Carl Perkins: Difference between revisions
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'''Carl Lee Perkins''' (April 9, 1932 – January 19, 1998)<ref>{{cite web |title=Carl Perkins – American musician and songwriter |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Carl-Perkins |website=britannica.com |access-date=9 November 2019}}</ref><ref name="nytimesobit">[[#nytimesobit|Pareles.]]</ref> was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. A [[rockabilly]] great and pioneer of [[rock and roll]], he began his recording career at the [[Sun Studio]] | '''Carl Lee Perkins''' (April 9, 1932 – January 19, 1998)<ref>{{cite web |title=Carl Perkins – American musician and songwriter |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Carl-Perkins |website=britannica.com |access-date=9 November 2019}}</ref><ref name="nytimesobit">[[#nytimesobit|Pareles.]]</ref> was an American country, rockabilly, and rock and roll guitarist, singer and songwriter. A [[rockabilly]] great and pioneer of [[rock and roll]], he began his recording career at the [[Sun Studio]] in [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] in 1954. Among his best known songs are "[[Blue Suede Shoes]]", "[[Honey Don't]]", "[[Matchbox (song)|Matchbox]]" and "[[Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby]]". | ||
According to fellow musician [[Charlie Daniels]], "Carl Perkins' songs personified the rockabilly era, and Carl Perkins' sound personifies the rockabilly sound more so than anybody involved in it, because he never changed. | According to fellow musician [[Charlie Daniels]], "Carl Perkins' songs personified the rockabilly era, and Carl Perkins' sound personifies the rockabilly sound more so than anybody involved in it, because he never changed".<ref name="naylor118">[[#legends|Naylor, p. 118.]]</ref> Perkins's songs were recorded by artists (and friends) as influential as [[Elvis Presley]], [[the Beatles]], [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[Johnny Cash]], [[Ricky Nelson]], and [[Eric Clapton]], which further cemented his prominent place in the history of popular music. | ||
Nicknamed the "[[Honorific nicknames in popular music|King of Rockabilly]]", Perkins was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]], the [[Rockabilly Hall of Fame]], the [[Memphis Music Hall of Fame]], and the [[Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame]]. His recording of "Blue Suede Shoes" was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]]. | Nicknamed the "[[Honorific nicknames in popular music|King of Rockabilly]]", Perkins was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]], the [[Rockabilly Hall of Fame]], the [[Memphis Music Hall of Fame]], and the [[Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame]]. His recording of "Blue Suede Shoes" was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]]. | ||
==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
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===Early life=== | ===Early life=== | ||
Carl Lee Perkins was born on April 9, 1932, in [[Tiptonville, Tennessee]], the son of poor [[sharecropper]]s Louise and Buck Perkins (misspelled on his birth certificate as "Perkings").<ref name="autogenerated2">[https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/carlperkins/biography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100226181247/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/carlperkins/biography|date=February 26, 2010}}</ref> He had two brothers, Jay and Clayton.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 8–9.]]</ref> From the age of six, he worked long hours in the cotton fields with his family whether school was in session or not. The boys grew up hearing [[Southern gospel]] music sung by white friends in church and by black field workers and sharecroppers in the cotton fields.<ref name=pc8>{{Pop Chronicles|8|3}}</ref> On Saturday nights Perkins would listen to the ''[[Grand Ole Opry]]'', broadcast from [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] on his father's radio. | Carl Lee Perkins was born on April 9, 1932, in [[Tiptonville, Tennessee]], the son of poor [[sharecropper]]s Louise and Buck Perkins (misspelled on his birth certificate as "Perkings").<ref name="autogenerated2">[https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/carlperkins/biography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100226181247/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/carlperkins/biography|date=February 26, 2010}}</ref> He had two brothers, Jay and Clayton.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 8–9.]]</ref> From the age of six, he worked long hours in the cotton fields with his family whether school was in session or not. The boys grew up hearing [[Southern gospel]] music sung by white friends in church and by black field workers and sharecroppers in the cotton fields.<ref name=pc8>{{Pop Chronicles|8|3}}</ref> On Saturday nights Perkins would listen to the ''[[Grand Ole Opry]]'', broadcast from [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] on his father's radio. | ||
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[[Roy Acuff]]'s broadcasts from the Opry inspired Perkins to ask his parents for a guitar.<ref>[[#legends|Naylor.]]</ref> Since they could not afford to buy one, his father made one from a [[cigar box guitar|cigar box]] and a broomstick. Eventually, a neighbor sold his father a worn-out [[Gene Autry]] guitar. Perkins could not afford new strings, and when they broke, he had to retie them. The knots cut his fingers when he would slide to another note, so he began bending the notes, stumbling onto a type of [[blue note]].<ref name="naylor118" /><ref name=":0">[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 13–14.]]</ref> | [[Roy Acuff]]'s broadcasts from the Opry inspired Perkins to ask his parents for a guitar.<ref>[[#legends|Naylor.]]</ref> Since they could not afford to buy one, his father made one from a [[cigar box guitar|cigar box]] and a broomstick. Eventually, a neighbor sold his father a worn-out [[Gene Autry]] guitar. Perkins could not afford new strings, and when they broke, he had to retie them. The knots cut his fingers when he would slide to another note, so he began bending the notes, stumbling onto a type of [[blue note]].<ref name="naylor118" /><ref name=":0">[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 13–14.]]</ref> | ||
Perkins taught himself parts of Acuff's [[The Great Speckled Bird (song)|Great Speckled Bird]] and [[The Wabash Cannonball]] having heard them played on the ''Opry''. He also has cited [[Bill Monroe]]'s fast playing and vocals as an early influence.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 11–12.]]</ref> Perkins also learned from John Westbrook, an African-American field worker in his | Perkins taught himself parts of Acuff's "[[The Great Speckled Bird (song)|Great Speckled Bird]]" and "[[The Wabash Cannonball]]" having heard them played on the ''Opry''. He also has cited [[Bill Monroe]]'s fast playing and vocals as an early influence.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 11–12.]]</ref> Perkins also learned from John Westbrook, an African-American field worker in his 60s who played blues and gospel music on an old acoustic guitar. Westbrook advised Perkins to "Get down close to it. You can feel it travel down the strangs, come through your head and down to your soul where you live. You can feel it. Let it vib-a-rate".<ref name="naylor118" /><ref name=":0" /> | ||
In January 1947, the Perkins family moved from [[Lake County, Tennessee]], to [[Madison County, Tennessee|Madison County]], 70 miles from [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]], the largest city in West Tennessee and a center of a great variety of music played by both black and white artists.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 30, 55.]]</ref> At age | In January 1947, the Perkins family moved from [[Lake County, Tennessee]], to [[Madison County, Tennessee|Madison County]], 70 miles from [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]], the largest city in West Tennessee and a center of a great variety of music played by both black and white artists.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 30, 55.]]</ref> At the age of 14, Perkins wrote a country song called "Let Me Take You to the Movie, Magg". [[Sam Phillips]] was later persuaded by the quality of that song to sign Perkins to his [[Sun Records]] label.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 30, 68.]]</ref> | ||
===Beginnings as a performer=== | ===Beginnings as a performer=== | ||
Perkins and his brother Jay had their first paying job (in tips) as entertainers during late 1946 at the Cotton Boll tavern on Highway 45, twelve miles south of Jackson, Tennessee, starting on Wednesday nights. Perkins was 14 years old. One of the songs they played was an up-tempo country blues shuffle version of [[Bill Monroe]]'s [[Blue Moon of Kentucky]]. Free drinks were one of the perks of playing in a tavern, and Perkins drank four beers that first night. Within a month, Carl and Jay began playing Friday and Saturday nights at the Sand Ditch tavern near Jackson's western border. Both places were the scene of occasional fights and both of the Perkins brothers gained a reputation as fighters.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 36–41.]]</ref> | Perkins and his brother Jay had their first paying job (in tips) as entertainers during late 1946 at the Cotton Boll tavern on Highway 45, twelve miles south of Jackson, Tennessee, starting on Wednesday nights. Perkins was 14 years old. One of the songs they played was an up-tempo country blues shuffle version of [[Bill Monroe]]'s "[[Blue Moon of Kentucky]]". Free drinks were one of the perks of playing in a tavern, and Perkins drank four beers that first night. Within a month, Carl and Jay began playing Friday and Saturday nights at the Sand Ditch tavern near Jackson's western border. Both places were the scene of occasional fights and both of the Perkins brothers gained a reputation as fighters.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 36–41.]]</ref> | ||
During the next couple of years, as they became better known, the Perkins brothers began playing other taverns around Bemis and Jackson, including El Rancho, the Roadside Inn, and the Hilltop. Carl persuaded his brother Clayton to join them and play the [[upright bass]], to complete the sound of the band.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, p. 48.]]</ref> | During the next couple of years, as they became better known, the Perkins brothers began playing other taverns around Bemis and Jackson, including El Rancho, the Roadside Inn, and the Hilltop. Carl persuaded his brother Clayton to join them and play the [[upright bass]], to complete the sound of the band.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, p. 48.]]</ref> | ||
Perkins began performing regularly on [[WTJF (AM)|WTJS]] in Jackson during the late 1940s as a sometime member of the | Perkins began performing regularly on [[WTJF (AM)|WTJS]] in Jackson during the late 1940s as a sometime member of the Tennessee Ramblers with Carl on lead guitar, Junior Vastal on slap bass, and Edd Cisco playing rhythm guitar and singing. He appeared on the radio program ''Hayloft Frolic'' on which he performed two songs. One was "Talking Blues" as done by Robert Lunn on the ''Grand Ole Opry''. Perkins and his brothers began appearing on ''The Early Morning Farm and Home Hour''. Positive listener response earned them a 15-minute segment sponsored by Mother's Best Flour. By the end of the 1940s, the Perkins Brothers were the best known band in the Jackson area.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 48–49.]]</ref> Perkins had day jobs during most of these early years including picking cotton, working at various factories and plants and as a pan greaser for the Colonial Baking Company.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 32, 70–71.]]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://rockabillytennessee.com/legend_carl_perkins.htm |title=The Legend Carl Perkins |publisher=Rockabillytennessee.com |date=1998-01-19 |access-date=2011-11-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117221958/http://www.rockabillytennessee.com/legend_carl_perkins.htm |archive-date=November 17, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> His brothers had similar pick up jobs. | ||
In January 1953, Perkins married Valda Crider, whom he had known for a number of years. When his job at the bakery was reduced to part-time, Valda, who had her own job, encouraged Perkins to begin working the taverns full-time. He began playing six nights a week. Later the same year, he added [[W. S. Holland|W.S. "Fluke" Holland]] to the band as a drummer. Holland had no previous experience as a musician but had a good sense of rhythm.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 70–71.]]</ref> | In January 1953, Perkins married Valda Crider, whom he had known for a number of years. When his job at the bakery was reduced to part-time, Valda, who had her own job, encouraged Perkins to begin working the taverns full-time. He began playing six nights a week. Later the same year, he added [[W. S. Holland|W.S. "Fluke" Holland]] to the band as a drummer. Holland had no previous experience as a musician but had a good sense of rhythm.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 70–71.]]</ref> | ||
[[Malcolm Yelvington]], who remembered the Perkins Brothers when they played in [[Covington, Tennessee]] in 1953, noted that | [[Malcolm Yelvington]], who remembered the Perkins Brothers when they played in [[Covington, Tennessee]], in 1953, noted that Perkins had an unusual blues-like style all his own.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, p. 77.]]</ref> By 1955, Perkins had made tapes of his material on a borrowed tape recorder and sent them to record companies such as Columbia and RCA. But he used addresses such as Columbia Records, New York City, and seemed dismayed at the lack of response. "I had sent tapes to RCA and [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] and had never heard a thing from 'em".<ref name="Top Beats Bottom"/> | ||
In July 1954, Perkins and his wife heard a new release of "[[Blue Moon of Kentucky]]" by [[Elvis Presley]], [[Scotty Moore]] and [[Bill Black]] on the radio.<ref>[http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/pics/d03/3318.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> As the song faded out, Perkins said, "There's a man in Memphis who understands what we're doing. I need to go see him. | In July 1954, Perkins and his wife heard a new release of "[[Blue Moon of Kentucky]]" by [[Elvis Presley]], [[Scotty Moore]] and [[Bill Black]] on the radio.<ref>[http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/pics/d03/3318.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> As the song faded out, Perkins said, "There's a man in Memphis who understands what we're doing. I need to go see him".<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 79–90.]]</ref> According to another telling of the story, it was Valda who said that he should go to Memphis.<ref>''Rockabilly Legends''. Naler. p. 121</ref> Later, Presley told Perkins he had traveled to Jackson and had seen Perkins and his group playing at the El Rancho.<ref name="Top Beats Bottom">"The Top Beats the Bottom: Carl Perkins and his Music". ''The Atlantic''. December 1970. p. 100</ref> | ||
Years later, the rockabilly singer [[Gene Vincent]] told an interviewer that, rather than | Years later, the rockabilly singer [[Gene Vincent]] told an interviewer that, rather than Presley's version of "Blue Moon of Kentucky" being a "new sound", "a lot of people were doing it before that, especially Carl Perkins".<ref>VanHecke, Susan (2000). ''Race with the Devil''. St. Martin's Press. p. 219. {{ISBN|0-312-26222-1}}</ref> | ||
=== Sun Records === | === Sun Records === | ||
