Carl Perkins
Induction Year: 1985
Birth Name: Carl Perkins
Birth Date: April 09, 1932
Place of Birth: Lake County, TN
Deceased: January 19, 1998
Place of Death: Jackson, TN
Biography
"One day I was listening to a DJ play Presley's 'Blue Moon of Kentucky'... I turned the radio up and shouted, 'That sounds just like us playing!' At last someone was recording country music with a beat."
"That's what Rockabilly music, or Rock n' Roll was to begin with ... a country man's song with a black man's rhythm. I just put a little speed into some of the slow Blue's licks."
(on earning a gold record for "Blue Suede Shoes") "After all those days in the cotton fields, the dreams came true on a gold record on a piece of wood. It's in my den where I can look at it every day. I wear it out lookin' at it." Carl Perkins
Discography / Career Highlights
Career Milestones:
1945--won a talent contest prize at the age of 13, with his original song, "Movie Magg"; this was the song that convinced Sun Records head Sam Phillips to sign Perkins later on
mid 1950s--began recording for Sun Records; among his label mates were Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Roy Orbison
1956--"Blue Suede Shoes" released; became Sun Records' first million seller
1963--The Beatles recorded five of Perkins' songs; they went on to record more of his songs than any other artist
1964--toured the UK with Chuck Berry; met the Beatles
1965--joined Johnny Cash on his roadshow as guitarist and featured artist
1977--signed with the Jet label
1978--Perkins' sons Greg and Stan started his new label "Suede"; sold over 100,000 copies of "Ol' Blue Suede's Back" in England
1981--played guitar on Paul McCartney's "Tug of War" album, including the #1 hit "Ebony & Ivory"; also sang a duet with McCartney on the song "Get It" from the same album
1986--filmed cable special "Carl Perkins and Friends: A Rockabilly Session"; Beatles George Harrison and Ringo Starr appeared with Perkins in the special
Awards:
1986--Grammy\Hall of Fame Award\Blue Suede Shoes
1987--Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction
Catalog Highlights:
"Blue Suede Shoes" - Artists: Carl Perkins
"Matchbox" - Artists: The Beatles
"Honey Don't" - Artists: The Beatles
"Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby" - Artists: The Beatles
"You Can Do No Wrong" - Artists: Carl Perkins
"Daddy Sang Bass" - Artists: Johnny Cash
"Dixie Fried" - Artists: Carl Perkins
"So Wrong" - Artists: Patsy Cline (1962)
"Let Me Tell You About Love" - Co-writer: Paul Kennerley, Brent L. Maher, Artists: The Judds (1989)
"True Love Is Greater Than Friendship" - Artists: Arlene Harden (1971)
"Rise and Shine" - Artists: Tommy Cash (1970)
"Silver and Gold" - Artists: Dolly Parton (1992)
Comments:
Performed in a trio with his brothers Jay (rhythm guitar) and Clayton (bass fiddle) when he was a teenager
"Blue Suede Shoes" distinguished Perkins as the first crossover white artist to hit on the Country, Pop, and R & B charts
While Elvis Presley gained much fame from his recording of "Blue Suede Shoes," his version never outsold Perkins'