alanhfrank 1 year ago
Comment removed
jpringle1979 1 year ago
right around the time of the day the music died (Buddy Holly , The Big Bopper & Ritchie Valens
MrCuckooclock 1 year ago
A top five hit for Thomas Wayne in April 1959. It was kept out of the top spot by The Fleetwoods (Come Softly to Me). Sadly, he left us this coming Sunday (August 15) 39 years ago (1971). Thomas, this is your legacy. We love you and miss you.
mkl62 1 year ago
That 45 record would be very hard to come by, especially in near mint condition, and even more rare, the Fernwood 78 RPM record. That tune actually had coincided with the plane crash that took the lives of the Big Bopper, Richie Valens and Buddy Holly when it was recorded at that time.
tbear4pa 1 year ago
@tbear4pa
I am glad they posted this song. After digging through my collection I find that I have the original 45 Fernwood label bougth in Memphis Tenn in the year it released.
ASO135 1 year ago
@tbear4pa i have this on 45, just happened to run across it at a flea market. how rare is it? another neat thing about this record was that it was produced by none other than scotty moore, elvis' guitarist from 1954 - 1958.
rockabillycat1954 1 year ago
Luther Perkins' brother. They sure had great music in their blood!
Johi2410 1 year ago
A great song.. I was in Jr High, then.. I'd always wondered what happened to Thomas Wayne..
zipper179 1 year ago
@zipper179 he died in a car accident in Memphis, TN on August 15, 1971.
jeffreysnydr 1 year ago
@jeffreysnydr Thank you kindly, friend. Good music never dies..People like you can be counted on to keep it alive..
zipper179 1 year ago
So beautiful...it hurts to hear it!
hbailen 1 year ago
@hbailen Right, you are..But, hear it, we will..
zipper179 1 year ago
This is the better version..better than the fleetwoods.
blkshepherd 2 years ago
My most favorite tune from '59 besides "Who's That Knocking" ~ Genies on Shad
HoosierDaDa 2 years ago