Perkins successfully auditioned for [[Sam Phillips]] at [[Sun Records]] in early October 1954. "[[Movie Magg]]" and "Turn Around" were released on the Phillips-owned Flip label (151) on March 19, 1955.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/labels/f/f461.htm |title=Flip (Tenn.) (RCS Label Listing) |access-date=2014-05-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713180341/http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/labels/f/f461.htm |archive-date=July 13, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> "Turn Around" became a regional success, and Perkins was booked to appear along with Elvis Presley at theaters in [[Marianna, Arkansas|Marianna]] and [[West Memphis, Arkansas]].<ref name="nytimesobit"/><ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 106–108.]]</ref> [[Johnny Cash]] and the [[Tennessee Two]] were the next Sun musicians to be added to the shows. During the summer of 1955 they had junkets to [[Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock]] and [[Forrest City, Arkansas]], and to [[Corinth, Mississippi|Corinth]] and [[Tupelo, Mississippi]]. Again performing at El Rancho, the Perkins brothers were involved in an automobile accident in Woodside, Delaware. A friend who was driving was pinned by the steering wheel. Perkins dragged him from the burning car. Clayton was thrown from the car but was not seriously injured.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 122–124.]]</ref> | |||
Perkins successfully auditioned for [[Sam Phillips]] at [[Sun Records]] in early October 1954. "[[Movie Magg]]" and "Turn Around" were released on the Phillips-owned Flip label (151) on March 19, 1955.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/labels/f/f461.htm |title=Flip (Tenn.) (RCS Label Listing) |access-date=2014-05-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713180341/http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/labels/f/f461.htm |archive-date=July 13, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> "Turn Around" became a regional success, and Perkins was booked to appear along with Elvis Presley at theaters in [[Marianna, Arkansas|Marianna]] and [[West Memphis, Arkansas]].<ref name="nytimesobit"/><ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 106–108.]]</ref> [[Johnny Cash]] and the [[Tennessee Two]] were the next Sun musicians to be added to the shows. During the summer of 1955 they had junkets to [[Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock]] and [[Forrest City, Arkansas]], and to [[Corinth, Mississippi|Corinth]] and [[Tupelo, Mississippi]]. Again performing at El Rancho, the Perkins brothers were involved in an automobile accident in Woodside, Delaware. A friend who was driving was pinned by the steering wheel. Perkins | |||
Sun released another Perkins song, "Gone Gone Gone",<ref>[http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/pics/d03/3234.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/ss/03/ss3287.mp3 |format=MP3 |title=MP3 recording |publisher=Rcs-discography.com |access-date=2015-08-17}}</ref> in October 1955,<ref name="rcs-discography1">{{cite web |url=http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/artists/p/perk1000.htm |title=Perkins, Carl (RCS Artist Discography) |access-date=2014-05-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717234900/http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/artists/p/perk1000.htm |archive-date=July 17, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> which also became a regional success. It was a "bounce blues in flavorsome combined country and R&B idioms".<ref>''Billboard'', October 22, 1955. "Reviews of New C&W Records." p. 44 | Sun released another Perkins song, "Gone Gone Gone",<ref>[http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/pics/d03/3234.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/ss/03/ss3287.mp3 |format=MP3 |title=MP3 recording |publisher=Rcs-discography.com |access-date=2015-08-17}}</ref> in October 1955,<ref name="rcs-discography1">{{cite web |url=http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/artists/p/perk1000.htm |title=Perkins, Carl (RCS Artist Discography) |access-date=2014-05-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717234900/http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/artists/p/perk1000.htm |archive-date=July 17, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> which also became a regional success. It was a "bounce blues in flavorsome combined country and R&B idioms".<ref>''Billboard'', October 22, 1955. "Reviews of New C&W Records." p. 44</ref> The A-side was the more traditional country song "[[Let the Jukebox Keep On Playing]]".<ref>[http://www.boija.com/skivor/sun_carl.htm The Carl Perkins Sun collection.]</ref> | ||
Commenting on Perkins's playing, Sam Phillips has been quoted as saying | Commenting on Perkins's playing, Sam Phillips has been quoted as saying | ||
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<blockquote>I knew that Carl could rock and in fact he told me right from the start that he had been playing that music before Elvis came out on record ... I wanted to see whether this was someone who could revolutionize the country end of the business.<ref>[[Colin Escott|Escott, Colin]]; Hawkins, Martin. ''Good Rockin' Tonight: Sun Records and the Birth of Rock 'n' Roll''. Google eBook. Retrieved 10.11.2011.</ref></blockquote> | <blockquote>I knew that Carl could rock and in fact he told me right from the start that he had been playing that music before Elvis came out on record ... I wanted to see whether this was someone who could revolutionize the country end of the business.<ref>[[Colin Escott|Escott, Colin]]; Hawkins, Martin. ''Good Rockin' Tonight: Sun Records and the Birth of Rock 'n' Roll''. Google eBook. Retrieved 10.11.2011.</ref></blockquote> | ||
Also in the autumn of 1955, Perkins wrote "[[Blue Suede Shoes]]" <ref name=pc8/> inspired by seeing a dancer get angry with his date for scuffing up his shoes.<ref>Perkins, Carl; McGee, David (1996). ''Go, Cat, Go!'' Hyperion Press. p. 129. {{ISBN|0-7868-6073-1}} | Also in the autumn of 1955, Perkins wrote "[[Blue Suede Shoes]]",<ref name=pc8/> inspired by seeing a dancer get angry with his date for scuffing up his shoes.<ref>Perkins, Carl; McGee, David (1996). ''Go, Cat, Go!'' Hyperion Press. p. 129. {{ISBN|0-7868-6073-1}}</ref> Several weeks later, on December 19, 1955, Perkins and his band recorded the song during a session at Sun Studio in Memphis. Phillips suggested changes to the lyrics ("Go, cat, go"), and the band changed the end of the song to a "[[boogie-woogie|boogie]] [[vamp (music)|vamp]]".<ref name=miller>Miller, James (1999). ''Flowers in the Dustbin: The Rise of Rock and Roll, 1947–1977''. Simon & Schuster. pp. 124–25. {{ISBN|0-684-80873-0}}</ref> | ||
After Sun | After Sun Records headliner Presley left for [[RCA Records|RCA]] in November 1955, Phillips told Perkins, "You're my rockabilly cat now".<ref>[[#legends|Naylor, p. 135.]]</ref> Sun released "Blue Suede Shoes" on January 1, 1956 and it became a massive chart success. In the United States, it reached number one on [[Billboard magazine]]'s [[country music]] chart (the only number one success he would have) and number two on the Billboard Best Sellers popular music chart. On February 11, Presley performed it on CBS-TV's ''[[Stage Show]]''. On March 17, Perkins became the first country artist to reach number three on the [[rhythm and blues]] chart.<ref name=miller/><ref name="naylor137">[[#legends|Naylor, p. 137.]]</ref> That night, he performed the song on ABC-TV's ''[[Ozark Jubilee]]'' and Presley reprised his performance on ''Stage Show''. | ||
In | In Britain, Perkins's song reached number 10 on the [[UK singles chart]]. It was the first record by a Sun artist to sell a million copies.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book|first=Joseph|last=Murrells|year=1978|title=The Book of Golden Discs|edition=2nd | ||
|publisher=Barrie and Jenkins Ltd|location=London|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/84]|isbn=0-214-20512-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/84}}</ref> The Beatles covered the B side, [[Honey Don't]],<ref name=pc8/> [[Wanda Jackson]] and in the 1970s, [[T. Rex (band)|T. Rex]]. [[John Lennon]] originally sang the song when the Beatles performed it. Later it was given to [[Ringo Starr]], one of his few leads during his time with the band. Lennon also performed the song on the ''Lost Lennon Tapes''.<ref name="naylor137"/>{{when|date=November 2022}} | |publisher=Barrie and Jenkins Ltd|location=London|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/84]|isbn=0-214-20512-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/84}}</ref> The Beatles covered the B side, "[[Honey Don't]]",<ref name=pc8/> followed by [[Wanda Jackson]] and in the 1970s, [[T. Rex (band)|T. Rex]]. [[John Lennon]] originally sang the song when the Beatles performed it. Later it was given to [[Ringo Starr]], one of his few leads during his time with the band. Lennon also performed the song on the ''Lost Lennon Tapes''.<ref name="naylor137"/>{{when|date=November 2022}} | ||
===Road crash=== | ===Road crash=== | ||
After playing a show in [[Norfolk, Virginia]], on March 21, 1956, the Perkins Brothers Band headed to [[New York City]] for a March 24 appearance on [[NBC|NBC-TV's]] ''[[The Perry Como Show|Perry Como Show]]''. Shortly before sunrise on March 22, on Route 13 between [[Dover, Delaware|Dover]] and [[Woodside, Delaware]], their vehicle hit the back of a pickup truck and went into a ditch containing about 12 inches of water. Holland had to pull Perkins, unconscious, from the water. Perkins had sustained three fractured vertebrae in his neck, a severe concussion, a broken collar bone, and lacerations all over his body. Perkins remained unconscious for an entire day. The driver of the pickup truck, Thomas Phillips, a 40-year-old farmer, died when he was thrown into the steering wheel.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 178, 180.]]</ref> Jay Perkins had a fractured neck and severe internal injuries. Later he developed a malignant brain tumor, and died in 1958.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Morrison|first=Craig|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qAHvUO5GknMC&q=%22jay+perkins%22+1958&pg=PA83|title=Go Cat Go!: Rockabilly Music and Its Makers|date=1999|publisher=University of Illinois Press|isbn=978-0-252-06538-5|pages=83|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&q=%22jay+perkins%22+1958|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|date=2011-05-27|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=978-0-85712-595-8|pages=1988|language=en}}</ref> | After playing a show in [[Norfolk, Virginia]], on March 21, 1956, the Perkins Brothers Band headed to [[New York City]] for a March 24 appearance on [[NBC|NBC-TV's]] ''[[The Perry Como Show|Perry Como Show]]''. Shortly before sunrise on March 22, on Route 13 between [[Dover, Delaware|Dover]] and [[Woodside, Delaware]], their vehicle hit the back of a pickup truck and went into a ditch containing about 12 inches of water. Holland had to pull Perkins, unconscious, from the water. Perkins had sustained three fractured vertebrae in his neck, a severe concussion, a broken collar bone, and lacerations all over his body. Perkins remained unconscious for an entire day. The driver of the pickup truck, Thomas Phillips, a 40-year-old farmer, died when he was thrown into the steering wheel.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 178, 180.]]</ref> Jay Perkins had a fractured neck and severe internal injuries. Later he developed a malignant brain tumor, and died in 1958.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Morrison|first=Craig|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qAHvUO5GknMC&q=%22jay+perkins%22+1958&pg=PA83|title=Go Cat Go!: Rockabilly Music and Its Makers|date=1999|publisher=University of Illinois Press|isbn=978-0-252-06538-5|pages=83|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&q=%22jay+perkins%22+1958|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|date=2011-05-27|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=978-0-85712-595-8|pages=1988|language=en}}</ref> | ||
On March 23, Presley's band members [[Bill Black]], [[Scotty Moore]] and [[D.J. Fontana]] visited Perkins on their way to New York to appear with Presley. Fontana recalled Perkins saying, "You looked like a bunch of angels coming to see me. | On March 23, Presley's band members [[Bill Black]], [[Scotty Moore]] and [[D.J. Fontana]] visited Perkins on their way to New York to appear with Presley. Fontana recalled Perkins saying, "You looked like a bunch of angels coming to see me".<ref>Burke, Ken; Griffin, Dan (2006). ''The Blue Moon Boys: The Story of Elvis Presley's Band''. Chicago Review Press. p. 88. {{ISBN|1-55652-614-8}}</ref> Black told him, "Hey man, Elvis sends his love", and lit a cigarette for him, even though the patient in the next bed was in an [[oxygen tent]].<ref name=":1" /> Presley also telegraphed Perkins his well wishes.<ref name=":1">[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 182, 184.]]</ref> | ||
"Blue Suede Shoes" had sold more than 500,000 copies by March 22, and Sam Philips had planned to celebrate by presenting Perkins with a [[Gold Record|gold record]] on ''The Perry Como Show''.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, p. 173.]]</ref> While Perkins recuperated from his injuries, "Blue Suede Shoes" reached number one on regional pop, R&B, and country charts. It also reached number two on the Billboard pop and country charts, below Elvis Presley's "[[Heartbreak Hotel]]". By mid-April, more than one million copies of "Blue Suede Shoes" had sold.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, p. 187.]]</ref> On April 3, while still recuperating in Jackson, Perkins watched Presley perform "Blue Suede Shoes" in his first appearance on ''[[The Milton Berle Show]]''. This was the third time he performed the song on national television.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, p. 184.]]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kki.pl/elvisal/elvis_tv.htm |title=Elvis's Television Appearances 1956–1973 |publisher=Kki.pl |access-date=2011-11-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718225753/http://www.kki.pl/elvisal/elvis_tv.htm |archive-date=July 18, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref> | "Blue Suede Shoes" had sold more than 500,000 copies by March 22, and Sam Philips had planned to celebrate by presenting Perkins with a [[Gold Record|gold record]] on ''The Perry Como Show''.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, p. 173.]]</ref> While Perkins recuperated from his injuries, "Blue Suede Shoes" reached number one on regional pop, R&B, and country charts. It also reached number two on the Billboard pop and country charts, below Elvis Presley's "[[Heartbreak Hotel]]". By mid-April, more than one million copies of "Blue Suede Shoes" had sold.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, p. 187.]]</ref> On April 3, while still recuperating in Jackson, Perkins watched Presley perform "Blue Suede Shoes" in his first appearance on ''[[The Milton Berle Show]]''. This was the third time he performed the song on national television.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, p. 184.]]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kki.pl/elvisal/elvis_tv.htm |title=Elvis's Television Appearances 1956–1973 |publisher=Kki.pl |access-date=2011-11-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718225753/http://www.kki.pl/elvisal/elvis_tv.htm |archive-date=July 18, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref> | ||
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Perkins returned to live performances on April 21, 1956 beginning with an appearance in [[Beaumont, Texas]], with the Big D Jamboree tour.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, p. 191.]]</ref> Before he resumed touring, Sam Phillips arranged a recording session at Sun with | Perkins returned to live performances on April 21, 1956 beginning with an appearance in [[Beaumont, Texas]], with the Big D Jamboree tour.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, p. 191.]]</ref> Before he resumed touring, Sam Phillips arranged a recording session at Sun with Edd Cisco filling in for the still-recuperating Jay. By mid-April, they recorded "[[Dixie Fried]]", "Put Your Cat Clothes On", "Wrong Yo-Yo", "You Can't Make Love to Somebody", "[[Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby]]", and "That Don't Move Me".<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, p. 198.]]</ref> On May 26, Perkins and his band (with Jay Perkins performing wearing a visible neck brace), finally appeared on ''The Perry Como Show'' to perform "Blue Suede Shoes".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRNyvO4QouY Youtube: "Carl Perkins - Blue Suede Shoes - Perry Como Show -1956"]</ref> | ||
[[File:Jamboree Carl Perkins.jpg|thumb|250 px|Perkins (front) performing "[[Glad All Over (Carl Perkins song)|Glad All Over]]" with (left to right) Clayton Perkins, W.S. "Fluke" Holland, and Jay Perkins in the 1957 movie ''[[Jamboree (1957 film)|Jamboree]]'']] | [[File:Jamboree Carl Perkins.jpg|thumb|250 px|Perkins (front) performing "[[Glad All Over (Carl Perkins song)|Glad All Over]]" with (left to right) Clayton Perkins, W.S. "Fluke" Holland, and Jay Perkins in the 1957 movie ''[[Jamboree (1957 film)|Jamboree]]'']] | ||
Beginning early that summer, Perkins was paid $1,000 to play two songs a night on the extended tour of Top Stars of '56. Other performers on the tour were [[Chuck Berry]] and [[Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers]]. When Perkins and the group entered the stage in [[Columbia, South Carolina]], he was shocked to see a teenager with a bleeding chin pressed against the stage by the massed crowd. During the first guitar intermission of Honey Don't, they were waved offstage and into a vacant dressing room behind a double line of police officers. Appalled by what he had seen and felt, Perkins left the tour.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 188, 210, 212.]]</ref> Appearing with [[Gene Vincent]] and [[Lillian Briggs]] in a rock 'n' roll show, he helped attract 39,872 people to the Reading Fair in Pennsylvania on a Tuesday night in late September. Soon after, a full grandstand and one thousand people stood in a heavy rain to hear Perkins and Briggs at the Brockton Fair in Massachusetts.<ref>''Billboard'', September 29, 1956. | Beginning early that summer, Perkins was paid $1,000 to play two songs a night on the extended tour of Top Stars of '56. Other performers on the tour were [[Chuck Berry]] and [[Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers]]. When Perkins and the group entered the stage in [[Columbia, South Carolina]], he was shocked to see a teenager with a bleeding chin pressed against the stage by the massed crowd. During the first guitar intermission of "Honey Don't", they were waved offstage and into a vacant dressing room behind a double line of police officers. Appalled by what he had seen and felt, Perkins left the tour.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 188, 210, 212.]]</ref> Appearing with [[Gene Vincent]] and [[Lillian Briggs]] in a rock 'n' roll show, he helped attract 39,872 people to the Reading Fair in Pennsylvania on a Tuesday night in late September. Soon after, a full grandstand and one thousand people stood in a heavy rain to hear Perkins and Briggs at the Brockton Fair in Massachusetts.<ref>''Billboard'', September 29, 1956. pp. 73, 78</ref> | ||
Sun issued more Perkins songs in 1956: [[Boppin' the Blues]] / All Mama's Children (Sun 243), the B side co-written with Johnny Cash; and [[Dixie Fried]] / I'm Sorry, I'm Not Sorry (Sun 249). [[Matchbox (song)|Matchbox]] / [[Your True Love]] (Sun 261)<ref>[http://rcs.law.emory.edu/rcs/pics/d03/3238.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205180927/http://rcs.law.emory.edu/rcs/pics/d03/3238.htm|date=February 5, 2009}}</ref> came out in February, 1957.<ref name="rcs-discography1"/> [[Boppin' the Blues]] reached number 47 on the ''Cashbox'' pop singles chart, number nine on the ''Billboard'' country and western chart, and number 70 on the ''Billboard'' | Sun issued more Perkins songs in 1956: "[[Boppin' the Blues]]" / "All Mama's Children" (Sun 243), the B side co-written with Johnny Cash; and "[[Dixie Fried]]" / "I'm Sorry, I'm Not Sorry" (Sun 249). "[[Matchbox (song)|Matchbox]]" / "[[Your True Love]]" (Sun 261)<ref>[http://rcs.law.emory.edu/rcs/pics/d03/3238.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205180927/http://rcs.law.emory.edu/rcs/pics/d03/3238.htm|date=February 5, 2009}}</ref> came out in February, 1957.<ref name="rcs-discography1"/> "[[Boppin' the Blues]]" reached number 47 on the ''Cashbox'' pop singles chart, number nine on the ''Billboard'' country and western chart, and number 70 on the ''[[Billboard Hot 100]]''. | ||
Matchbox became a rockabilly classic. It was recorded with Perkins on lead guitar and vocals, and then Sun studio piano player, [[Jerry Lee Lewis]]. Later that day, there was an impromptu session with Perkins, Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis informally referred to as the [[Million Dollar Quartet]].<ref name=pc8/> Sun released the full recordings from this jam session, a selection of gospel, country, and R&B songs in 1990.<ref name="nytimesobit"/> | "Matchbox" became a rockabilly classic. It was recorded with Perkins on lead guitar and vocals, and then Sun studio piano player, [[Jerry Lee Lewis]]. Later that day, there was an impromptu session with Perkins, Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis informally referred to as the [[Million Dollar Quartet]].<ref name=pc8/> Sun released the full recordings from this jam session, a selection of gospel, country, and R&B songs in 1990.<ref name="nytimesobit"/> | ||
On February 2, 1957, Perkins again appeared on ''Ozark Jubilee'', singing Matchbox and Blue Suede Shoes. He also made at least two appearances on ''[[Town Hall Party]]'' in [[Compton, California]], in 1957,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hillbilly-music.com/programs/story/index.php?prog=170 |title=Town Hall Party |publisher=hillbilly-music.com |access-date=2011-11-25}}</ref> singing both songs. Those performances were included in the ''Western Ranch Dance Party'' series filmed and distributed by Screen Gems. | On February 2, 1957, Perkins again appeared on ''Ozark Jubilee'', singing "Matchbox" and "Blue Suede Shoes". He also made at least two appearances on ''[[Town Hall Party]]'' in [[Compton, California]], in 1957,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hillbilly-music.com/programs/story/index.php?prog=170 |title=Town Hall Party |publisher=hillbilly-music.com |access-date=2011-11-25}}</ref> singing both songs. Those performances were included in the ''Western Ranch Dance Party'' series filmed and distributed by Screen Gems. | ||
He released [[That's Right (Carl Perkins song)|That's Right]], co-written with Johnny Cash, backed with the ballad Forever Yours, as Sun single 274 in August, 1957. Neither side made it onto the charts. | He released "[[That's Right (Carl Perkins song)|That's Right]]", co-written with Johnny Cash, backed with the ballad "Forever Yours", as Sun single 274 in August, 1957. Neither side made it onto the charts. | ||
The 1957 film ''[[Jamboree (1957 film)|Jamboree]]'' included Perkins performing [[Glad All Over (Carl Perkins song)|Glad All Over]]. The song was written by [[Aaron Schroeder]], [[Sid Tepper]], and [[Roy C. Bennett]],<ref>[http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/pics/d03/3240.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> Sun released it in January, 1958.<ref>[http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/artists/p/perk1000.htm#l2w] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120717234900/http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/artists/p/perk1000.htm|date=July 17, 2012}}</ref> | The 1957 film ''[[Jamboree (1957 film)|Jamboree]]'' included Perkins performing "[[Glad All Over (Carl Perkins song)|Glad All Over]]". The song was written by [[Aaron Schroeder]], [[Sid Tepper]], and [[Roy C. Bennett]],<ref>[http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/pics/d03/3240.htm]{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> Sun released it in January, 1958.<ref>[http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/artists/p/perk1000.htm#l2w] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120717234900/http://rcs-discography.com/rcs/artists/p/perk1000.htm|date=July 17, 2012}}</ref> | ||
===Life after Sun=== | ===Life after Sun=== | ||
In 1958, Perkins moved to [[Columbia Records]] for which he recorded "Jive After Five", "Rockin' Record Hop", "Levi Jacket (And a Long Tail Shirt)", "Pop, Let Me Have the Car", "Pink Pedal Pushers", "Any Way the Wind Blows", "Hambone", "Pointed Toe Shoes", "Sister Twister", "L-O-V-E-V-I-L-L-E" and other songs.<ref name="rcs-discography1"/> | In 1958, Perkins moved to [[Columbia Records]] for which he recorded "Jive After Five", "Rockin' Record Hop", "Levi Jacket (And a Long Tail Shirt)", "Pop, Let Me Have the Car", "Pink Pedal Pushers", "Any Way the Wind Blows", "Hambone", "Pointed Toe Shoes", "Sister Twister", "L-O-V-E-V-I-L-L-E" and other songs.<ref name="rcs-discography1"/> | ||
In 1959, he wrote the [[country & western]] song [[The Ballad of Boot Hill]] for Johnny Cash who recorded it on an [[extended play|EP]] for Columbia Records. That same year, Perkins was cast in a Filipino movie produced by People's Pictures, ''Hawaiian Boy'' in which he sang Blue Suede Shoes.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}} | In 1959, he wrote the [[country & western]] song "[[The Ballad of Boot Hill]]" for Johnny Cash who recorded it on an [[extended play|EP]] for Columbia Records. That same year, Perkins was cast in a Filipino movie produced by People's Pictures, ''Hawaiian Boy'', in which he sang "Blue Suede Shoes".{{citation needed|date=December 2015}} | ||
He performed often at the [[Golden Nugget Las Vegas|Golden Nugget Casino]] in Las Vegas in 1962 and 1963.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} During this time, he toured nine Midwestern states and made a tour in Germany.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} In 1962, [[Patsy Cline]] recorded [[So Wrong]], which | He performed often at the [[Golden Nugget Las Vegas|Golden Nugget Casino]] in Las Vegas in 1962 and 1963.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} During this time, he toured nine Midwestern states and made a tour in Germany.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} In 1962, [[Patsy Cline]] recorded "[[So Wrong]]", which Perkins wrote with [[Mel Tillis]] and [[Danny Dill]], and had a No. 14 hit on the country chart. | ||
In May 1964, Perkins toured [[UK|Britain]] with [[Chuck Berry]] with the popular, young rock group, [[The Animals]] backing them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chuckberry.de/tour1964.htm#Chuck%20Berry |title=Tour Information 1964 |publisher=Chuckberry.de |access-date=2011-11-25}}</ref> Perkins had been reluctant to undertake the tour, convinced that as forgotten as he had become in America, he would be even more obscure in the | In May 1964, Perkins toured [[UK|Britain]] with [[Chuck Berry]] with the popular, young rock group, [[The Animals]] backing them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chuckberry.de/tour1964.htm#Chuck%20Berry |title=Tour Information 1964 |publisher=Chuckberry.de |access-date=2011-11-25}}</ref> Perkins had been reluctant to undertake the tour, convinced that as forgotten as he had become in America, he would be even more obscure in the UK and did not want to be humiliated by drawing meager audiences. Berry assured him that they had remained much more popular in Britain since the 1950s than they had in the United States, and that there would be large crowds of fans at every show. On the last night of the tour, Perkins attended a party where he sat on the floor sharing stories, playing guitar, and singing songs while surrounded by the [[The Beatles|Beatles]]. [[Ringo Starr]] asked if he could record "Honey Don't". Perkins answered, "Man, go ahead, have at it".<ref>[[#legends|Naylor, p. 142.]]</ref> The Beatles later recorded covers of "[[Matchbox (song)|Matchbox]]", "[[Honey Don't]]" and "[[Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby]]", which Perkins adapted from a song originally recorded in 1936 by [[Rex Griffin]] which he added new music to. (A song with the same title was recorded by Roy Newman in 1938). Starr sang the lead on the first two, [[George Harrison]] sang a rare lead on the third. The Beatles also recorded two versions of "Glad All Over" in 1963.<ref>{{cite web|author=The Beatles "Glad All Over" |url=http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/the_beatles/glad_all_over.html |title=The Beatles Lyrics - Glad All Over |publisher=Oldielyrics.com |access-date=2011-11-25}}</ref> Another tour to Germany followed in the autumn. | ||
He released Big Bad Blues backed with Lonely Heart as a single on Brunswick Records with [[the Nashville Teens]] in June, 1964.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/05909 |title=Carl Perkins - Big Bad Blues / Lonely Heart - Brunswick - UK - 05909 |publisher=45cat |access-date=2015-08-17}}</ref> | He released "Big Bad Blues" backed with "Lonely Heart" as a single on Brunswick Records with [[the Nashville Teens]] in June, 1964.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/05909 |title=Carl Perkins - Big Bad Blues / Lonely Heart - Brunswick - UK - 05909 |publisher=45cat |access-date=2015-08-17}}</ref> | ||
In 1966, Perkins signed with Dollie Records and released as his first single for them, Country Boy's Dream, which reached | In 1966, Perkins signed with Dollie Records and released as his first single for them, "Country Boy's Dream", which reached No. 22 in the country chart. That same year [[Bob Luman]] had a Top 40 Country hit with Perkins's song, "Poor Boy Blues". | ||
While on tour with the Johnny Cash show in 1968, Perkins went on a four day drinking binge that ended with him hallucinating floridly and passing out. When he regained consciousness, he went out to the beach with his last bottle of alcohol. In his autobiography, he described falling to his knees and declaring, "Lord, ... I'm gonna throw this bottle. I'm gonna show You that I believe in you" before hurling the bottle into the sea and vowing to remain sober. Perkins and Cash, who had his own substance-abuse issues, supported each other in their bids to remain sober.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 309–310.]]</ref> | While on tour with the Johnny Cash show in 1968, Perkins went on a four day drinking binge that ended with him hallucinating floridly and passing out. When he regained consciousness, he went out to the beach with his last bottle of alcohol. In his autobiography, he described falling to his knees and declaring, "Lord, ... I'm gonna throw this bottle. I'm gonna show You that I believe in you" before hurling the bottle into the sea and vowing to remain sober. Perkins and Cash, who had his own substance-abuse issues, supported each other in their bids to remain sober.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 309–310.]]</ref> | ||
In 1968, Cash recorded the Perkins-written [[Daddy Sang Bass]] which incorporates parts of the gospel standard [[Can the Circle Be Unbroken (Bye and Bye)|Will the Circle Be Unbroken]]. It rose to the top of the country music | In 1968, Cash recorded the Perkins-written "[[Daddy Sang Bass]]" which incorporates parts of the gospel standard "[[Can the Circle Be Unbroken (Bye and Bye)|Will the Circle Be Unbroken]]". It rose to the top of the country music chart where it stayed for six weeks. It was a [[Country Music Association]] nominee for 'Song of the Year' the next year. Perkins also played lead guitar on Cash's single "[[A Boy Named Sue]]", recorded live at [[San Quentin]] prison. It went to number one for five weeks on the country chart and number two on the pop chart. (The performance was also filmed by [[Granada Television]] for broadcast). | ||
