study
At the helm of Retro Hits Tributes is Berklee College of Music graduate, John Perkins. His performance skills honed by percussion greats Dave DiCenso (Josh Groban, Duran Duran), Kenwood Dennard (Jaco Pastorius, Maceo Parker), Mike Mangini (Steve Vai, Dream Theater), Eguie Castrillo (Tito Puento, Steve Winwood, Giovanni Hidalgo), Ralph Peterson (Roy Hargrove, Wynton Marsalis), among others. Soon after graduating from Berklee with a degree in Music Business Management, John continued his education and completed his MBA in Entrepreneurial/Marketing at Suffolk University in Boston.
As a professional drummer, John has performed well over 2,000 shows, including national jazz festivals and celebrity fundraisers. He has performed on stage with artists such as Heidi Newfield (Trick Pony), Marc Ford (Booker T Jones, The Black Crowes), Bobby Hebb, and members of the band Lettuce. John has also shared the stage with artists such as Little Richard, Kool and the Gang, The Fixx, Tower Of Power, George Porter Jr, Maceo Parker, and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
the company
Retro Hits Tributes prides themselves in their ability to generate a unique musical experience that does not lend itself to impersonation. All of our bands maintain artistic integrity and perform without kitschy costumes, gimmicks, or backing tracks. As the alternative to your standard variety band, we play homage to the genre and the sound. We are a musician-run company, with a roster consisting of professional, working musicians who are well-known players in the Southern California music scene.
A partial list of our performance venues include: Carlsbad TGIF Summer Concert Series, The Belly Up, Boston Garden, House of Blues (San Diego, Boston, Chicago), El Conquistador (Puerto Rico), Rancho Valencia Resort, Viper Room, The Bridges Country Club (Rancho Santa Fe), San Diego Yacht Club, Farmer & the Seahorse, Humphrey’s By the Bay, Whisky A Go Go, Cape Cod Melody Tent, and the Denver Broncos’ Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
credentials
John landed a prestigious internship at The Firm Management & Production Company in Los Angeles. As a talent agency that represents the finest in music, film, television, and sports, his management skills were refined as he worked directly with the senior management team that represented artists such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Snoop Dog, Martin Scorsese, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Ice Cube, Korn, Pete Yorn, and Cameron Diaz.
While immersed in the entertainment industry, John sought to focus specifically in music and talent. After a move to Chrysalis Music Group in Beverly Hills, he continued his career in Music Publishing. While in the Royalties department, some of John’s clients included artists such as Bruno Mars, Debbie Harry, Bon Iver, My Morning Jacket, Outkast, CeeLo Green, Ray Lamontagne, and Scott Weiland.