With a heavy heart, I am so saddened to hear of the passing of drummer W.S. “Fluke” Holland, Johnny Cash’s longtime drummer. Fluke was Johnny’s only drummer for 37 years and the last surviving member of Johnny’s band with Marshall Grant and Luther Perkins. W.S. Holland passed away yesterday at the age of 85 of congestive heart failure. But what a life W.S. led!

July 3, 2014, I was on vacation that week.  But Fluke Holland was in town for a show later that night.  I had the amazing fortune to come in on my day off and do a live interview with Fluke.  And the stories he told…


His friend, Carl Perkins, asked him to play drums on Carl’s first recording session at Sun Records. Only thing was Fluke had never played a musical instrument in his life. But he learned and later played on Carl’s signature song, “Blue Suede Shoes.” Why did Carl ask him to play on the session?  Because Fluke had a big car to car their equipment in!
Fluke also played drums on the famous Million Dollar Quartet recordings. He told me he didn’t think it was a big deal at the time. It was just the boys getting together to jam. Those boys jamming were Cash, Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley.  Fluke said he was more concerned about getting his $11 pay for the session.
With the Statler Brothers as part of the Johnny Cash Show in the mid-1960’s, Fluke played on their classic hit “Flowers on the Wall.” And with Johnny, Fluke played the world over many times, including at Folsom Prison and at the White House.


I am so indebted to Paul Anthony, Johnny Cash tribute artist, for bringing Fluke to Country 107.3 in Tillsonburg six years ago. We talked, live on the air, for 90 minutes. Fluke shared just a small part of his amazing life stories. I was so fortunate to hear them from the man himself.  I have a set of Fluke Holland autographed drum sticks and he signed Cash’s book “Man in Black” for me as well as a replica Johnny Cash guitar Paul gave me that year.


Later that night, at a show in Delhi, Ont., Fluke sat down with fellow drummer Bill Carruthers and Bill had Fluke sign one of his cymbals. Hard to think they are both gone now.


The last time Fluke was in the area was two years ago at the London Music Hall to mark the 50th anniversary of Johnny proposing to June Carter in London, Ont. Tommy Cash was also on that show.


The band is now reunited. Rest in peace, Fluke, and thanks so much for taking the time six years ago to share some amazing with me and our listeners. W.S. “Fluke” Holland was as legendary as his career and his stories. To hear them first-hand from the man himself was such a privilege.

Listen to the full interview below (note:  some of the songs have been edited, some haven’t; some of the commercials have been edited out, some haven’t; weather and traffic reports have been removed):