Carl Perkins : Ask Biography

Personal information

Birth name

Carl Lee Perkins

Origin

Tiptonville, Tennessee, USA

Died

January 19, 1998(age 65) Jackson, Tennessee

Genres

Rock and roll, rockabilly, country

Occupation

Singer, songwriter, guitarist

Instruments

Guitar, vocals

Years active

1946 - 1998

Labels

Sun, Columbia, Mercury

Associated acts

Perkins Brothers Band
Johnny Cash
Elvis Presley
Jerry Lee Lewis

Home | Musical Artists | Carl Perkins

Carl Lee Perkins (April 9, 1932 - January 19, 1998) was an American rockabilly musician who recorded most notably at Sun Records Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning during 1954. His best known song is "Blue Suede Shoes".

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." Perkins' songs were recorded by artists (and friends) as influential as Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Johnny Cash, which further cemented his place in the history of popular music.

Called "the King of Rockabilly", he was inducted into the Rock and Roll, the Rockabilly, and the Nashville Songwriters Halls of Fame; and was a Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipient.