From: Kyle Aaron
Date: September 30, 2003
Tommy Perkins, drummer for the Texas Playboys, died in a car wreck on the way home from the Wichita Falls Western Swing festival last Friday. He was 69. He's the first Playboy to pass on since I became involved with them a few years ago. Just a few short hours earlier that day, I was on stage with him, playing Faded Love and Tater Pie, and having a total blast as usual. When the gig was over, I shook his hand and said "Hope to see ya' in Ruidoso this October!". :-( Tommy was one of my favorites. Never said much, but was always really nice, as most of the old western Swing musicians are. I called him the 'Human Metronome' because he kept perfect time. He thought that was funny. :-) This is why I'm proud to be a part of this group, even though it's only occasionally. To be called a Texas Playboy is special and wonderful. I know it's a sad truth that the fathers of Western Swing won't be with us forever. It's us young folks who are going to keep it alive when they're gone, and hopefully there will be young folks playing it when my generation is old. It's a great honor to get to pick with these guys and learn from them. It's their job to show us how to play it right, and our job to go out and play it better than ever. Guess Tommy's up there playing drums for Bob again. God bless. Kyle Aaron