Gary Perkins
Encyclopedia
Born in 1937 in Abilene, Texas
, USA, Gary Perkins (July 14, 1937 - June 28, 1991) was a radio DJ who began his radio career in 1957 at Midland
Texas' KCRS where Roy Orbison
and Buddy Holly
used to drop their records off. After joining the army, where he served in the National Security Agency
as well as in Armed Forces Radio, he moved to El Paso
Texas and joined KHEY radio in the 1960s.
Publishing his own magazine for the station, Gary quickly built a rapport with the artists he interviewed (which lead to a stint as drummer for Lefty Frizzell
's band). He became friends with the likes of Willie Nelson
, Johnny Cash
, Waylon Jennings
, Kris Kristofferson
, Hank Williams Jr., Glen Campbell
and Buck Owens
. He was always asked to MC
their shows and by the time he moved to San Diego California
's KSON radio station, he was becoming more popular than some of the artists themselves as noted by an article in the June 1971 issue of TV & Radio Mirror:
Whenever Gary Perkins is emceeing a country music show, the autograph-seekers run right past Johnny Cash, Buck Owens and Glen Campbell. Pens poised in mid-air, they pass up their national singing idols and rush up to the 6'1", blue-eyed, blond-haired San Diego favorite who simply plays their music. When this happens he usually replies, "I'm not one of the stars, I'm just the deejay." Ask anyone who listens to his show and they'll tell you differently. They'll tell you that his warm, personable approach is helpful in getting through the day.
Consistently rated number 1 with females 25 to 49 in the broadcast industry ratings for his market, Gary later rose to fame in the early to mid 1970s for changing the face of country music by playing the likes of Paul McCartney
, Elton John
and The Eagles alongside the country standards, leading to the cross-over trend of Country rock
and pop. This earned him the reputation as a daring, often iconoclastic, music director.
In the 1980s he moved back to El Paso and to his home station of KHEY radio. On June 7, 1990, Gary Perkins was honored with an award at the Grand Ole Opry
in Nashville, Tennessee for 35 years of service in broadcasting
. The award was presented to Gary by legendary crooner Tom T. Hall
.
Gary had also become a notable writer for the El Paso Times often writing about politics, humor or his bout with pancreatic cancer. Gary Perkins died June 28, 1991, one year after he first learned he had cancer
of the pancreas. Gary is survived by his sons Craig Anthony Perkins
of industrial band cell:burn
and jido-genshi
and Todd Perkins.
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
, USA, Gary Perkins (July 14, 1937 - June 28, 1991) was a radio DJ who began his radio career in 1957 at Midland
Midland, Texas
Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States, on the Southern Plains of the state's western area. A small portion of the city extends into Martin County. As of 2010, the population of Midland was 111,147. It is the principal city of the Midland, Texas...
Texas' KCRS where Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
and Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
used to drop their records off. After joining the army, where he served in the National Security Agency
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
as well as in Armed Forces Radio, he moved to El Paso
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
Texas and joined KHEY radio in the 1960s.
Publishing his own magazine for the station, Gary quickly built a rapport with the artists he interviewed (which lead to a stint as drummer for Lefty Frizzell
Lefty Frizzell
Lefty Frizzell , born William Orville Frizzell, was an American country music singer and songwriter of the 1950s, and a proponent of honky tonk music. His relaxed style of singing was an influence on later stars Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, George Jones and John Fogerty...
's band). He became friends with the likes of Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
, Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
, Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson
Kristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"...
, Hank Williams Jr., Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell
Glen Travis Campbell is an American country music singer, guitarist, television host and occasional actor. He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for hosting a variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television.During his 50 years in show...
and Buck Owens
Buck Owens
Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr. , better known as Buck Owens, was an American singer and guitarist who had 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country music charts with his band, the Buckaroos...
. He was always asked to MC
Master of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
their shows and by the time he moved to San Diego California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's KSON radio station, he was becoming more popular than some of the artists themselves as noted by an article in the June 1971 issue of TV & Radio Mirror:
Whenever Gary Perkins is emceeing a country music show, the autograph-seekers run right past Johnny Cash, Buck Owens and Glen Campbell. Pens poised in mid-air, they pass up their national singing idols and rush up to the 6'1", blue-eyed, blond-haired San Diego favorite who simply plays their music. When this happens he usually replies, "I'm not one of the stars, I'm just the deejay." Ask anyone who listens to his show and they'll tell you differently. They'll tell you that his warm, personable approach is helpful in getting through the day.
Consistently rated number 1 with females 25 to 49 in the broadcast industry ratings for his market, Gary later rose to fame in the early to mid 1970s for changing the face of country music by playing the likes of Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
and The Eagles alongside the country standards, leading to the cross-over trend of Country rock
Country rock
Country rock is sub-genre of popular music, formed from the fusion of rock with country. The term is generally used to refer to the wave of rock musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late 1960s and early 1970s, beginning with Bob Dylan and The Byrds; reaching its greatest...
and pop. This earned him the reputation as a daring, often iconoclastic, music director.
In the 1980s he moved back to El Paso and to his home station of KHEY radio. On June 7, 1990, Gary Perkins was honored with an award at the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
in Nashville, Tennessee for 35 years of service in broadcasting
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
. The award was presented to Gary by legendary crooner Tom T. Hall
Tom T. Hall
Thomas "Tom T." Hall is an American country music singer-songwriter. He has written 11 #1 hit songs, with 26 more that reached the Top 10, including the pop crossover hit "I Love", which reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100...
.
Gary had also become a notable writer for the El Paso Times often writing about politics, humor or his bout with pancreatic cancer. Gary Perkins died June 28, 1991, one year after he first learned he had cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
of the pancreas. Gary is survived by his sons Craig Anthony Perkins
Craig Anthony Perkins
Craig Anthony Perkins is a musician, composer, record label owner and producer, photographer, filmmaker, author and designer from Los Angeles who is most known for his designer toy figure the Broken Heart Robot and his music project jido-genshi.Perkins is an autodidact who is self taught in music,...
of industrial band cell:burn
Cell:burn
cell:burn is an industrial music project started in 1984 by Craig Anthony Perkins. The original band name was Cybertek until a few years later when members of Front 242 started using the name as a side project By the early 1990s Cybertek changed its name to cell:burn as to not be associated with...
and jido-genshi
Jido-genshi
jido-genshi is an experimental electronic music project and pseudonym of musician and music-technologist Craig Anthony Perkins...
and Todd Perkins.