"Well, it's one for the money/Two for the show/Three to get ready/Now go, cat, go!"
Carl Lee Perkins was one of the greatest rockabilly guitar players in the history of rock 'n' roll. He was also famous for his vocal and songwriting abilities. Perhaps one of his most famous songs, "Blue Suede Shoes", is a much-covered, rock 'n' roll classic.
Born in 1932, Perkins grew up in a Tennessee sharecropping family. At six he was exposed to gospel music while working in the cotton fields. Inspired by the Bill Munroe and the Grand Ole Opry on the radio, it wasn't too long before an old field-hand would teach him how to pick on the guitar. As time moved on, Perkins would teach himself parts of actual songs.
At fourteen Perkins put together his first group, recruiting his brothers Clayton (bass) and Jay (rhythm guitar). Carl took the lead on electric guitar and vocals. He combined all of his influences: blues, country and gospel into up-tempo songs. This new genre was soon labeled rockabilly and Perkins himself was named the "the Hillbilly Cat".
Ripping up roadhouses soon led Perkins and his brothers to Sun Records in Memphis. Perkins wrote his first single,"Movie Magg", before turning fifteen. Perhaps his most memorable tune came about because of something he saw in a club one night.
He overheard a dressed-up teenage boy tell his girl not to "step on my blue suede shoes". At three o'clock in the morning, Perkins wrote the lyrics to "Blue Suede Shoes" on a brown paper bag. In 1956 the song became a hit.
Perkins and his brothers were invited to appear on a New York television show. They had a terrible auto accident on the way which put the Perkins brothers out of commission. None other than singer Elvis Presley released his own version of "Blue Suede Shoes" and it flew to number one.
Upon recovering, Perkins discovered his popularity had waned. Luckily, his songs remained very popular with other musicians. In fact, the Beatles covered several of his songs including: "Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby", "Honey, Don't" and "Matchbox".
Perkins later went on to tour with the likes of Chuck Berry and Johnny Cash and record country music. He eventually returned to rockabilly playing and recording with younger rockers including Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and even two of his own sons. He died in 1998 but his spirit lives on as long as living legends continue to cover his songs.
My name is Phoenix and . . . that's the bottom line.
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