Perkins spent a decade in Cash's touring revue, often as an opening act for Cash as at the Folsom and San Quentin prison concerts where he was recorded singing Blue Suede Shoes and Matchbox before Cash took the stage. These performances were not released until the 2000s. He also appeared on the television series ''[[The Johnny Cash Show (TV series)|The Johnny Cash Show]]''. On the television program ''[[Kraft Music Hall]]'' on April 16, 1969, which Cash hosted, Perkins performed his song [[Restless (Carl Perkins song)|Restless]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockabillyeurope.com/lyrics3/r0051.htm |title=Restless - Carl Perkins |publisher=Rockabillyeurope.com |access-date=2011-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929222820/http://www.rockabillyeurope.com/lyrics3/r0051.htm |archive-date=September 29, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/kraft-music-hall/johnny-cash...on-the-road/episode/170681/summary.html |title=Kraft Music Hall: Johnny Cash ... On The Road Episode Summary |publisher=TV.com |access-date=2011-11-25 |archive-date=January 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101144225/http://www.tv.com/kraft-music-hall/johnny-cash...on-the-road/episode/170681/summary.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> | Perkins spent a decade in Cash's touring revue, often as an opening act for Cash as at the Folsom and San Quentin prison concerts, where he was recorded singing "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Matchbox" before Cash took the stage. These performances were not released until the 2000s. He also appeared on the television series ''[[The Johnny Cash Show (TV series)|The Johnny Cash Show]]''. On the television program ''[[Kraft Music Hall]]'' on April 16, 1969, which Cash hosted, Perkins performed his song "[[Restless (Carl Perkins song)|Restless]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockabillyeurope.com/lyrics3/r0051.htm |title=Restless - Carl Perkins |publisher=Rockabillyeurope.com |access-date=2011-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929222820/http://www.rockabillyeurope.com/lyrics3/r0051.htm |archive-date=September 29, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/kraft-music-hall/johnny-cash...on-the-road/episode/170681/summary.html |title=Kraft Music Hall: Johnny Cash ... On The Road Episode Summary |publisher=TV.com |access-date=2011-11-25 |archive-date=January 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101144225/http://www.tv.com/kraft-music-hall/johnny-cash...on-the-road/episode/170681/summary.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> | ||
Perkins and [[Bob Dylan]] wrote "Champaign, Illinois" in 1969. Dylan was in Nashville from February 12 to February 21 | Perkins and [[Bob Dylan]] wrote "Champaign, Illinois" in 1969. Dylan was in Nashville from February 12 to February 21, recording his album ''[[Nashville Skyline]]'', a crossover into country. He met Perkins when he appeared on ''The Johnny Cash Show'' on June 7.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/the-johnny-cash-show/show/8950/episode.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=tabssh&tag=tabs;episodes |title=The Johnny Cash Show Season 2 Episode Guide |publisher=TV.com |access-date=2011-11-25 |archive-date=June 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110601094808/http://www.tv.com/the-johnny-cash-show/show/8950/episode.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=tabssh&tag=tabs;episodes |url-status=dead }}</ref> Dylan had [[writer's block]] and was unable to complete the song until Perkins contributed the rhythm and some lyrics upon which Dylan said to him, "Your song. Take it. Finish it".<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins.]]</ref> Perkins registered the song as co-authored and recorded it on his 1969 album, ''On Top''.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.rockabillyhall.com/CarlPerkins.html | title=RAB Hall of Fame: Carl Perkins | access-date= 2007-01-18 | publisher= Rockabilly Hall of Fame}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://music.aol.com/album/on-top/12282 | archive-url= https://archive.today/20120717200303/http://music.aol.com/album/on-top/12282 | url-status= dead | archive-date= 2012-07-17 | title= On Top: Carl Perkins | access-date= 2007-01-18 | publisher= AOL Music }}</ref> | ||
Also in 1969, Columbia's Murray Krugman placed Perkins with the [[New Rhythm and Blues Quartet]], the NRBQ, a rockabilly group based in New York's Hudson Valley. With the group backing him, he recorded two of his staples, | Also in 1969, Columbia's Murray Krugman placed Perkins with the [[New Rhythm and Blues Quartet]], the NRBQ, a rockabilly group based in New York's Hudson Valley. With the group backing him, he recorded two of his staples, "Boppin' the Blues" and "Turn Around", plus songs they sang separately.<ref>''Boppin' the Blues''. Columbia CS9981 (1969).</ref> | ||
[[Tommy Cash]] (brother of Johnny Cash) had a Top Ten country gospel hit in 1970 with the song "Rise and Shine" which Perkins wrote. It reached number nine on the ''Billboard'' country chart and number eight on the Canadian country chart. [[Arlene Harden]] had a Top 40 country hit in 1971 with the Perkins composition True Love Is Greater Than Friendship, from the film ''[[Little Fauss and Big Halsy]]'' (1971). That same year, [[Al Martino]]'s cover of the song reached number 22 on the ''Billboard'' country chart and number 33 on the ''Billboard'' Adult Contemporary chart. Perkins appeared with Cash on the popular TV country series ''[[Hee Haw]]'' on February 16, 1974. | [[Tommy Cash]] (brother of Johnny Cash) had a Top Ten country gospel hit in 1970 with the song "Rise and Shine" which Perkins wrote. It reached number nine on the ''Billboard'' country chart and number eight on the Canadian country chart. [[Arlene Harden]] had a Top 40 country hit in 1971 with the Perkins composition "True Love Is Greater Than Friendship", from the film ''[[Little Fauss and Big Halsy]]'' (1971). That same year, [[Al Martino]]'s cover of the song reached number 22 on the ''Billboard'' country chart and number 33 on the ''Billboard'' Adult Contemporary chart. Perkins appeared with Cash on the popular TV country series ''[[Hee Haw]]'' on February 16, 1974. | ||
After a long legal struggle with Sam Phillips over [[royalties]], Perkins gained ownership of his songs in the 1970s and, in 2003, his widow, who by then owned the catalog, entered into an administration contract with Paul McCartney's [[MPL Communications]].<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web |author=Mike Kovacich |url=http://www.macca-central.com/macca-news/morenews.php?id=1157 |title=MACCA-News: McCartney to Administer Perkins's Music |publisher=Macca-central.com |date=April 17, 2003 |access-date=2011-11-25 |archive-date=February 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213055837/http://www.macca-central.com/macca-news/morenews.php?id=1157 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | After a long legal struggle with Sam Phillips over [[royalties]], Perkins gained ownership of his songs in the 1970s and, in 2003, his widow, who by then owned the catalog, entered into an administration contract with Paul McCartney's [[MPL Communications]].<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web |author=Mike Kovacich |url=http://www.macca-central.com/macca-news/morenews.php?id=1157 |title=MACCA-News: McCartney to Administer Perkins's Music |publisher=Macca-central.com |date=April 17, 2003 |access-date=2011-11-25 |archive-date=February 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213055837/http://www.macca-central.com/macca-news/morenews.php?id=1157 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | ||
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The rockabilly revival of the 1980s helped bring Perkins back into the limelight. In 1981, Perkins recorded the song "Get It" with [[Paul McCartney]]. According to one source, he fully co-wrote the song with McCartney.<ref>[[#legends|Naylor, p. 145.]]</ref> This recording was included on the chart-topping album ''[[Tug of War (Paul McCartney album)|Tug of War]]'', released in 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jpgr.co.uk/pctc259.html |title=Tug Of War |publisher=Jpgr.co.uk |access-date=2011-11-25}}</ref> During 1985, Perkins re-recorded "Blue Suede Shoes" with [[Lee Rocker]] and [[Slim Jim Phantom]] of the [[Stray Cats]] as part of the soundtrack for the film ''[[Porky's Revenge]]''. | The rockabilly revival of the 1980s helped bring Perkins back into the limelight. In 1981, Perkins recorded the song "Get It" with [[Paul McCartney]]. According to one source, he fully co-wrote the song with McCartney.<ref>[[#legends|Naylor, p. 145.]]</ref> This recording was included on the chart-topping album ''[[Tug of War (Paul McCartney album)|Tug of War]]'', released in 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jpgr.co.uk/pctc259.html |title=Tug Of War |publisher=Jpgr.co.uk |access-date=2011-11-25}}</ref> During 1985, Perkins re-recorded "Blue Suede Shoes" with [[Lee Rocker]] and [[Slim Jim Phantom]] of the [[Stray Cats]] as part of the soundtrack for the film ''[[Porky's Revenge]]''. | ||
In October 1985, Perkins performed on stage in [[London]] for a television special, ''[[Blue Suede Shoes: A Rockabilly Session]]'', with [[George Harrison]], [[Eric Clapton]], [[Dave Edmunds]], Lee Rocker, [[Rosanne Cash]] and [[Ringo Starr]]. The show was taped live at the [[Limehouse Studios]]. It was broadcast on [[Channel 4]] on January 1, 1986. Perkins sang 16 songs plus two encores | In October 1985, Perkins performed on stage in [[London]] for a television special, ''[[Blue Suede Shoes: A Rockabilly Session]]'', with [[George Harrison]], [[Eric Clapton]], [[Dave Edmunds]], Lee Rocker, [[Rosanne Cash]] and [[Ringo Starr]]. The show was taped live at the [[Limehouse Studios]]. It was broadcast on [[Channel 4]] on January 1, 1986. Perkins sang 16 songs plus two encores. He and his friends ended the session by singing "Blue Suede Shoes", 30 years after its writing, which brought Perkins to tears.{{citation needed|date=August 2025}} The concert special was a highlight of his later career.{{citation needed|date=August 2025}} The concert was released for DVD by Snapper Music in 2006.<ref>DVD ''Carl Perkins & Friends''. Released by Graham Nolder/Snapper Music. 2006. Cat:SDVD514</ref> | ||
Perkins was inducted into the [[Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame]] in 1985. Wider recognition of his contributions to music came with his induction into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1987. The Hall chose "Blue Suede Shoes" as one of its [[500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll|500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll]]. The song also received a [[Grammy Hall of Fame Award]]. Perkins was inducted into the [[Rockabilly Hall of Fame]] in recognition of his pioneering contributions to the genre. | Perkins was inducted into the [[Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame]] in 1985. Wider recognition of his contributions to music came with his induction into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1987. The Hall chose "Blue Suede Shoes" as one of its [[500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll|500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll]]. The song also received a [[Grammy Hall of Fame Award]]. Perkins was inducted into the [[Rockabilly Hall of Fame]] in recognition of his pioneering contributions to the genre. | ||
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Perkins returned to the Sun Studio in Memphis in 1986, joining Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and [[Roy Orbison]] on the album ''[[Class of '55]]''. The record was a tribute to their early years at Sun and, specifically, the Million Dollar Quartet [[jam session]] involving Perkins, Presley, Cash, and Lewis in 1956. | Perkins returned to the Sun Studio in Memphis in 1986, joining Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and [[Roy Orbison]] on the album ''[[Class of '55]]''. The record was a tribute to their early years at Sun and, specifically, the Million Dollar Quartet [[jam session]] involving Perkins, Presley, Cash, and Lewis in 1956. | ||
In 1989, Perkins co-wrote and played lead guitar on [[the Judds]]' number-one country hit, "[[Let Me Tell You About Love]]".<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=River of Time |others=The Judds |year=1989 |type=cassette liner |publisher=RCA/Curb |id=9595-2-R}}</ref> That same year, he signed a record deal with Platinum Records for the album ''Friends, Family, and Legends'', featuring performances by [[Chet Atkins]], [[Travis Tritt]], [[Steve Wariner]], [[Joan Jett]], and [[Charlie Daniels]], along with [[Paul Shaffer]] and [[Will Lee (bassist)|Will Lee]]. The song "Wild Texas Wind" became the title track to a made-for-TV [[Wild Texas Wind|movie]] featuring [[Dolly Parton]] and [[Gary Busey]]. In 1996, [[Willie Nelson]], who also appeared in that movie, | In 1989, Perkins co-wrote and played lead guitar on [[the Judds]]' number-one country hit, "[[Let Me Tell You About Love]]".<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=River of Time |others=The Judds |year=1989 |type=cassette liner |publisher=RCA/Curb |id=9595-2-R}}</ref> That same year, he signed a record deal with Platinum Records for the album ''Friends, Family, and Legends'', featuring performances by [[Chet Atkins]], [[Travis Tritt]], [[Steve Wariner]], [[Joan Jett]], and [[Charlie Daniels]], along with [[Paul Shaffer]] and [[Will Lee (bassist)|Will Lee]]. The song "Wild Texas Wind" became the title track to a made-for-TV [[Wild Texas Wind|movie]] featuring [[Dolly Parton]] and [[Gary Busey]]. In 1996, [[Willie Nelson]], who also appeared in that movie, joined Perkins in a duet version of the song. During the production of this album, Perkins was diagnosed with [[Esophageal cancer|throat cancer]]. | ||
Dolly Parton had a Top 20 Country hit in 1991 with [[Silver and Gold (Dolly Parton song)| | Dolly Parton had a Top 20 Country hit in 1991 with "[[Silver and Gold (Dolly Parton song)|Silver and Gold]]", which she and Perkins co-wrote. [[Mark O'Connor]] recorded a version of the Perkins "Restless" in 1991 and had a No. 25 country hit with it in the US, (No. 19 in Canada). | ||
Perkins again returned to Sun Studio to record with Scotty Moore, Presley's first guitar player, for the album ''706 ReUNION'', released by Belle Meade Records which also featured [[D. J. Fontana]], Marcus Van Storey, and [[the Jordanaires]]. In 1993, Perkins performed with the [[Kentucky Headhunters]] in the music video for a re-recording of his song "Dixie Fried" filmed in [[Glasgow, Kentucky]]. In 1994, he teamed up with [[Duane Eddy]] and [[the Mavericks]] to contribute Matchbox to the [[AIDS]] benefit album ''[[Red Hot + Country]]'', produced by the [[Red Hot Organization]]. | Perkins again returned to Sun Studio to record with Scotty Moore, Presley's first guitar player, for the album ''706 ReUNION'', released by Belle Meade Records which also featured [[D. J. Fontana]], Marcus Van Storey, and [[the Jordanaires]]. In 1993, Perkins performed with the [[Kentucky Headhunters]] in the music video for a re-recording of his song "Dixie Fried" filmed in [[Glasgow, Kentucky]]. In 1994, he teamed up with [[Duane Eddy]] and [[the Mavericks]] to contribute "Matchbox" to the [[AIDS]] benefit album ''[[Red Hot + Country]]'', produced by the [[Red Hot Organization]]. | ||
His last album, ''[[Go Cat Go!]]'', released by the independent Dinosaur Records label in 1996 | His last album, ''[[Go Cat Go!]]'', released by the independent Dinosaur Records label in 1996, showcased Perkins singing duets with [[Bono]], Johnny Cash, [[John Fogerty]], George Harrison, Paul McCartney, [[Willie Nelson]], [[Tom Petty]], [[Paul Simon]], and Ringo Starr.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theband.hiof.no/albums/go_cat_go.html |title=Carl Perkins/Various Artists: Go Cat Go! |publisher=Theband.hiof.no |access-date=2011-11-25}}</ref><ref>[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Carl Perkins|chart=all}} ]{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> | ||
His last major concert performance was the [[Music for Montserrat]] all-star charity concert at London's [[Royal Albert Hall]] on September 15, 1997, four months before his death. | His last major concert performance was the [[Music for Montserrat]] all-star charity concert at London's [[Royal Albert Hall]] on September 15, 1997, four months before his death. | ||
===Posthumous releases=== | |||
In 2025, Sun Records released a new Perkins album, ''Some Things Never Change'', which had originally been recorded in 1990 but whose recordings were thought to be lost until being rediscovered in 2024. The album was produced by Bill Lloyd and featured Perkins backed by his sons Stan (drums) and Greg (bass), augmented by studio musicians Joe Schenk (piano), Jerry Douglas, and Pete Finney.<ref name="Some Things Never Change LP 2025">{{cite web |title=New Carl Perkins Album – Some Things Never Change |url=https://sunrecords.com/new-carl-perkins-album-some-things-never-change/ |website=Sun Records |access-date=October 27, 2025 |date=August 22, 2025}}</ref> | |||
