Amanda McBroom
American singer, songwriter, and actress
Carl Perkins was a pioneering American rockabilly musician who helped shape the sound of early rock and roll. His iconic songs like “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Matchbox” were hugely influential, inspiring generations of artists from Elvis Presley to the Beatles. Despite his immense impact, Perkins remained humble, content to be known as the “King of Rockabilly” until his passing in 1998.
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About the Carl Perkins
Carl Lee Perkinswas an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. A rockabilly great and pioneer of rock and roll, he began his recording career at the Sun Studio, in Memphis, beginning 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.” Perkins’s songs were recorded by artistsas influential as Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash, Ricky Nelson, and Eric Clapton, which further established his prominent place in the history of popular music. Paul McCartney said “If there were no Carl Perkins, there would be no Beatles.”
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. He also received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award.
Frequently Asked Questions
Carl Perkins’ best-known song was ‘Blue Suede Shoes’.
Carl Perkins began his recording career at the Sun Studio in Memphis in 1954.
Carl Perkins was a pioneer of rockabilly, a genre that combined elements of rock and roll and country music.
Artists such as Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash, Ricky Nelson, and Eric Clapton recorded Carl Perkins’ songs, further establishing his prominent place in the history of popular music.
Carl 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. He also received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award.
According to Paul McCartney, ‘If there were no Carl Perkins, there would be no Beatles.’
Carl Perkins was nicknamed the ‘King of Rockabilly’.
4 Quotes by Carl Perkins
- 1.
That rockabilly sound wasn’t as simple as I thought it was.
Carl PerkinsAmerican guitarist
- 2.
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 PerkinsAmerican guitarist
- 3.
If it weren’t for the rocks in its bed, the stream would have no song.
Carl PerkinsAmerican guitarist
- 4.
If it helped you get your music off the ground, I’m glad you done it.
Carl PerkinsAmerican guitarist