Carl Lee Perkins (April 9, 1932 – January 19, 1998) was an American pioneer of rockabilly music, a mix of rhythm and blues and country music, recorded most notably at Sun Records in Memphis, beginning in 1954. An outstanding performer, his touch on rock and roll music is still heard to this day, especially through his fine compositions and guitar playing. His best known song is "Blue Suede Shoes". is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1932 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Tiptonville is a town located in Lake County, Tennessee. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... Country music, the first half of Billboards country and western music category, is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. ... Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, and emerged in the early-1950s. ... For other uses, see Singer (disambiguation). ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... See also: 1954 in music, other events of 1955, 1956 in music, 1950s in music and the list of years in music // January 1 - RCA victor announces a marketing plan called Operation TNT. The label drops the list price on LPs from $5. ... See also: 1998 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1998 Record labels established in 1998 // 1998 - The single Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls sets a new hot 100 airplay record, 18 weeks at number one. ... is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1932 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, and emerged in the early-1950s. ... R&B redirects here. ... Country music, the first half of Billboards country and western music category, is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. ... Label of the fourth Sun Records Sun Records has been the name for four 20th century record labels. ... For other uses, see Memphis (disambiguation). ... Blue Suede Shoes is a rock and roll standard written and first recorded by Carl Perkins in 1955. ...

According to 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." ^[1] Perkins's songs have been recorded by artists as influential as Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and Johnny Cash, which further cemented his place in the history of popular music. Charles Edward Charlie Daniels (born October 28, 1936 in Wilmington, North Carolina) is an American musician famous for his contributions to country and southern rock music. ... Elvis redirects here. ... The White Album, see The Beatles (album). ... For the song of the same name, recorded by Tracy Byrd and later by Jason Aldean, see Johnny Cash (song). ...

Early life

Perkins was the son of poor sharecroppers near Tiptonville, Tennessee. ^[2] He grew up hearing Southern gospel music sung by whites in church and by black field workers when he started working in the cotton fields at age six. In the spring and fall, the school day would be followed by several hours of work in the fields. During the summer workdays were 12 - 14 hours, "from can to can't". Carl and his brother Jay together would earn 50 cents per day. With all family members working, and credit, there was enough money for beans and potaoes, some tobacco for Carl's father Buck, and every so often the luxury of a five cent bag of hard candy.^[3] Sharecropping is a system of farming in which employee farmers work a parcel of land in return for a fraction of the parcels crops. ... Tiptonville is a town located in Lake County, Tennessee. ... Gospel music is a musical genre characterized by dominant vocals (often with strong use of harmony) referencing lyrics of a religious nature, particularly Christian. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ...

On Saturday nights he would listen to the radio along with his father and hear music from the Grand Ole Opry. Roy Acuff's broadcast performances on the Opry inspired Perkins to ask his parents for a guitar. ^[4] Because they couldn't afford a real guitar, Carl's father fashioned one from a cigar box and a broomstick. When a neighbor in tough straits offered to sell his dented, scratched Gene Autry signature model guitar with worn out strings, Buck purchased it for a couple of dollars. For the next year Carl taught himself parts of Roy Acuff's "Great Speckled Bird" and "The Wabash Cannonball", which he heard on the Opry. Perkins also cites the speeded up, driving straight time playing and detached but determined, wispy but challenging vocals of Bill Monroe as an early influence.^[5] The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly Saturday night country music radio program broadcast live on WSM radio in Nashville, Tennessee, and televised on Great American Country network. ... Roy Acuff on the cover of The Great Roy Acuff (1964) Roy Claxton Acuff (15 September 1903 – 23 November 1992) was an American country musician. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Roy Acuff on the cover of The Great Roy Acuff (1964) Roy Claxton Acuff (15 September 1903 – 23 November 1992) was an American country musician. ... The Great Speckled Bird (newspaper) The Great Speckled Bird (song) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Carl began learning more about playing his guitar from an old black friend he called "Uncle John" Westbrook. Most famously, "Uncle John" advised Carl 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." Because he couldn't afford new strings when they broke, he retied them. The knots would cut into his fingers when he tried to slide to another note, so he began bending the notes, stumbling onto a type of blue note."^[6][7]

Carl was recruited to be a member of the Lake County Fourth Grade Marching Band, and because of the Perkins' limited finances, was given a new white shirt, cotton pants, white band cap and red cape by Miss Lee McCutcheon, who was in charge of the band.^[8]

At age fourteen, using the I IV V chord progression common to country songs of the day,^[9] he wrote a song that would be known as "Let Me Take You To the Movie, Magg" around Jackson.^[10] (The same song would convince Sam Phillips to sign Perkins to his Sun Records label.) Sam Phillips, born Samuel Cornelius Phillips (January 5, 1923 – June 30, 2003), was a record producer who played an important role in the emergence of rock and roll as the major form of popular music in the 1950s. ...

Perkins and his brother Jay had their first paying job (in tips) as entertainment at the "CottonBoll" on Highway 45 some twelve miles south of Jackson, TN starting on Wednesday nights in late 1946. Carl was only fourteen years old. One of the songs they played was an uptempo, country blues shuffle version of Bill Monroe's "Blue Moon of Kentucky". Free drinks were one of the perks of playing in a honky tonk, and Carl drank four beers that first night. Within a month Carl and Jay began playing Friday and Saturday nights at the Sand Ditch near the western boundary of Jackson. Both places were the scene of frequent fights, and both of the Perkins Brothers gained a reputation as fighters. ^[11] Blue Moon of Kentucky is a bluegrass song, written by Bill Monroe in 1947 and recorded by his band, The Blue Grass Boys. ...

Later Carl and Jay were joined by brother Clayton on bass fiddle, and still later by drummer W. S. Holland, and began to perform at a local honkytonk known as the El Rancho Club in 1947 and 1948. They appeared on WDXT radio in his hometown of Jackson, Tennessee from 1950 to 1952. Meanwhile, Carl spent many years working during the day at Colonial Baking Company in Jackson, Tennessee, as a baker. ^[12] W.S. Fluke Holland is a drummer who worked extensively with numerous rock and roll musicians, but became well-known as the drummer in Johnny Cashs Tennessee Three backing band. ... Honky tonk was originally the name of a type of bar common throughout the southern United States, also Honkatonk or Honkey-tonk. ...

In July of 1954, Perkins and his wife, Valda, heard a new release of "Blue Moon of Kentucky" by Elvis Presley, Scotty, and Bill on the radio.^[13] Valda exclaimed, "Listen! They play like y'all! It sounds like you!" After recording the take of the song that was released, Presley exclaimed, "That sounds like Carl Perkins!".^[14] As "Blue Moon of Kentucky faded out, Carl said, "There's a man in Memphis who understands what we're doing. I need to go see him."."^[15] Blue Moon of Kentucky is a bluegrass song, written by Bill Monroe in 1947 and recorded by his band, The Blue Grass Boys. ...

Sun Records

Perkins successfully auditioned for Sam Phillips at Sun Records early in October of 1954. "Movie Magg" and "Turn Around" were released on the Phillips owned Flip label (151) March 19, 1955 hit.^[16] with "Turn Around" becoming a regional. ^[17] Another Perkins' tune "Gone Gone Gone",[3][4] released in October 1955 by Sun,[5] was another regional hit, and was backed by the more traditional "Let The Juke Box Keep On Playing", complete with fiddle, "Western Boogie" bass line, steel guitar, and weepy vocal.[6] Sam Phillips, born Samuel Cornelius Phillips (January 5, 1923 – June 30, 2003), was a record producer who played an important role in the emergence of rock and roll as the major form of popular music in the 1950s. ... Label of the fourth Sun Records Sun Records has been the name for four 20th century record labels. ...