==Personal life== | ==Personal life== | ||
In January 1953, Perkins married Valda Crider, whom he had known for a number of years. When his job at the bakery was reduced to part-time, Valda, who had her own job, encouraged Perkins to begin working the taverns full-time. He began playing six nights a week. Later the same year, he added [[W. S. Holland|W.S. "Fluke" Holland]] to the band as a drummer. Holland had no previous experience as a musician but had a good sense of rhythm.<ref>[[#gocatgo|Perkins, pp. 70–71.]]</ref> | |||
Perkins | A strong advocate for child welfare, Perkins worked with the Jackson Exchange Club to establish the first center in Tennessee for the prevention of child abuse, the fourth in the nation. Proceeds from a concert which he planned were combined with a grant from the [[National Exchange Club]] to establish the Prevention of Child Abuse in October 1981. For years, its annual Circle of Hope Telethon generated one quarter of the center's annual operating budget.{{citation needed|date=August 2025}} | ||
Perkins died on January 19, 1998, at the age of 65 at Jackson-Madison County Hospital in [[Jackson, Tennessee]], from complications from several minor [[stroke]]s the previous month.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Pareles|first=Jon|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/20/arts/carl-perkins-dies-at-65-rockabilly-pioneer-wrote-blue-suede-shoes.html#:~:text=Carl%20Perkins%2C%20the%20pioneering%20rockabilly,Mr.|title=Carl Perkins Dies at 65; Rockabilly Pioneer Wrote Blue Suede Shoes|newspaper=New York Times|date=January 20, 1998}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Oliver|first=Myrna|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jan-20-mn-10191-story.html|title=Carl Perkins; Rock Pioneer Wrote 'Blue Suede Shoes'|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 20, 1998}}</ref> Among the mourners at his standing room only funeral at [[Lambuth University]] were | Perkins had one daughter, Debbie, and three sons, Stan, Greg, and Steve. Stan, Perkins' firstborn son, is also a recording artist. In 2010, he joined forces with [[Jerry Naylor]] to record a duet tribute, "To Carl: Let It Vibrate". Stan has been inducted into the [[Rockabilly Hall of Fame]]. Greg played bass on stage alongside his father at the 1985 ''[[Blue Suede Shoes: A Rockabilly Session]]'' concert in London and co-wrote "Birth of Rock and Roll" with his father.<ref name="GregPerkinsObituary">{{cite web |title=Greg Jaye Perkins: Greg Perkins Obituary |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/jacksonsun/name/greg-perkins-obituary?id=48587406 |website=Legacy.com |publisher=The Jackson Sun |access-date=June 17, 2024 |date=November 20, 2005}}</ref> In 1983, a jury in Jackson, Tennessee found Greg Perkins "innocent on two felony counts of vehicular homicide, and guilty on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol".<ref name="GregPerkinsDUI">{{cite web |last1=Hopkins |first1=Gwen |title=Perkins cleared of death charge |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jackson-sun-gregory-perkins-cleared/14086294/ |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Jackson Sun |access-date=June 17, 2024 |location=Jackson, Tennessee |pages=1 |date=December 23, 1983}}</ref> In 1997, Perkins' wife Valda was "recovering from a year long illness,"<ref name="GregPerkinsIllness">{{cite web |last1=Galipault |first1=Gerry |title=Carl Perkins faces another challenge |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1997/04/04/carl-perkins-faces-another-challenge/ |website=Tampa Bay Times |access-date=June 17, 2024 |orig-date=April 4, 1997 |date=October 1, 2005}}</ref> and his son Greg collapsed as a result of liver damage that may have resulted in a liver transplant.<ref name="GregPerkinsIllness" /> | ||
Perkins died on January 19, 1998, at the age of 65 at Jackson-Madison County Hospital in [[Jackson, Tennessee]], from complications from several minor [[stroke]]s the previous month.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Pareles|first=Jon|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/20/arts/carl-perkins-dies-at-65-rockabilly-pioneer-wrote-blue-suede-shoes.html#:~:text=Carl%20Perkins%2C%20the%20pioneering%20rockabilly,Mr.|title=Carl Perkins Dies at 65; Rockabilly Pioneer Wrote Blue Suede Shoes|newspaper=New York Times|date=January 20, 1998}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Oliver|first=Myrna|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jan-20-mn-10191-story.html|title=Carl Perkins; Rock Pioneer Wrote 'Blue Suede Shoes'|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 20, 1998}}</ref> Among the mourners at his standing room only funeral at [[Lambuth University]] were George Harrison, Johnny Cash and [[June Carter Cash]], [[Jerry Lee Lewis]], [[Wynonna Judd]], Sam Phillips, [[Ricky Skaggs]], [[Brian Setzer]], [[Garth Brooks]], and [[Billy Ray Cyrus]]. During the service, Cyrus and Skaggs sang and the funeral ended with George Harrison singing an acoustic version of "[[Your True Love]]".<ref name=MTV>{{cite news|publisher=[[MTV]]|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/pf17rv/stars-turn-out-for-rockabilly-king-carl-perkins-funeral|date=1998-01-26|last=McGee|first=David|title=Stars Turn Out For Rockabilly King Carl Perkins' Funeral|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830181215/https://www.mtv.com/news/pf17rv/stars-turn-out-for-rockabilly-king-carl-perkins-funeral|archive-date=2023-08-30|url-status=dead|access-date=2023-08-30}}</ref> Perkins was buried at Ridgecrest Cemetery in Jackson. | |||
Perkins' widow, Valda deVere Perkins, died on November 15, 2005, in Jackson. Carl and Valda Perkins' son Greg (born January 15, 1959) died three days later at the age of 46 on November 18, 2005.<ref name="GregPerkinsObituary" /> | Perkins' widow, Valda deVere Perkins, died on November 15, 2005, in Jackson. Carl and Valda Perkins' son Greg (born January 15, 1959) died three days later at the age of 46 on November 18, 2005.<ref name="GregPerkinsObituary" /> | ||
==Technique== | ==Technique== | ||
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==Legacy== | ==Legacy== | ||
[[File:Casey Jones Village Jackson TN 011.jpg|thumb|230px|Historic marker commemorating Perkins alongside other famous peers]] [[File:Casey Jones Village Jackson TN 012.jpg|thumb|230px|Continuation of the historic placard in tribute to Perkins]] | [[File:Casey Jones Village Jackson TN 011.jpg|thumb|230px|Historic marker commemorating Perkins alongside other famous peers]] [[File:Casey Jones Village Jackson TN 012.jpg|thumb|230px|Continuation of the historic placard in tribute to Perkins]] | ||
Perkins wrote his autobiography, ''Go, Cat, Go'', published in 1996, in collaboration with music writer David McGee in 1996. Plans for a biographical film were announced by Santa Monica-based production company Fastlane Entertainment;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboardpublicitywire.com/releases/2007/8/prweb549339.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413072953/http://www.billboardpublicitywire.com/releases/2007/8/prweb549339.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-04-13 |title=''The Carl Perkins Story'' |publisher=Billboardpublicitywire.com |access-date=2011-11-25 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = Rock 'N Roll Legend Carl Perkins's Much Anticipated Story To Come To The Big Screen| publisher = Billboard Publicity Wire| url = http://www.billboardpublicitywire.com/releases/2007/8/prweb549339.htm| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080413072953/http://www.billboardpublicitywire.com/releases/2007/8/prweb549339.htm| url-status = dead| archive-date = 2008-04-13}}</ref> it was slated for release in 2009. | Perkins wrote his autobiography, ''Go, Cat, Go'', published in 1996, in collaboration with music writer David McGee in 1996. Plans for a biographical film were announced by Santa Monica-based production company Fastlane Entertainment;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboardpublicitywire.com/releases/2007/8/prweb549339.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413072953/http://www.billboardpublicitywire.com/releases/2007/8/prweb549339.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-04-13 |title=''The Carl Perkins Story'' |publisher=Billboardpublicitywire.com |access-date=2011-11-25 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = Rock 'N Roll Legend Carl Perkins's Much Anticipated Story To Come To The Big Screen| publisher = Billboard Publicity Wire| url = http://www.billboardpublicitywire.com/releases/2007/8/prweb549339.htm| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080413072953/http://www.billboardpublicitywire.com/releases/2007/8/prweb549339.htm| url-status = dead| archive-date = 2008-04-13}}</ref> it was slated for release in 2009.{{citation needed|date=August 2025}} | ||
In 2004, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' ranked Perkins number 99 on its [[Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time|list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time]].<ref>{{cite magazine| title = The Immortals: The First Fifty| issue=946| magazine = Rolling Stone| url =https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939214/the_immortals_the_first_fifty| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20060316103016/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939214/the_immortals_the_first_fifty/| url-status =dead| archive-date =March 16, 2006}}</ref> | In 2004, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' ranked Perkins number 99 on its [[Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time|list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time]].<ref>{{cite magazine| title = The Immortals: The First Fifty| issue=946| magazine = Rolling Stone| url =https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939214/the_immortals_the_first_fifty| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20060316103016/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939214/the_immortals_the_first_fifty/| url-status =dead| archive-date =March 16, 2006}}</ref> | ||
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The Perkins family still owns his songs.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> | The Perkins family still owns his songs.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> | ||
[[Ricky Nelson]] covered Perkins's Boppin' the Blues and Your True Love on his 1957 debut album, ''[[Ricky (album)|Ricky]]''. | [[Ricky Nelson]] covered Perkins's "Boppin' the Blues" and "Your True Love" on his 1957 debut album, ''[[Ricky (album)|Ricky]]''. | ||
Many of the Beatles' live shows had rock 'n' roll covers of Carl Perkins's songs such as Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby, Matchbox and Honey Don't. | Many{{Which|date=August 2025}} of the Beatles' live shows had rock 'n' roll covers of Carl Perkins's songs such as "Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby", "Matchbox" and "Honey Don't". | ||
[[Drive-By Truckers]], on their album ''[[The Dirty South (album)|The Dirty South]]'', recorded a song about him, "[[Carl Perkins' Cadillac]]". | [[Drive-By Truckers]], on their album ''[[The Dirty South (album)|The Dirty South]]'', recorded a song about him, "[[Carl Perkins' Cadillac]]". | ||
The Carl Perkins Arena in Jackson, Tennessee, is named in his honor. | The Carl Perkins Arena in Jackson, Tennessee, is named in his honor. | ||
''[[George Thorogood and the Destroyers (album)|George Thorogood and the Destroyers]]'' covered Dixie Fried on their 1985 album ''Maverick''. The Kentucky Headhunters also covered the song, as did Keith de Groot on his 1968 album ''No Introduction Necessary'' with [[Jimmy Page]] on lead guitar and John Paul Jones on bass.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.softshoe-slim.com/lists/t/thorogood.html |title=George Thorogood & The Destroyers Albums |publisher=Softshoe-slim.com |access-date=2011-11-25 |archive-date=September 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927004127/http://www.softshoe-slim.com/lists/t/thorogood.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> | ''[[George Thorogood and the Destroyers (album)|George Thorogood and the Destroyers]]'' covered "Dixie Fried" on their 1985 album ''Maverick''. The Kentucky Headhunters also covered the song, as did Keith de Groot on his 1968 album ''No Introduction Necessary'' with [[Jimmy Page]] on lead guitar and John Paul Jones on bass.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.softshoe-slim.com/lists/t/thorogood.html |title=George Thorogood & The Destroyers Albums |publisher=Softshoe-slim.com |access-date=2011-11-25 |archive-date=September 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927004127/http://www.softshoe-slim.com/lists/t/thorogood.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> | ||
Johnny "Kid Memphis" Holiday portrayed Perkins by in the 2005 [[Johnny Cash]] biopic ''[[Walk the Line]]''. | Johnny "Kid Memphis" Holiday portrayed Perkins by in the 2005 [[Johnny Cash]] biopic ''[[Walk the Line]]''. | ||
Perkins was honored with the Lifetime Achievement award during the Tennessee Music Awards event in 2018 at the University of Memphis Lambuth in Jackson, Tennessee. | Perkins was honored with the Lifetime Achievement award during the Tennessee Music Awards event in 2018 at the University of Memphis Lambuth in Jackson, Tennessee.{{citation needed|date=August 2025}} | ||
The bridge connecting South Portsmouth, Kentucky to West Portsmouth, Ohio is named after Perkins.{{citation needed|date=August 2025}} | |||
==Awards== | ==Awards and recognition== | ||
{{expand section|date=August 2014}} | {{expand section | with = a more complete record of recognition received, and awards given, over the course of Perkins' career | small = no | date=August 2014}} | ||
The following recording by Carl Perkins was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame Award|Grammy Hall of Fame]], which is a special Grammy award established in 1973 to honor recordings that are at least 25 years old and that have "qualitative or historical significance". | The following recording by Carl Perkins was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame Award|Grammy Hall of Fame]], which is a special Grammy award established in 1973 to honor recordings that are at least 25 years old and that have "qualitative or historical significance".{{cn|date=August 2025}} | ||
{| class=wikitable | {| class=wikitable | ||
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| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| '''Carl Perkins: Grammy Hall of Fame Awards'''<ref name="www.grammy.org hall-of-fame">{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame |title=Grammy Hall Of Fame |publisher=Grammy.org |access-date=2015-08-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122042616/http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame |archive-date=January 22, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref> | | colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| '''Carl Perkins: Grammy Hall of Fame Awards'''<ref name="www.grammy.org hall-of-fame">{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame |title=Grammy Hall Of Fame |publisher=Grammy.org |access-date=2015-08-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122042616/http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame |archive-date=January 22, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Year | ! Year released | ||
! Title | ! Title | ||
! Genre | ! Genre | ||
| Line 241: | Line 232: | ||
==Discography== | ==Discography== | ||
===Original albums=== | ===Original albums=== | ||
* ''Dance Album'' ( | * ''[[Dance Album of Carl Perkins]]'' (1958) | ||
* ''Whole Lotta Shakin''' (1958) | * ''Whole Lotta Shakin''' (1958) | ||
* ''Country Boy's Dream'' (1967) | * ''Country Boy's Dream'' (1967) | ||
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* ''Live'' (2000) | * ''Live'' (2000) | ||
* ''Back on Top'' – (Bear Family, 2000; 4 CDs, comprising 1968–1975) | * ''Back on Top'' – (Bear Family, 2000; 4 CDs, comprising 1968–1975) | ||
* ''Some Things Never Change'' (2025)<ref name="Some Things Never Change LP 2025"></ref> | |||
