Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Carl Perkins

Role / Field:

Pioneering rockabilly guitarist and singer, nicknamed the "King of Rockabilly".

Born:

1932-04-09

Died:

1998-01-19

Century / Era:

1932s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Carl Lee Perkins (April 9, 1932 – January 19, 1998) was an American country and rockabilly 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".

Pivotal Works & Achievements

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. Carl Lee Perkins was born on April 9, 1932, in Tiptonville, Tennessee, the...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abebe Bikila — Contemporary (Born in 1932) (1932): Ethiopian Olympic marathon champion, known for his barefoot victories in Rome and Tokyo.
• Al Arbour — Contemporary (Born in 1932) (1932): Pioneering Canadian hockey player, coach, and executive known for leading the Islanders.
• Alan Bean — Contemporary (Born in 1932) (1932): American astronaut, naval officer, and lunar explorer who walked on the Moon.
• Aitana Bonmatí — Contemporary (Born in 1998) (1998): Star Spanish midfielder known for her decorated career with Barcelona and the Spain national team.
• Akira Kurosawa — Contemporary (Died in 1998) (1998): Master of Japanese cinema, known for dynamic style and epic storytelling.
• Alan Hodgkin — Contemporary (Died in 1998) (1998): Pioneering physiologist known for action potential theory and Nobel laureate.
• Andrea Dworkin — Shared historical date (04-09 · Died) (2005): Radical feminist writer and activist known for analyzing pornography and patriarchal violence.
• Benedetto Castelli — Shared historical date (04-09 · Died) (1643): Italian mathematician known for his association with Galileo and his work in hydraulics.
• Abbas the Great — Shared historical date (01-19 · Died) (1629): Fifth Safavid Shah of Iran, considered one of the greatest rulers in Iranian history.
• Alberto de Oliveira — Shared historical date (01-19 · Died) (1937): Brazilian poet, pharmacist, and professor, known by the pen name Alberto de Oliveira.
• 1932 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1932
• April 9 (04-09) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 9
• 1998 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1998
• January 19 (01-19) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on January 19

Frequently Asked Questions about Carl Perkins