That same fall of 1955, Perkins wrote the song "Blue Suede Shoes" after seeing a dancer at a honky-tonk get mad at his date for scruffing up his blue suede shoes. Several weeks later, on December 19, 1955, Perkins and his band recorded the song during a session at the Sun studios in Memphis. Phillips suggested changes to the lyrics ("Go Cat Go") and the band changed the end of the song to a boogie vamp. During the long session, as liquor flowed, the sound became tougher, harder and looser, and Perkins played with passion. Phillips knew he had found the right song to bring out the blues strain in Perkins' music and produce a pop hit.^[18] Elvis Presley left Sun for a larger opportunity with RCA in November, and on December 19, 1955, Phillips, who had begun recording Perkins in late 1954, told Perkins, "Carl Perkins, you're my rockabilly cat now". ^[19] Blue Suede Shoes is a rock and roll standard written and first recorded by Carl Perkins in 1955. ... is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar). ...

Released on January 1, 1956, "Blue Suede Shoes" was a massive chart success. In the United States, it went to #1 on Billboard magazine's country music charts (the only #1 hit he would have) and to #2 on Billboard's Best Sellers pop music chart. Finally, on March 17, Perkins became the first country artist to reach the #3 spot on the rhythm & blues charts.^[18][20] In the United Kingdom, it became a Top Ten hit. It was the first record by a Sun label artist to sell a million copies. ^[21] Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry. ... Country music, the first half of Billboards country and western music category, is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... Top 40 is a radio format based on frequent repetition of songs from a constantly-updated list of the forty best-selling singles. ...

On March 21, 1956, as the song neared its peak on the charts, Perkins was involved in a serious automobile accident while on the way to New York City to appear on the nationally broadcast Perry Como Show. He suffered a fractured skull and broken shoulder in the crash; brother Jay Perkins fractured his neck (he died in 1958). ^[22] Perkins could only watch as his friend Elvis Presley also had success with a cover version of "Blue Suede Shoes", the follow-up to Presley's first hit, "Heartbreak Hotel". Presley performed the song on national television 3 times in 1956 [7], and made references to it twice during an appearance on The Steve Allen Show, and his version became far more famous than Perkins', although it only reached #20 on Billboard's pop chart.^[23] is the 80th day of the year (81st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A car from 1956 Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A car accident in Yate, near Bristol, England, in July 2004. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Pierino Ronald Como (May 18, 1912 – May 12, 2001) was an American crooner. ... Elvis redirects here. ... // In popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition (performance or recording) of a previously recorded song. ... For the Whitney Houston song, see Heartbreak Hotel (Whitney Houston song). ... Steve Allen on the cover of Steve Allen on the Bible, Religion, and Morality Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen (December 26, 1921 – October 30, 2000) was a musician, comedian and writer, who was instrumental in innovating the concept of the television talk show. ...

Still, Sun issued more Perkins' songs in 1956: Boppin'The Blues/All Mama's Children (Sun 243), Dixie Fried/I'm Sorry, I'm Not Sorry (Sun 249). Matchbox/All Mama's Children (Sun 261) came out in February of 1957. [8] Matchbox is considered to be a rockabilly classic, and George Thorogood and the Destroyers covered "Dixie Fried" on their 1985 album Maverick.[9]

The day Matchbox was recorded, Elvis Presley visited the studio. Along with Johnny Cash (who left early), Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Presley spent more than an hour singing gospel, country and rhythm-and-blues songs while a tape rolled. The casual session was called The Million Dollar Quartet by a local newspaper the next day, and was eventually released on a disk in 1990.[10]

The 1957 film Jamboree includes a Perkins perfomance of Glad All Over that runs 1:55. Glad All Over, written by Schroeder, Tepper, and Bennett,[11] was released by Sun in January of 1958.[12] Perkins also made at least two appearances on the Town Hall Party in Compton, CA in 1957.[13] singing both Blues Suede Shoes and Matchbox. Those performances were included in the "Western Ranch Dance Party" series filmed and distributed by Screen Gems. Jamboree (known as Disc Jockey Jamboree in the United Kingdom) is the name of a black and white 1957 rock n roll motion picture directed by Roy Lockwood that runs for 71 minutes in mono RCA sound. ...