===Guest appearances=== | ===Guest appearances=== | ||
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| 2 | | 2 | ||
| 2<ref name="Blue Suede Shoes CB peak week 1">{{cite web |title=Cash Box Top Singles 4/28/56 |url=https://www.cashboxarchives.com/archives/50s_files/19560428.html |website=Cashbox Archives |publisher=Cashbox |access-date=June 14, 2024 |date=April 28, 1956}}</ref><ref name="Blue Suede Shoes CB peak week 2">{{cite web |title=Cash Box Top Singles 5/05/56 |url=https://www.cashboxarchives.com/archives/50s_files/19560428.html |website=Cashbox Archives |access-date=June 14, 2024 |date=May 5, 1956}}</ref> | | 2<ref name="Blue Suede Shoes CB peak week 1">{{cite web |title=Cash Box Top Singles 4/28/56 |url=https://www.cashboxarchives.com/archives/50s_files/19560428.html |website=Cashbox Archives |publisher=Cashbox |access-date=June 14, 2024 |date=April 28, 1956}}</ref><ref name="Blue Suede Shoes CB peak week 2">{{cite web |title=Cash Box Top Singles 5/05/56 |url=https://www.cashboxarchives.com/archives/50s_files/19560428.html |website=Cashbox Archives |access-date=June 14, 2024 |date=May 5, 1956}}</ref> | ||
| 2{{refn|group=nb|"Blue Suede Shoes" peaked at | | 2{{refn|group=nb|"Blue Suede Shoes" peaked at No. 2 for nine weeks.{{or|date=August 2025}}<ref name="Blue Suede Shoes CB Country peak week 1">{{cite web |title=Cash Box Country Singles 03/31/56 |url=https://www.cashboxarchives.com/archives-c/50s_files/19560331C.html |website=Cashbox Archives |access-date=June 16, 2024 |date=March 31, 1956}}</ref><ref name="Blue Suede Shoes CB Country peak week 2">{{cite web |title=Cash Box Country Singles 04/07/56 |url=https://www.cashboxarchives.com/archives-c/50s_files/19560407C.html |website=Cashbox Archives |access-date=June 16, 2024 |date=April 7, 1956}}</ref><ref name="Blue Suede Shoes CB Country peak week 3">{{cite web |title=Cash Box Country Singles 04/14/56 |url=https://www.cashboxarchives.com/archives-c/50s_files/19560414C.html |website=Cashbox Archives |access-date=June 16, 2024 |date=April 14, 1956}}</ref><ref name="Blue Suede Shoes CB Country peak week 4">{{cite web |title=Cash Box Country Singles 04/21/56 |url=https://www.cashboxarchives.com/archives-c/50s_files/19560421C.html |website=Cashbox Archives |access-date=June 16, 2024 |date=April 21, 1956}}</ref><ref name="Blue Suede Shoes CB Country peak week 5">{{cite web |title=Cash Box Country Singles 04/28/56 |url=https://www.cashboxarchives.com/archives-c/50s_files/19560428C.html |website=Cashbox Archives |access-date=June 16, 2024 |date=April 28, 1956}}</ref><ref name="Blue Suede Shoes CB Country peak week 6">{{cite web |title=Cash Box Country Singles 05/05/56 |url=https://www.cashboxarchives.com/archives-c/50s_files/19560505C.html |website=Cashbox Archives |access-date=June 16, 2024 |date=May 5, 1956}}</ref><ref name="Blue Suede Shoes CB Country peak week 7">{{cite web |title=Cash Box Country Singles 05/12/56 |url=https://www.cashboxarchives.com/archives-c/50s_files/19560512C.html |website=Cashbox Archives |access-date=June 16, 2024 |date=May 12, 1956}}</ref><ref name="Blue Suede Shoes CB Country peak week 8">{{cite web |title=Cash Box Country Singles 05/19/56 |url=https://www.cashboxarchives.com/archives-c/50s_files/19560519C.html |website=Cashbox Archives |access-date=May 19, 2024 |date=May 19, 1956}}</ref><ref name="Blue Suede Shoes CB Country peak week 9">{{cite web |title=Cash Box Country Singles 06/02/56 |url=https://www.cashboxarchives.com/archives-c/50s_files/19560602C.html |website=Cashbox Archives |access-date=June 16, 2024 |date=June 2, 1956}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=August 2025}}}} | ||
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| 15{{refn|group=nb|"Dixie Fried" peaked at | | 15{{refn|group=nb|"Dixie Fried" peaked at No. 15 for three weeks.{{or|date=August 2025}}<ref name="Dixie Fried CB Country peak week 1">{{cite web |title=Cash Box Country Singles 10/13/56 |url=https://www.cashboxarchives.com/archives-c/50s_files/19561013C.html |website=Cashbox Archives |access-date=June 16, 2024 |date=October 13, 1956}}</ref><ref name="Dixie Fried CB Country peak week 2">{{cite web |title=Cash Box Country Singles 10/20/56 |url=https://www.cashboxarchives.com/archives-c/50s_files/19561020C.html |website=Cashbox Archives |access-date=June 16, 2024 |date=October 20, 1956}}</ref><ref name="Dixie Fried CB Country peak week 3">{{cite web |title=Cash Box Country Singles 10/27/56 |url=https://www.cashboxarchives.com/archives-c/50s_files/19561027C.html |website=Cashbox Archives |access-date=June 16, 2024 |date=October 27, 1956}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=August 2025}}}} | ||
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==Further reading== | |||
* {{cite AV media | people = Gross, Terry (interviewer) and Perkins, Carl (interviewee) | date = October 29, 1996 | title = Rock and Roll Songwriter Carl Perkins | work = [[Fresh Air]] | format = radio broadcast | time = various time points | url = https://www.freshair.com/segments/rock-and-roll-songwriter-carl-perkins | location = WIlmington DE | publisher = [[WHYY-TV|WHYY]]}}{{full|date=August 2025}} <small>Episode of this [[American Public Media]] interview program, presenting at various timepoints of this AV media, Perkins' perspectives on his youthful inspiration from spontaneous [[Gospel music|Gospel]] singing while picking [[cotton]] with [[people of color]], the roles of his mother and father and his [[honky-tonk]] experiences in shaping his approach to style and tempo in his [[rockabilly]] music, the direct inspiration for the lyrics of ''Blue Suade Shoes'' in his disgust over a man's over-attentiveness to his shoes (and consequent ill treatment of his date) at a dance, the dialogs invoilved in his bringing the song to production, his esteem for [[Elvis Presley]] in delaying doing his cover of it out of respect for Perkins so that the original would receive a period of airplay, comments regarding the difference between his and Presley's versions, and his convcersation with [[George Harrison]] of [[The Beatles]] over Perkins' later adoption of Presley's opening and tempo.</small> | |||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
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== Citations == | == Citations == | ||
{{Reflist | {{Reflist}} | ||
== General and cited references == | == General and cited references == | ||
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* [http://history-of-rock.com/perkins.htm Carl Perkins Biography at The History of Rock] | * [http://history-of-rock.com/perkins.htm Carl Perkins Biography at The History of Rock] | ||
* {{Find a Grave|2438|Carl Perkins}} | * {{Find a Grave|2438|Carl Perkins}} | ||
{{Carl Perkins}} | {{Carl Perkins}} | ||
{{Navboxes | {{Navboxes | ||
| title = Awards for Carl Perkins | | title = Awards for Carl Perkins | ||
Latest revision as of 20:33, 15 November 2025
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Other people". Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherTemplate:Main otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Main other
Carl Lee Perkins (April 9, 1932 – January 19, 1998)[1][2] was an American country, rockabilly, and rock and roll guitarist, singer and songwriter. A rockabilly great and pioneer of rock and roll, he began his recording career at the Sun Studio in Memphis in 1954. Among his best known songs are "Blue Suede Shoes", "Honey Don't", "Matchbox" and "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby".
According to fellow musician Charlie Daniels, "Carl Perkins' songs personified the rockabilly era, and Carl Perkins' sound personifies the rockabilly sound more so than anybody involved in it, because he never changed".[3] Perkins's songs were recorded by artists (and friends) as influential as Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash, Ricky Nelson, and Eric Clapton, which further cemented his prominent place in the history of popular music.
Nicknamed the "King of Rockabilly", Perkins was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, the Memphis Music Hall of Fame, and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. His recording of "Blue Suede Shoes" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Biography
Early life
Carl Lee Perkins was born on April 9, 1932, in Tiptonville, Tennessee, the son of poor sharecroppers Louise and Buck Perkins (misspelled on his birth certificate as "Perkings").[4] He had two brothers, Jay and Clayton.[5] From the age of six, he worked long hours in the cotton fields with his family whether school was in session or not. The boys grew up hearing Southern gospel music sung by white friends in church and by black field workers and sharecroppers in the cotton fields.[6] On Saturday nights Perkins would listen to the Grand Ole Opry, broadcast from Nashville on his father's radio.
Roy Acuff's broadcasts from the Opry inspired Perkins to ask his parents for a guitar.[7] Since they could not afford to buy one, his father made one from a cigar box and a broomstick. Eventually, a neighbor sold his father a worn-out Gene Autry guitar. Perkins could not afford new strings, and when they broke, he had to retie them. The knots cut his fingers when he would slide to another note, so he began bending the notes, stumbling onto a type of blue note.[3][8]
Perkins taught himself parts of Acuff's "Great Speckled Bird" and "The Wabash Cannonball" having heard them played on the Opry. He also has cited Bill Monroe's fast playing and vocals as an early influence.[9] Perkins also learned from John Westbrook, an African-American field worker in his 60s who played blues and gospel music on an old acoustic guitar. Westbrook advised Perkins to "Get down close to it. You can feel it travel down the strangs, come through your head and down to your soul where you live. You can feel it. Let it vib-a-rate".[3][8]
In January 1947, the Perkins family moved from Lake County, Tennessee, to Madison County, 70 miles from Memphis, the largest city in West Tennessee and a center of a great variety of music played by both black and white artists.[10] At the age of 14, Perkins wrote a country song called "Let Me Take You to the Movie, Magg". Sam Phillips was later persuaded by the quality of that song to sign Perkins to his Sun Records label.[11]
Beginnings as a performer
Perkins and his brother Jay had their first paying job (in tips) as entertainers during late 1946 at the Cotton Boll tavern on Highway 45, twelve miles south of Jackson, Tennessee, starting on Wednesday nights. Perkins was 14 years old. One of the songs they played was an up-tempo country blues shuffle version of Bill Monroe's "Blue Moon of Kentucky". Free drinks were one of the perks of playing in a tavern, and Perkins drank four beers that first night. Within a month, Carl and Jay began playing Friday and Saturday nights at the Sand Ditch tavern near Jackson's western border. Both places were the scene of occasional fights and both of the Perkins brothers gained a reputation as fighters.[12]
During the next couple of years, as they became better known, the Perkins brothers began playing other taverns around Bemis and Jackson, including El Rancho, the Roadside Inn, and the Hilltop. Carl persuaded his brother Clayton to join them and play the upright bass, to complete the sound of the band.[13]
Perkins began performing regularly on WTJS in Jackson during the late 1940s as a sometime member of the Tennessee Ramblers with Carl on lead guitar, Junior Vastal on slap bass, and Edd Cisco playing rhythm guitar and singing. He appeared on the radio program Hayloft Frolic on which he performed two songs. One was "Talking Blues" as done by Robert Lunn on the Grand Ole Opry. Perkins and his brothers began appearing on The Early Morning Farm and Home Hour. Positive listener response earned them a 15-minute segment sponsored by Mother's Best Flour. By the end of the 1940s, the Perkins Brothers were the best known band in the Jackson area.[14] Perkins had day jobs during most of these early years including picking cotton, working at various factories and plants and as a pan greaser for the Colonial Baking Company.[15][16] His brothers had similar pick up jobs.
In January 1953, Perkins married Valda Crider, whom he had known for a number of years. When his job at the bakery was reduced to part-time, Valda, who had her own job, encouraged Perkins to begin working the taverns full-time. He began playing six nights a week. Later the same year, he added W.S. "Fluke" Holland to the band as a drummer. Holland had no previous experience as a musician but had a good sense of rhythm.[17]
Malcolm Yelvington, who remembered the Perkins Brothers when they played in Covington, Tennessee, in 1953, noted that Perkins had an unusual blues-like style all his own.[18] By 1955, Perkins had made tapes of his material on a borrowed tape recorder and sent them to record companies such as Columbia and RCA. But he used addresses such as Columbia Records, New York City, and seemed dismayed at the lack of response. "I had sent tapes to RCA and Columbia and had never heard a thing from 'em".[19]
In July 1954, Perkins and his wife heard a new release of "Blue Moon of Kentucky" by Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore and Bill Black on the radio.[20] As the song faded out, Perkins said, "There's a man in Memphis who understands what we're doing. I need to go see him".[21] According to another telling of the story, it was Valda who said that he should go to Memphis.[22] Later, Presley told Perkins he had traveled to Jackson and had seen Perkins and his group playing at the El Rancho.[19]
Years later, the rockabilly singer Gene Vincent told an interviewer that, rather than Presley's version of "Blue Moon of Kentucky" being a "new sound", "a lot of people were doing it before that, especially Carl Perkins".[23]
Sun Records
Perkins successfully auditioned for Sam Phillips at Sun Records in early October 1954. "Movie Magg" and "Turn Around" were released on the Phillips-owned Flip label (151) on March 19, 1955.[24] "Turn Around" became a regional success, and Perkins was booked to appear along with Elvis Presley at theaters in Marianna and West Memphis, Arkansas.[2][25] Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two were the next Sun musicians to be added to the shows. During the summer of 1955 they had junkets to Little Rock and Forrest City, Arkansas, and to Corinth and Tupelo, Mississippi. Again performing at El Rancho, the Perkins brothers were involved in an automobile accident in Woodside, Delaware. A friend who was driving was pinned by the steering wheel. Perkins dragged him from the burning car. Clayton was thrown from the car but was not seriously injured.[26]
Sun released another Perkins song, "Gone Gone Gone",[27][28] in October 1955,[29] which also became a regional success. It was a "bounce blues in flavorsome combined country and R&B idioms".[30] The A-side was the more traditional country song "Let the Jukebox Keep On Playing".[31]
Commenting on Perkins's playing, Sam Phillips has been quoted as saying
I knew that Carl could rock and in fact he told me right from the start that he had been playing that music before Elvis came out on record ... I wanted to see whether this was someone who could revolutionize the country end of the business.[32]
Also in the autumn of 1955, Perkins wrote "Blue Suede Shoes",[6] inspired by seeing a dancer get angry with his date for scuffing up his shoes.[33] Several weeks later, on December 19, 1955, Perkins and his band recorded the song during a session at Sun Studio in Memphis. Phillips suggested changes to the lyrics ("Go, cat, go"), and the band changed the end of the song to a "boogie vamp".[34]
After Sun Records headliner Presley left for RCA in November 1955, Phillips told Perkins, "You're my rockabilly cat now".[35] Sun released "Blue Suede Shoes" on January 1, 1956 and it became a massive chart success. In the United States, it reached number one on Billboard magazine's country music chart (the only number one success he would have) and number two on the Billboard Best Sellers popular music chart. On February 11, Presley performed it on CBS-TV's Stage Show. On March 17, Perkins became the first country artist to reach number three on the rhythm and blues chart.[34][36] That night, he performed the song on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee and Presley reprised his performance on Stage Show.
