For "The Lost Weekend: The Photographs of John Lennon" by May Pang
For "The Lost Weekend: The Photographs of John Lennon" by May Pang
A Nashville, Tennessee DJ once introduced Randy to his standing-room-only NASHVILLE NEW
MUSIC FESTIVAL audience as “the white Jackie Wilson”.
From Ohio, Randy headed out for the eastern USA and Canada eventually taking up residence in Richmond, VA where he quickly built a musical name for himself. Randy’s songwriting and performing skills attracted many of the area’s top, and then unknown, musicians.
At the urging of his ex-bandmate Keith Horne (Hot Apple Pie), who was now in Nashville playing bass for Tanya Tucker, Randy traveled to Nashville to investigate the town’s burgeoning Folk/Rock - Pop scene. After only 9 months of constant performing in Music City, Randy caught the ear of Tim Coats. Tim, veteran Bruce Springsteen bassist Garry Tallent and songwriter Ron LaSalle were forming a record label and signed Randy to a multi-record deal with their D’Ville Record Group.
Randy named his band DIGNUS (hence his “Diggy” nickname . . . hey, it just stuck) and IN YOUR WORLD, 12 songs written by Randy, produced by Garry and featuring George Marinelli (Bruce Hornsby and the Range/Bonnie Raitt) on additional guitars, was released in the Spring of 1996 to positive national reviews. With Perkins’ song Savhanna Lily Jones being added to college radio playlists all over the USA and Canada, the soulful and tight “Folk-Funk” trio burned up the eastern United States performing for The MacFEST in New York City and touring with The Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies . DIGNUS would open shows for headliners such as GOV'T Mule, Duncan Sheik, Jars of Clay, and headline medium-sized venues throughout the East. Just as things were looking up, D’Ville was “going down”, unable to survive a devastating financial setback. The promising Indie label closed leaving Randy without the muscle needed to continue promoting his recording.
After the D’Ville demise, Randy continued to build his name by writing and performing his own brand of soulful, “thought-provoking” music and releasing it through the DIGNUS website, ITunes and most on-line music outlets. Though the majority of Randy’s performances were solo/acoustic, he, also, followed his tradition of forming DIGNUS variations with musical luminaries like John Jackson (Bob Dylan/Lucinda Williams/Shelby Lynn), George Marinelli, Terry Thomas (The Cheetah Wheelies), and Mark W. Winchester (Emmylou Harris/ Brian Setzer) when needed. His November 1999 release LOOKING FOR A NEW WAY, featuring an appearance by Bela Fleck/Dave Matthews sax man Jeff Coffin, also earned great reviews. As host and performer for the 2001 and 2002 TIN PAN SOUTH (Nashville’s premiere annual songwriter showcase) and a featured BMI performer at the 2002 Folk Alliance, the Nashville music community continued to hold Randy “Diggy” Perkins and his music in high regard.
An all-acoustic DIGNUS CD, Mudhouse Serenade, was released in March of 2002. It features 12 new Perkins songs performed with all the soul and passion that he is known to deliver with his band. His relentless one-man "Mudhouse Tour" started in November of 2001, earning him repeat invitations to Chicago, New York City, Atlanta, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Annapolis and many other great towns and cities east of the Mississippi. The tour created a devout, grassroots following, as designed, and delivered opening slots for Keb Mo, Alejandro Escavedo, Chris Whitley, legendary folk singer Eric Andersen, The Maryjanes, and Those Darn Accordions.
In the April 2002 Music Row Magazine, contributor and music historian Robert K. Oermann wrote the benefit of the all-acoustic production of Mudhouse Serenade " . . . is that you get to hear how cool Randy Perkins’ lyrics are." Winston-Salem/Greensboro ESP Magazine writer Anise Cerra wrote "What keeps (Mudhouse Serenade) jumpin' is that Diggy never quite lets the ear rest. There's always some little hairpin turn musically to catch the breath or a fine lyric to stick in the mind." In the May 2002 issue, Music Row Magazine's record reviewer John Hood said Diggy "is in fine voice throughout (Mudhouse Serenade), cementing his status as one of Nashville's most compelling vocalists."
Randy’s story does not end, here. Far from it. During his grueling two year Mudhouse tour, Randy felt a calling. There was an emptiness that was becoming much bigger than any of the gains he was making. In January of 2003, alone in his Nashville apartment, Randy Perkins asked Jesus Christ to be Lord of his life and everything changed.
Randy stopped traveling and began to study the Bible. He thirsted for The Word, just as he had heard from his grandfather when Randy was a boy. After two years of study, new songs began to flow, only now, the lyrics were praising Jesus and telling stories about his new life. Randy “Diggy” Perkins had become a “new creature” in Christ. During this special time in Perkins’ life, he received a sitar as a gift and, after playing in his house for only a few months, he was asked to perform several shows at the Frist Center Vishnu event in Nashville which lead Perkins to a three year run playing sitar at a Nashville Indian restaurant. A fourth DIGNUS collection of recordings titled KALEIDOSCOPE was released in 2017. All DIGNUS releases can be found on iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon and most online music streams.
Perkins created Saints of Woodbine to perform his Christian life songs and released two powerful teaser singles I FOUND YOU and THIS IS THE GOSPEL were released in April of 2021 on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, iTunes and most online music outlets. The full album release, CHRIST IS , delivers ten S.O.W. songs written by Perkins and features musical greats like keyboardist Dane Bryant (Dolly Parton, Olivia Newton John), Rod McGaha on trumpet and fluegelhorn, Nioshi Jackson, Rob Crawford and Perkins’ son Gabe Perkins providing drums and percussion. Mark W. Winchester and studio owner and engineer Brook Sutton played bass. The featured singers are Reverend Dr. Herbert Hobson, LaRisha Sanders, Allison Lagrone, Jamie Paul, and Perkins. This mix of voices make the song’s messages ring true. CHRIST IS dropped on Valentine’s Day 2023 on all online streamers as well as vendors such as iTunes. For booking of S.O.W. and RANDY PERKINS as a solo singer, duo with upright bass or full band, please email booking@thedwhq.com!
RANDY PERKINS IS BRINGING HIS 5 DECADES OF ORIGINAL MUSIC TO AUDIENCES EVERYWHERE! Perkins will play his songs as far back as 1976 and as new as now as a solo artist and with a new band of gifted and cherished friends. Debut performance is scheduled in April 2024.
*ALSO* Look for the epic new novel, TENSILE TOWN – A Novel by RS Perkins, published by INNOVO Publishing wherever great books are sold online, including Amazon.com and Barnes & Nobel.