Life after Sun

In 1958, Perkins moved to Columbia Records where he recorded songs such as: Jive at Five, Anyway the Wind Blows, Hambone, Pointed Toe Shoes and Sister Twister.[14] Columbia Records is the oldest brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888, and was the first record company to produce pre-recorded records as opposed to blank cylinders. ...

The Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas was the site of many performances in 1962 along with appearances in 9 mid Western states and a tour of Germany. Appearances at The Golden Nugget continued through 1963.

In May of 1964 Perkins toured England along with Chuck Berry,[15] and Eric Burdon and The Animals backed the two stars from the States On the last night of the tour, he attended a party that turned out to be for him, and ended up sitting on the floor sharing stories, playing guitar, and singing songs while surrounded by The Beatles: John, Paul, George, and Ringo; who were at the time the hottest group in the world. Ringo asked Carl if he could record "Honey Don't." "Man," answered Carl, "go ahead, have at it."^[24] The Beatles, would cover "Matchbox", "Honey Don't", and also "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby" recorded by Perkins but written by, and originally recorded by, Rex Griffin. Glad All Over, also performed by Perkins, but not written by him, and not to be confused with The Dave Clark Five song of the same name, was also covered.[16][17] Another tour to Germany followed in the fall. Charles Edward Anderson Chuck Berry (born 18 October 1926, St. ... Eric Victor Burdon (born 11 May 1941, in Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne) was the lead singer of The Animals and later of War. ... The US edition of The Animals self-titled debut album. ... The White Album, see The Beatles (album). ... The White Album, see The Beatles (album). ... Matchbox is a rockabilly song credited to Carl Perkins and first recorded by the artist at Sun Records in 1957. ... Honey Dont is a song written by Carl Perkins, which was covered by The Beatles on their Beatles for Sale album (in the US on Beatles 65). ... Everybodys Trying to Be My Baby is a Rex Griffin song (Decca, 1936) later covered by Carl Perkins in 1956 that was then covered by The Beatles as the last track on their UK Beatles for Sale album and the last track on the US album Beatles 65. ...

Although he had been trying to rehabilitate himself by only drinking beer (but lots of it), in 1968, while on tour with the Johnny Cash troupe, Perkins began a four day drunk in Tulsa, OK starting with a bottle of Early Times. Nevertheless, with the urging of Cash, he opened a show in San Diego by playing four songs after seeing "four or five of me in the mirror", and while being able to see "nothin' but a blur". After drinking yet another pint of Early Times, he passed out on the tour bus. By morning he started hallucinating "big spiders, and dinosaurs, huge, and they were gonna step on me." The bus was now parked on a beach at the ocean. He was tempted by yet another pint of whiskey that he had hidden on the bus. He took the bottle with him onto the beach and fell on his knees and said, "Lord... I'm gonna throw this bottle. I'm gonna show You that I believe in You." I sailed it into the Pacific... I got up, I knew I had done the right thing." Perkins and Cash, who had his own problems with drugs, then gave each other support to stay away from their drug of choice.^[25]

