W. S. Holland

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W.S. "Fluke" Holland is a drummer who worked extensively with numerous rock and roll musicians, but became well-known as the drummer in Johnny Cash's Tennessee Three backing band.

Holland earned the nickname "Fluke" while working at a filling station. He would use "fluke" as a slang term to replace other nouns. For example, "look at that car," became "look at that fluke." The owner of the station began calling Holland "Fluke" and the nickname stuck. A common, yet understandable, misconception is that Holland earned the nickname "Fluke" because of his improbable entry into the music industry. At the time he made his first recording for Sun Records, he had played the drums just once before. He got his break performing on the original version of "Blue Suede Shoes" by Carl Perkins. In the months to follow W.S. pioneered the use of drums in rock and roll music, well before Elvis Presley began touring with a drummer.

Holland went on to perform on the "Million Dollar Quartet" session that featured Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash. W.S.'s contribution to rock and roll has been recognized by several respected drummers, including Ringo Starr of The Beatles, as being a major influence in their careers. In 1960, Holland joined Johnny Cash as a touring and recording artist and is heard on many of Cash's most famous songs, including "I Walk the Line", "Folsom Prison Blues" and "Ring of Fire." It is reported that Johnny Cash said to him, "I want you to work with me every show I play for as long as I'm in the business," which ended up being the case.

Holland continues to perform as The Tennessee Three with Bob Wootton -- lead guitarist since 1968 -- and in 2006 recorded the band's first album since Cash's death, titled "The Sound Must Go On."