In Britain, Perkins's song reached number 10 on the UK singles chart. It was the first record by a Sun artist to sell a million copies.[37] The Beatles covered the B side, "Honey Don't",[6] followed by Wanda Jackson and in the 1970s, T. Rex. John Lennon originally sang the song when the Beatles performed it. Later it was given to Ringo Starr, one of his few leads during his time with the band. Lennon also performed the song on the Lost Lennon Tapes.[36]Template:When
Road crash
After playing a show in Norfolk, Virginia, on March 21, 1956, the Perkins Brothers Band headed to New York City for a March 24 appearance on NBC-TV's Perry Como Show. Shortly before sunrise on March 22, on Route 13 between Dover and Woodside, Delaware, their vehicle hit the back of a pickup truck and went into a ditch containing about 12 inches of water. Holland had to pull Perkins, unconscious, from the water. Perkins had sustained three fractured vertebrae in his neck, a severe concussion, a broken collar bone, and lacerations all over his body. Perkins remained unconscious for an entire day. The driver of the pickup truck, Thomas Phillips, a 40-year-old farmer, died when he was thrown into the steering wheel.[38] Jay Perkins had a fractured neck and severe internal injuries. Later he developed a malignant brain tumor, and died in 1958.[39][40]
On March 23, Presley's band members Bill Black, Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana visited Perkins on their way to New York to appear with Presley. Fontana recalled Perkins saying, "You looked like a bunch of angels coming to see me".[41] Black told him, "Hey man, Elvis sends his love", and lit a cigarette for him, even though the patient in the next bed was in an oxygen tent.[42] Presley also telegraphed Perkins his well wishes.[42]
"Blue Suede Shoes" had sold more than 500,000 copies by March 22, and Sam Philips had planned to celebrate by presenting Perkins with a gold record on The Perry Como Show.[43] While Perkins recuperated from his injuries, "Blue Suede Shoes" reached number one on regional pop, R&B, and country charts. It also reached number two on the Billboard pop and country charts, below Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel". By mid-April, more than one million copies of "Blue Suede Shoes" had sold.[44] On April 3, while still recuperating in Jackson, Perkins watched Presley perform "Blue Suede Shoes" in his first appearance on The Milton Berle Show. This was the third time he performed the song on national television.[45][46]
Return to recording and touring
Script error: No such module "Listen". Perkins returned to live performances on April 21, 1956 beginning with an appearance in Beaumont, Texas, with the Big D Jamboree tour.[47] Before he resumed touring, Sam Phillips arranged a recording session at Sun with Edd Cisco filling in for the still-recuperating Jay. By mid-April, they recorded "Dixie Fried", "Put Your Cat Clothes On", "Wrong Yo-Yo", "You Can't Make Love to Somebody", "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby", and "That Don't Move Me".[48] On May 26, Perkins and his band (with Jay Perkins performing wearing a visible neck brace), finally appeared on The Perry Como Show to perform "Blue Suede Shoes".[49]
Beginning early that summer, Perkins was paid $1,000 to play two songs a night on the extended tour of Top Stars of '56. Other performers on the tour were Chuck Berry and Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. When Perkins and the group entered the stage in Columbia, South Carolina, he was shocked to see a teenager with a bleeding chin pressed against the stage by the massed crowd. During the first guitar intermission of "Honey Don't", they were waved offstage and into a vacant dressing room behind a double line of police officers. Appalled by what he had seen and felt, Perkins left the tour.[50] Appearing with Gene Vincent and Lillian Briggs in a rock 'n' roll show, he helped attract 39,872 people to the Reading Fair in Pennsylvania on a Tuesday night in late September. Soon after, a full grandstand and one thousand people stood in a heavy rain to hear Perkins and Briggs at the Brockton Fair in Massachusetts.[51]
Sun issued more Perkins songs in 1956: "Boppin' the Blues" / "All Mama's Children" (Sun 243), the B side co-written with Johnny Cash; and "Dixie Fried" / "I'm Sorry, I'm Not Sorry" (Sun 249). "Matchbox" / "Your True Love" (Sun 261)[52] came out in February, 1957.[29] "Boppin' the Blues" reached number 47 on the Cashbox pop singles chart, number nine on the Billboard country and western chart, and number 70 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Matchbox" became a rockabilly classic. It was recorded with Perkins on lead guitar and vocals, and then Sun studio piano player, Jerry Lee Lewis. Later that day, there was an impromptu session with Perkins, Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis informally referred to as the Million Dollar Quartet.[6] Sun released the full recordings from this jam session, a selection of gospel, country, and R&B songs in 1990.[2]
On February 2, 1957, Perkins again appeared on Ozark Jubilee, singing "Matchbox" and "Blue Suede Shoes". He also made at least two appearances on Town Hall Party in Compton, California, in 1957,[53] singing both songs. Those performances were included in the Western Ranch Dance Party series filmed and distributed by Screen Gems.
He released "That's Right", co-written with Johnny Cash, backed with the ballad "Forever Yours", as Sun single 274 in August, 1957. Neither side made it onto the charts.
The 1957 film Jamboree included Perkins performing "Glad All Over". The song was written by Aaron Schroeder, Sid Tepper, and Roy C. Bennett,[54] Sun released it in January, 1958.[55]
Life after Sun
In 1958, Perkins moved to Columbia Records for which he recorded "Jive After Five", "Rockin' Record Hop", "Levi Jacket (And a Long Tail Shirt)", "Pop, Let Me Have the Car", "Pink Pedal Pushers", "Any Way the Wind Blows", "Hambone", "Pointed Toe Shoes", "Sister Twister", "L-O-V-E-V-I-L-L-E" and other songs.[29]
In 1959, he wrote the country & western song "The Ballad of Boot Hill" for Johnny Cash who recorded it on an EP for Columbia Records. That same year, Perkins was cast in a Filipino movie produced by People's Pictures, Hawaiian Boy, in which he sang "Blue Suede Shoes".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
He performed often at the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas in 1962 and 1963.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". During this time, he toured nine Midwestern states and made a tour in Germany.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". In 1962, Patsy Cline recorded "So Wrong", which Perkins wrote with Mel Tillis and Danny Dill, and had a No. 14 hit on the country chart.
In May 1964, Perkins toured Britain with Chuck Berry with the popular, young rock group, The Animals backing them.[56] Perkins had been reluctant to undertake the tour, convinced that as forgotten as he had become in America, he would be even more obscure in the UK and did not want to be humiliated by drawing meager audiences. Berry assured him that they had remained much more popular in Britain since the 1950s than they had in the United States, and that there would be large crowds of fans at every show. On the last night of the tour, Perkins attended a party where he sat on the floor sharing stories, playing guitar, and singing songs while surrounded by the Beatles. Ringo Starr asked if he could record "Honey Don't". Perkins answered, "Man, go ahead, have at it".[57] The Beatles later recorded covers of "Matchbox", "Honey Don't" and "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby", which Perkins adapted from a song originally recorded in 1936 by Rex Griffin which he added new music to. (A song with the same title was recorded by Roy Newman in 1938). Starr sang the lead on the first two, George Harrison sang a rare lead on the third. The Beatles also recorded two versions of "Glad All Over" in 1963.[58] Another tour to Germany followed in the autumn.
He released "Big Bad Blues" backed with "Lonely Heart" as a single on Brunswick Records with the Nashville Teens in June, 1964.[59]
In 1966, Perkins signed with Dollie Records and released as his first single for them, "Country Boy's Dream", which reached No. 22 in the country chart. That same year Bob Luman had a Top 40 Country hit with Perkins's song, "Poor Boy Blues".
While on tour with the Johnny Cash show in 1968, Perkins went on a four day drinking binge that ended with him hallucinating floridly and passing out. When he regained consciousness, he went out to the beach with his last bottle of alcohol. In his autobiography, he described falling to his knees and declaring, "Lord, ... I'm gonna throw this bottle. I'm gonna show You that I believe in you" before hurling the bottle into the sea and vowing to remain sober. Perkins and Cash, who had his own substance-abuse issues, supported each other in their bids to remain sober.[60]
In 1968, Cash recorded the Perkins-written "Daddy Sang Bass" which incorporates parts of the gospel standard "Will the Circle Be Unbroken". It rose to the top of the country music chart where it stayed for six weeks. It was a Country Music Association nominee for 'Song of the Year' the next year. Perkins also played lead guitar on Cash's single "A Boy Named Sue", recorded live at San Quentin prison. It went to number one for five weeks on the country chart and number two on the pop chart. (The performance was also filmed by Granada Television for broadcast).
Perkins spent a decade in Cash's touring revue, often as an opening act for Cash as at the Folsom and San Quentin prison concerts, where he was recorded singing "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Matchbox" before Cash took the stage. These performances were not released until the 2000s. He also appeared on the television series The Johnny Cash Show. On the television program Kraft Music Hall on April 16, 1969, which Cash hosted, Perkins performed his song "Restless".[61][62]
Perkins and Bob Dylan wrote "Champaign, Illinois" in 1969. Dylan was in Nashville from February 12 to February 21, recording his album Nashville Skyline, a crossover into country. He met Perkins when he appeared on The Johnny Cash Show on June 7.[63] Dylan had writer's block and was unable to complete the song until Perkins contributed the rhythm and some lyrics upon which Dylan said to him, "Your song. Take it. Finish it".[64] Perkins registered the song as co-authored and recorded it on his 1969 album, On Top.[65][66]
Also in 1969, Columbia's Murray Krugman placed Perkins with the New Rhythm and Blues Quartet, the NRBQ, a rockabilly group based in New York's Hudson Valley. With the group backing him, he recorded two of his staples, "Boppin' the Blues" and "Turn Around", plus songs they sang separately.[67]
Tommy Cash (brother of Johnny Cash) had a Top Ten country gospel hit in 1970 with the song "Rise and Shine" which Perkins wrote. It reached number nine on the Billboard country chart and number eight on the Canadian country chart. Arlene Harden had a Top 40 country hit in 1971 with the Perkins composition "True Love Is Greater Than Friendship", from the film Little Fauss and Big Halsy (1971). That same year, Al Martino's cover of the song reached number 22 on the Billboard country chart and number 33 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. Perkins appeared with Cash on the popular TV country series Hee Haw on February 16, 1974.
After a long legal struggle with Sam Phillips over royalties, Perkins gained ownership of his songs in the 1970s and, in 2003, his widow, who by then owned the catalog, entered into an administration contract with Paul McCartney's MPL Communications.[68]
Later years
The rockabilly revival of the 1980s helped bring Perkins back into the limelight. In 1981, Perkins recorded the song "Get It" with Paul McCartney. According to one source, he fully co-wrote the song with McCartney.[69] This recording was included on the chart-topping album Tug of War, released in 1982.[70] During 1985, Perkins re-recorded "Blue Suede Shoes" with Lee Rocker and Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats as part of the soundtrack for the film Porky's Revenge.
In October 1985, Perkins performed on stage in London for a television special, Blue Suede Shoes: A Rockabilly Session, with George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Dave Edmunds, Lee Rocker, Rosanne Cash and Ringo Starr. The show was taped live at the Limehouse Studios. It was broadcast on Channel 4 on January 1, 1986. Perkins sang 16 songs plus two encores. He and his friends ended the session by singing "Blue Suede Shoes", 30 years after its writing, which brought Perkins to tears.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". The concert special was a highlight of his later career.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". The concert was released for DVD by Snapper Music in 2006.[71]
Perkins was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985. Wider recognition of his contributions to music came with his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. The Hall chose "Blue Suede Shoes" as one of its 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. The song also received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. Perkins was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in recognition of his pioneering contributions to the genre.
Perkins's only notable film performance as an actor was in John Landis's 1985 film Into the Night. The cameo-laden film includes a scene in which characters played by Perkins and David Bowie die by each other's hand.[72]
Perkins returned to the Sun Studio in Memphis in 1986, joining Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Roy Orbison on the album Class of '55. The record was a tribute to their early years at Sun and, specifically, the Million Dollar Quartet jam session involving Perkins, Presley, Cash, and Lewis in 1956.
In 1989, Perkins co-wrote and played lead guitar on the Judds' number-one country hit, "Let Me Tell You About Love".[73] That same year, he signed a record deal with Platinum Records for the album Friends, Family, and Legends, featuring performances by Chet Atkins, Travis Tritt, Steve Wariner, Joan Jett, and Charlie Daniels, along with Paul Shaffer and Will Lee. The song "Wild Texas Wind" became the title track to a made-for-TV movie featuring Dolly Parton and Gary Busey. In 1996, Willie Nelson, who also appeared in that movie, joined Perkins in a duet version of the song. During the production of this album, Perkins was diagnosed with throat cancer.
Dolly Parton had a Top 20 Country hit in 1991 with "Silver and Gold", which she and Perkins co-wrote. Mark O'Connor recorded a version of the Perkins "Restless" in 1991 and had a No. 25 country hit with it in the US, (No. 19 in Canada).
Perkins again returned to Sun Studio to record with Scotty Moore, Presley's first guitar player, for the album 706 ReUNION, released by Belle Meade Records which also featured D. J. Fontana, Marcus Van Storey, and the Jordanaires. In 1993, Perkins performed with the Kentucky Headhunters in the music video for a re-recording of his song "Dixie Fried" filmed in Glasgow, Kentucky. In 1994, he teamed up with Duane Eddy and the Mavericks to contribute "Matchbox" to the AIDS benefit album Red Hot + Country, produced by the Red Hot Organization.