In 1968, Johnny Cash took the Perkins-written "Daddy Sang Bass" (based upon the American standard "Will the Circle Be Unbroken") to #1 on the country music charts. "Daddy Sang Bass" was also a Country Music Association nominee for Song of the Year. Perkins spent a decade in Cash's singer touring revue and appeared on The Johnny Cash Show. Perkins played "MatchBox" along with Cash and with Eric Clapton and band mates (Derek and the Dominoes). Cash also featured Perkins in rehearsal jamming with José Feliciano and Merle Travis. For the song of the same name, recorded by Tracy Byrd and later by Jason Aldean, see Johnny Cash (song). ... Can the Circle Be Unbroken (Bye and Bye) (Cover versions usually title it Will the Circle be Unbroken) is a well-known country/folk song by Ada R. Habershon. ... The Country Music Association (CMA) was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. ... The Johnny Cash Show is a live album by country singer Johnny Cash, recorded at the Grand Ole Opry and released on Columbia Records in 1970 (see 1970 in music). ... Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE[2] (born 30 March 1945) [3], nicknamed Slowhand, is a Grammy Award-winning English rock guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer. ... José Montserrate Feliciano García (born September 10, 1945) is a Puerto Rican singer and guitarist. ... Merle Travis (November 29, 1917 - October 20, 1983) is an American country and western singer, songwriter, and musician. ...

A Kraft Music Hall episode hosted by Johnny Cash had Perkins singing his song "Restless"[18] on April 16, 1969.[19] Country music fans may recognize The Statler Brothers' song "Flowers on the Wall", which was also featured on this show. In February of 1969 Perkins joined with Bob Dylan to write the song "Champaign, Illinois". Dylan was recording in Nashville from February 12 through February 21 for an album that would be titled Nashville Skyline, and met Perkins when he appeared on The Johnny Cash Show on June 7.[20] Dylan had written one verse of a song, but was stuck. After Perkins worked out a loping rhythm and improvised a verse ending lyric, Dylan said, "Your song. Take it. Finish it."^[26] The co authored song was included in Perkins' 1969 album "On Top". ^{[27] [28]} Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The Statler Brothers are an American country music vocal group founded in 1955 in Staunton, Virginia. ... This article is about the recording artist. ... Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. ... Nashville Skyline is an album by Bob Dylan, released in 1969. ...

One of his TV appearances with Cash was on the popular country series Hee Haw in an episode aired February 16, 1974. For the EP from the musical band Birthday Party, see Hee Haw (EP). ... is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1981 Perkins recorded the song 'Get It' with Paul McCartney, providing vocals and playing guitar with the former Beatle. This recording was included on the chart topping album Tug Of War released in 1982.[21] This track also appeared as the B-side of the title track single in a slightly edited form. One source states that Perkins "wrote the song with Paul McCartney".^[29] Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, poet, entrepreneur, painter, record producer, film producer and animal-rights activist. ... Tug of war Tug of war, also known as rope pulling, is a sport that directly pits two teams against each other in a test of strength. ...

The rockabilly revival of the 1980s helped bring Perkins back into the limelight. In 1985, he re-recorded "Blue Suede Shoes" with two members of the Stray Cats, as part of the soundtrack for the movie, Porky's Revenge. That same year, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Ringo Starr appeared with him on a television special taped in London, England, called Blue Suede Shoes: A Rockabilly Session. Perkins and his friends ended the session by singing his signature song, 30 years after its writing, which brought Perkins to tears. The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... The Stray Cats are a rockabilly band formed in 1979 by guitarist/vocalist Brian Setzer (Bloodless Pharaohs/Brian Setzer Orchestra) with school friends Lee Rocker (born Leon Drucker) and Slim Jim Phantom (born James McDonnell) in the Long Island town of Massapequa, New York. ... Porkys Revenge VHS Cover Porkys Revenge is the 1985 third and final installment to the Porkys movie trilogy. ... For other persons named George Harrison, see George Harrison (disambiguation). ... Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE[2] (born 30 March 1945) [3], nicknamed Slowhand, is a Grammy Award-winning English rock guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer. ... Richard Starkey Jr, MBE (born 7 July 1940), known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor, best known as the drummer for The Beatles. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ...

In 1985, Perkins was inducted to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in 1987, wider recognition of his contribution to music came with his induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In addition, "Blue Suede Shoes" was chosen as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, and as a Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipient. His pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame was established by the Nashville Songwriters Foundation, Inc. ... The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at sunset. ... The Rock and Roll Hall of Fames 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll is based on the permanent exhibit of the same name. ... The Grammy Hall of Fame Award is a special Grammy award established in 1973 to honor recordings that are at least twenty-five years old and that have qualitative or historical significance. Alphabetical listing by title: List of Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients A-D List of Grammy Hall... The Rockabilly Hall of Fame was established on March 21, 1997 to present early rock and roll history and information relative to the artists and personalities involved in this pioneering American music genre. ...

Perkins' only notable film performance as an actor was in John Landis' 1985 film Into the Night, a cameo-laden film that includes a scene where characters played by Carl and David Bowie die at each other's hand.[22] John David Landis (born August 3, 1950) is an American movie actor, director, writer, and producer. ... David Bowie (IPA: []) (born David Robert Jones on 1947 January 8) is an English singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger and audio engineer. ...

In 1986, he returned to the Sun Studios in Memphis, joining Johnny 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 on December 4, 1956. Sun Studio opened by rock pioneer Sam Phillips at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 3, 1950. ... For the song of the same name, recorded by Tracy Byrd and later by Jason Aldean, see Johnny Cash (song). ... Jerry Lee Lewis (born September 29, 1935), also known by the nickname The Killer, is an American rock and roll and country music singer, songwriter, and pianist. ... Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988), nicknamed The Big O, was an influential Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, guitarist and a pioneer of rock and roll whose recording career spanned more than four decades. ... Class of 55 is a music album by Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and Carl Perkins released in 1986 through Chips Momans American Sound Studios and Smash Records. ... Million Dollar Quartet is the name given to recordings made on Tuesday December 4, 1956 in the Sun Record Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. ... A jam session is a musical act where musicians gather and play (or jam) without extensive preparation or predefined arrangements. ... is the 338th day of the year (339th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A car from 1956 Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1989, he co-wrote and played guitar on The Judd's #1 country hit, "Let Me Tell You About Love".[23] The Judds are an American mother/daughter country music duo of Naomi Judd and her daughter, Wynonna. ...

Last years

In 1989 Perkins signed a record deal for an album with the title Friends, Family, and Legends, featuring performances by Chet Atkins, Travis Tritt, Steve Warner, Joan Jett, Charlie Daniels, along with Paul Shaffer and Will Lee. In 1992 Perkins developed throat cancer during the production of this CD. Perkins returned to Sun Studio in Memphis to record with Scotty Moore, Presley's first guitar player. The CD was called 706 ReUNION, released on Belle Meade Records, and featured D.J. Fontana, Marcus Van Storey and The Jordanaires. In 1993, Perkins appeared with the Kentucky Headhunters in a music video remake, shot in Glasgow, Kentucky, of his song Dixie Fried. Perkins' last album, Go Cat Go!, was released in 1996, and featured new collaborations with many of the above artists, as well as George Harrison, Paul Simon, John Fogerty, Tom Petty, and Bono. It was released by the independent label Dinosaur Records, and distributed by BMG.[24][25] Chet Atkins Chester Burton Chet Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001) was an influential guitarist and record producer. ... Information in this article or section has not been verified against sources and may not be reliable. ... Joan Jett (born Joan Marie Larkin on September 22, 1960) is an American rock guitarist, singer, producer and actress. ... Charles Edward Charlie Daniels (born October 28, 1936 in Wilmington, North Carolina) is an American musician famous for his contributions to country and southern rock music. ... Paul Allen Wood Shaffer (born November 28, 1949 in Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Ontario, Canada) is a Jewish-Canadian-American musician, actor, voice actor, author, comedian and composer currently seen as the bandleader on the Late Show with David Letterman. ... Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. ... Sun Studio Sun Studio opened by rock pioneer Sam Phillips at 710 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 3, 1950. ... Winfield Scott Scotty Moore III (born December 27, 1931 near Gadsden, Tennessee) is a legendary American guitarist and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. ... Dominic Joseph Fontana (born March 15, 1931 in Shreveport, Louisiana) is an American musician best known as the drummer for Elvis Presley. ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... The Kentucky Headhunters are an influential country rock group whose early albums were embraced by both country and rock fans, and maintain a cult following among alt-country fans to this day. ... Glasgow is a city located in Barren County, Kentucky. ... For other persons named George Harrison, see George Harrison (disambiguation). ... Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, half of the folk-singing duo Simon and Garfunkel who continues a successful solo career. ... This article is about the musician. ... Thomas Earl Tom Petty (born October 20, 1950) is a singer and guitarist. ... For other uses, see Bono (disambiguation). ... BMG (Bertelsmann Music Group) is one of the six divisions of Bertelsmann. ...