His last album, Go Cat Go!, released by the independent Dinosaur Records label in 1996, showcased Perkins singing duets with Bono, Johnny Cash, John Fogerty, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, Paul Simon, and Ringo Starr.[74][75]
His last major concert performance was the Music for Montserrat all-star charity concert at London's Royal Albert Hall on September 15, 1997, four months before his death.
Posthumous releases
In 2025, Sun Records released a new Perkins album, Some Things Never Change, which had originally been recorded in 1990 but whose recordings were thought to be lost until being rediscovered in 2024. The album was produced by Bill Lloyd and featured Perkins backed by his sons Stan (drums) and Greg (bass), augmented by studio musicians Joe Schenk (piano), Jerry Douglas, and Pete Finney.[76]
Personal life
In January 1953, Perkins married Valda Crider, whom he had known for a number of years. When his job at the bakery was reduced to part-time, Valda, who had her own job, encouraged Perkins to begin working the taverns full-time. He began playing six nights a week. Later the same year, he added W.S. "Fluke" Holland to the band as a drummer. Holland had no previous experience as a musician but had a good sense of rhythm.[77]
A strong advocate for child welfare, Perkins worked with the Jackson Exchange Club to establish the first center in Tennessee for the prevention of child abuse, the fourth in the nation. Proceeds from a concert which he planned were combined with a grant from the National Exchange Club to establish the Prevention of Child Abuse in October 1981. For years, its annual Circle of Hope Telethon generated one quarter of the center's annual operating budget.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Perkins had one daughter, Debbie, and three sons, Stan, Greg, and Steve. Stan, Perkins' firstborn son, is also a recording artist. In 2010, he joined forces with Jerry Naylor to record a duet tribute, "To Carl: Let It Vibrate". Stan has been inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Greg played bass on stage alongside his father at the 1985 Blue Suede Shoes: A Rockabilly Session concert in London and co-wrote "Birth of Rock and Roll" with his father.[78] In 1983, a jury in Jackson, Tennessee found Greg Perkins "innocent on two felony counts of vehicular homicide, and guilty on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol".[79] In 1997, Perkins' wife Valda was "recovering from a year long illness,"[80] and his son Greg collapsed as a result of liver damage that may have resulted in a liver transplant.[80]
Perkins died on January 19, 1998, at the age of 65 at Jackson-Madison County Hospital in Jackson, Tennessee, from complications from several minor strokes the previous month.[81][82] Among the mourners at his standing room only funeral at Lambuth University were George Harrison, Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Wynonna Judd, Sam Phillips, Ricky Skaggs, Brian Setzer, Garth Brooks, and Billy Ray Cyrus. During the service, Cyrus and Skaggs sang and the funeral ended with George Harrison singing an acoustic version of "Your True Love".[83] Perkins was buried at Ridgecrest Cemetery in Jackson.
Perkins' widow, Valda deVere Perkins, died on November 15, 2005, in Jackson. Carl and Valda Perkins' son Greg (born January 15, 1959) died three days later at the age of 46 on November 18, 2005.[78]
Technique
As a guitarist, Perkins used finger picking, imitations of the pedal steel guitar, palm muting, arpeggios, open strings, single and double string bending, chromaticism, country and blues licks, and tritone and other tonality clashing licks (short phrases that include notes from other keys and move in logical, often symmetric patterns).[84] A rich vocabulary of chords including sixth and thirteenth chords, ninth and added ninth chords, and suspensions show up in his rhythm parts and solos. Free use of syncopations, chord anticipations (arriving at a chord change before the other players, often by an eighth-note) and crosspicking (repeating a three eighth-note pattern so that an accent falls variously on the upbeat or downbeat) were also in his bag of tricks.[85]
Legacy
Perkins wrote his autobiography, Go, Cat, Go, published in 1996, in collaboration with music writer David McGee in 1996. Plans for a biographical film were announced by Santa Monica-based production company Fastlane Entertainment;[86][87] it was slated for release in 2009.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Perkins number 99 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.[88]
The National Recording Preservation Board included his version of "Blue Suede Shoes" in its National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in 2006.[89]
The Perkins family still owns his songs.[68]
Ricky Nelson covered Perkins's "Boppin' the Blues" and "Your True Love" on his 1957 debut album, Ricky.
ManyTemplate:Which of the Beatles' live shows had rock 'n' roll covers of Carl Perkins's songs such as "Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby", "Matchbox" and "Honey Don't".
Drive-By Truckers, on their album The Dirty South, recorded a song about him, "Carl Perkins' Cadillac". The Carl Perkins Arena in Jackson, Tennessee, is named in his honor.
George Thorogood and the Destroyers covered "Dixie Fried" on their 1985 album Maverick. The Kentucky Headhunters also covered the song, as did Keith de Groot on his 1968 album No Introduction Necessary with Jimmy Page on lead guitar and John Paul Jones on bass.[90]
Johnny "Kid Memphis" Holiday portrayed Perkins by in the 2005 Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line.
Perkins was honored with the Lifetime Achievement award during the Tennessee Music Awards event in 2018 at the University of Memphis Lambuth in Jackson, Tennessee.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
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Awards and recognition
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| Carl Perkins: Grammy Hall of Fame Awards[91] | |||||
| Year released | Title | Genre | Label | Year Inducted | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | "Blue Suede Shoes" | Rock and Roll (single) | Sun Records | 1986 | |
Discography
Original albums
- Dance Album of Carl Perkins (1958)
- Whole Lotta Shakin' (1958)
- Country Boy's Dream (1967)
- Original Golden Hits (1969)
- On Top (Columbia, 1969)
- Carl Perkins' Greatest Hits (1969, re-recordings)
- Boppin' the Blues (1970, with NRBQ)
- My Kind of Country (Mercury, 1973)
- The Carl Perkins Show (1976)
- Mr. Country Rock (Demand, 1977)
- Ol' Blue Suede's Back (1978)
- Country Soul (1979)
- Rock 'N Gospel (1979)
- Cane Creek Glory Church (1979)
- Live at Austin City Limits (1981)
- That Rockin' Guitar Man (1981)
- The Million Dollar Quartet (with Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash) (1981)
- The Survivors (with Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash) (1982)
- Presenting Carl Perkins (Accord, 1982)
- Every Road (Joker, 1982)
- Goin' Back to Memphis (Joker, 1982)
- Boppin' the New Blues (1982)
- Born to Boogie (O'Hara Records, 1982)
- This Ole House (1982)
- Presenting (1982)
- The Heart and Soul of Carl Perkins (Allegiance, 1983)
- Disciple in Blue Suede Shoes (1984)
- Gospel (1984)
- Carl Perkins (Dot, 1985)
- Class of '55 (with Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash) (1986)
- Original Sun Greatest Hits (1986)
- Blue Suede Shoes: A Rockabilly Session (1986)
- Up Through the Years 1954–57 (1986)
- Born to Rock (1989)
- 706 Re-Union (with Scotty Moore) (1990)
- Country Boy's Dream – The Dollie Masters (Bear Family, 1991)
- Friends, Family & Legends (1992)
- Carl Perkins & Sons (with Greg Perkins and Stan Perkins) (1993)
- Take Me Back (1993)
- Go Cat Go! (with various guest stars) (1996)
- The Silver Eagle Cross Country: Carl Perkins Live (1997)
- Live at Gilley's (1999)
- Live (2000)
- Back on Top – (Bear Family, 2000; 4 CDs, comprising 1968–1975)
- Some Things Never Change (2025)[76]
Guest appearances
- Judds: Greatest Hits Volume II (1991)
- Philip Claypool: Perfect World (1999)
Charted albums
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | Label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [92] |
US Country [92] |
UK [93] | |||
| 1969 | Carl Perkins' Greatest Hits (re-recordings) | — | 32 | — | Columbia |
| On Top | — | 42 | — | ||
| Original Golden Hits | — | 43 | — | Sun | |
| 1973 | My Kind of Country | — | 48 | — | Mercury |
| 1978 | Ol' Blue Suede's Back | — | — | 38 | Columbia |
| 1982 | The Survivors Live (with Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis) |
— | 21 | — | Columbia |
| 1986 | Class of '55 (with Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash) |
87 | 15 | — | America/Mercury |
Charted singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Country [92] |
US Billboard | US Cashbox | US Cashbox Country | CAN Country | UK [93] | |||
| 1956 | "Blue Suede Shoes" | 1 | 2 | 2[94][95] | 2Template:Refn | — | 10 | Dance Album of ... Carl Perkins |
| "Boppin' the Blues" | 7 | 70 | 47[96] | 12[97] | — | — | ||
| "Dixie Fried" | 10 | — | — | 15Template:Refn | — | — | Original Golden Hits | |
| "I'm Sorry, I'm Not Sorry" | flip | — | — | — | — | — | Blue Suede Shoes | |
| 1957 | "Your True Love" | 13 | 67 | — | 15[98] | — | — | Dance Album of ... Carl Perkins |
| "Lend Me Your Comb" | — | — | 60[99] | — | — | — | ||
| 1958 | "Pink Pedal Pushers" | 17 | 91 | — | 17[100] | — | — | The King of Rock |
| 1959 | "Pointed Toe Shoes" | — | 93[92] | 86[101] | — | — | — | |
| 1966 | "Country Boy's Dream" | 22 | — | — | 28[102] | — | — | Country Boy's Dream |
| 1967 | "Shine, Shine, Shine" | 40 | — | — | 41[103] | — | — | |
| 1969 | "Restless" | 20 | — | — | 30[104] | — | — | Carl Perkins' Greatest Hits |
| 1971 | "Me Without You" | 65 | — | — | — | — | — | The Man Behind Johnny Cash |
| "Cotton Top" | 53 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1972 | "High on Love" | 60 | — | — | — | — | — | Single only |
| 1973 | "(Let's Get) Dixiefried" (1973 version) | 61 | — | — | — | — | — | My Kind of Country |
| 1986 | "Birth of Rock and Roll" | 31 | — | — | — | 44 | — | Class of '55 |
| 1987 | "Class of '55" | 83 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1989 | "Charlene" | — | — | — | — | 74 | — | Born to Rock |
Billboard Year-end performances
| Year | Song | Year-end Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | "Blue Suede Shoes" | 18 |
Further reading
- Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Template:Full Episode of this American Public Media interview program, presenting at various timepoints of this AV media, Perkins' perspectives on his youthful inspiration from spontaneous Gospel singing while picking cotton with people of color, the roles of his mother and father and his honky-tonk experiences in shaping his approach to style and tempo in his rockabilly music, the direct inspiration for the lyrics of Blue Suade Shoes in his disgust over a man's over-attentiveness to his shoes (and consequent ill treatment of his date) at a dance, the dialogs invoilved in his bringing the song to production, his esteem for Elvis Presley in delaying doing his cover of it out of respect for Perkins so that the original would receive a period of airplay, comments regarding the difference between his and Presley's versions, and his convcersation with George Harrison of The Beatles over Perkins' later adoption of Presley's opening and tempo.
Notes
Citations
General and cited references
- Guterman, Jimmy (1998). "Carl Perkins". The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, ed. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 412–413.
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External links
- Template:Trim/ Template:Trim at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidataScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:WikidataCheck
- Carl Perkins biography
- Perkins's page at the Rockabilly Hall of Fame
- Carl Perkins bio at Rolling Stone
- Carl Perkins Biography at The History of Rock
- Carl Perkins at Find a GraveTemplate:EditAtWikidata
Template:Navboxes Template:Authority control
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c Pareles.
- ↑ a b c Naylor, p. 118.
- ↑ [1] Template:Webarchive
- ↑ Perkins, pp. 8–9.
- ↑ a b c d Template:Pop Chronicles
- ↑ Naylor.
- ↑ a b Perkins, pp. 13–14.
- ↑ Perkins, pp. 11–12.
- ↑ Perkins, pp. 30, 55.
- ↑ Perkins, pp. 30, 68.
- ↑ Perkins, pp. 36–41.
- ↑ Perkins, p. 48.
- ↑ Perkins, pp. 48–49.
- ↑ Perkins, pp. 32, 70–71.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Perkins, pp. 70–71.
- ↑ Perkins, p. 77.
- ↑ a b "The Top Beats the Bottom: Carl Perkins and his Music". The Atlantic. December 1970. p. 100
- ↑ [2]Template:Dead link
- ↑ Perkins, pp. 79–90.
- ↑ Rockabilly Legends. Naler. p. 121
- ↑ VanHecke, Susan (2000). Race with the Devil. St. Martin's Press. p. 219. Template:ISBN
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Perkins, pp. 106–108.
- ↑ Perkins, pp. 122–124.
- ↑ [3]Template:Dead link
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Billboard, October 22, 1955. "Reviews of New C&W Records." p. 44
- ↑ The Carl Perkins Sun collection.
- ↑ Escott, Colin; Hawkins, Martin. Good Rockin' Tonight: Sun Records and the Birth of Rock 'n' Roll. Google eBook. Retrieved 10.11.2011.
- ↑ Perkins, Carl; McGee, David (1996). Go, Cat, Go! Hyperion Press. p. 129. Template:ISBN
- ↑ a b Miller, James (1999). Flowers in the Dustbin: The Rise of Rock and Roll, 1947–1977. Simon & Schuster. pp. 124–25. Template:ISBN
- ↑ Naylor, p. 135.
- ↑ a b Naylor, p. 137.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Perkins, pp. 178, 180.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Burke, Ken; Griffin, Dan (2006). The Blue Moon Boys: The Story of Elvis Presley's Band. Chicago Review Press. p. 88. Template:ISBN
- ↑ a b Perkins, pp. 182, 184.
- ↑ Perkins, p. 173.
- ↑ Perkins, p. 187.
- ↑ Perkins, p. 184.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Perkins, p. 191.
- ↑ Perkins, p. 198.
- ↑ Youtube: "Carl Perkins - Blue Suede Shoes - Perry Como Show -1956"
- ↑ Perkins, pp. 188, 210, 212.
- ↑ Billboard, September 29, 1956. pp. 73, 78
- ↑ [4] Template:Webarchive
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ [5]Template:Dead link
- ↑ [6] Template:Webarchive
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Naylor, p. 142.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Perkins, pp. 309–310.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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- ↑ Perkins.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Boppin' the Blues. Columbia CS9981 (1969).
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Naylor, p. 145.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ DVD Carl Perkins & Friends. Released by Graham Nolder/Snapper Music. 2006. Cat:SDVD514
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Perkins, pp. 70–71.
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- ↑ Perkins, p. 78.
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