His last major concert appearance was the "Music for Montserrat" all-star charity concert at Royal Albert Hall on September 15, 1997. Albert Hall redirects here. ... is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ...

Death and legacy

Four months later at Jackson-Madison County Hospital, Jackson, Tennessee, Carl Perkins died at the age of 65 from throat cancer after suffering several strokes. Among those in attendance at the funeral at Lambuth University in 1998 were ex-Beatle George Harrison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Wynonna Judd, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. He is interred at Ridgecrest Cemetery in Jackson, Tennessee. Jackson is a city in Madison County, Tennessee, United States. ... This article is about the U.S. state of Tennessee. ... For other uses, see Stroke (disambiguation). ... Lambuth University is a small, co-educational, liberal arts university located in Jackson, Tennessee. ... For other persons named George Harrison, see George Harrison (disambiguation). ... Jerry Lee Lewis (born September 29, 1935), also known by the nickname The Killer, is an American rock and roll and country music singer, songwriter, and pianist. ... Wynonna Ellen Judd (born May 30, 1964) is an American country music singer. ... Troyal Garth Brooks (born February 7, 1962) is an American country music singer-songwriter. ... For the song of the same name, recorded by Tracy Byrd and later by Jason Aldean, see Johnny Cash (song). ... Valerie June Carter Cash (June 23, 1929 – May 15, 2003) was a singer, songwriter, actress and comedian and was a member of the Carter Family, and the second wife of singer Johnny Cash. ... Jackson is a city in Madison County, Tennessee, United States. ...

In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him #69 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.^[30] This article is about the music magazine. ...

Carl Perkins' wife, Valda deVere Perkins, died November 15, 2005 in Jackson, Tennessee. is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jackson is a city in Madison County, Tennessee, United States. ...

Drive-By Truckers, on their album The Dirty South, recorded a song "Carl Perkins' Cadillac" that gives a poignant history of the artist and his relationships. Drive-By Truckers are a rock/alt-country/cowpunk (their website actually calls them a psychobilly band) band based in Athens, Georgia, though three out of five members (Mike Cooley, Patterson Hood, and Shonna Tucker) originally hail from The Shoals region of Northern Alabama. ... Sixth album by Alabaman country-rock group Drive-By Truckers, released in 2004. ... A song from the Drive-By Truckers album The Dirty South, Carl Perkins Cadillac sympathetically tells the story of one of the giants of rock and roll, Sam Phillips of Sun Records, and the respect shown to him by his stable of artists in the mid 1950s. ...

Perkins is the subject of an acclaimed biography, Go, Cat, Go, by noted New York-based music writer David McGee.

Plans for a biographical film about Perkins have been announced by Santa Monica-based production company Fastlane Entertainment. The Carl Perkins Story^[31] is slated for release in 2009.

References

• Guterman, Jimmy. (1998.) "Carl Perkins." In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Ed. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 412-413.

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Chicago Blues Festival

The Chicago Blues Festival is an annual event that features four days of performances by top-tier blues musicians, both old favorites and the up-and-coming. ...

External links

• Carl Perkins' Guitars and Amps
• Carl Perkins at Rollingstone
• The Carl Perkins Story at the Internet Movie Database
• http://www.rockabillyhall.com/BlueSuedeShoes.html/ "The Blue Suede Shoes Story" at the Rockabilly Hall of Fame