Carl Perkins - by Jeff Apter (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The definitive and fascinating biography of the musical trailblazer who wrote the classic "Blue Suede Shoes" and was the influence behind countless other legendary hits, a rock and roll legend in his own right, and the original rockabilly cat--Carl Perkins"--

Book Synopsis

The definitive and fascinating biography of the musical trailblazer who wrote the classic "Blue Suede Shoes" and was the influence behind countless other legendary hits, a rock and roll legend in his own right, and the original rockabilly cat--Carl Perkins.

He was the King of Rockabilly, and one of rock and roll's true pioneers. A groundbreaking guitarist, singer, and songwriter, Carl Perkins inspired countless musicians in country, rock, and pop music. His influence is enormous. As Paul McCartney said, "If there were no Carl Perkins, there would be no Beatles." One Beatle was such a fan that he gave himself the stage name Carl Harrison. Now acclaimed music writer Jeff Apter recounts Carl Perkins's remarkable life story--the triumphs, tragedies, and career highlights that include some of the most pivotal moments in music history.

Born in Tennessee to poor sharecroppers, Carl grew up listening to gospel and country music, learned blues guitar from a fellow field hand, and started writing songs at age fourteen. He plied his trade in rough and rowdy honky-tonks, performing with his brothers before beginning his recording career at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis. It was there that Carl became a member of the fabled "Million Dollar Quartet," alongside Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis. In 1955, he wrote and recorded "Blue Suede Shoes," the first record by a Sun artist to sell over a million copies. But then a fateful car crash stalled his career, one of many tragedies in Carl's life.

Over the following decades, Presley, Cash, and countless other artists, from the Beatles, Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan to Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix, performed and recorded his songs and became Carl's friends, collaborators, and champions. Rich with insider detail and background into Carl's private battles, humanitarian work, and personal inspirations, this is a fascinating, in-depth look at "Mr. Blue Suede Shoes" and his one-of-a-kind legacy.

Review Quotes

Praise for Carl Perkins: The King of Rockabilly

"As portrayed in Jeff Apter's Carl Perkins: The King of Rockabilly, Perkins certainly earns the claim in the book's subtitle. A music writer from Australia, Mr. Apter is an unabashed fan, and his quote-studded account . . . captures the thrills of Perkins's music and his down-to-earth personality. It also serves as a lively primer for the uninitiated and a go-to source of arcana for rockabilly cultists. Mr. Apter gives Perkins his due as the genre's first auteur--songwriter, singer and guitarist's guitarist who influenced generations of musicians, from the Beatles to revivalists like the Stray Cats. Ironically, Perkins's many gifts were often overshadowed by his signature song, 'Blue Suede Shoes, ' the rockabilly anthem that became more famous than its creator." --The Wall Street Journal

"Suited to ardent rockabilly fans." --Publishers Weekly

"Australian music and popular culture writer Apter adds to his shelf of music biographies with this affectionate look into the life of rockabilly legend Carl Perkins. Apter adopts a fairly strict chronology, from Perkins's childhood days picking cotton in rural Tennessee through his signing with Sun Records, his Million Dollar Quartet sessions, and his rise to international fame while rubbing shoulders and singing or playing guitar with a veritable who's-who of the popular music world. From Johnny Cash to the Beatles, Perkins counted almost all the greats as friends. But he may be best remembered for writing songs covered by others, such as Elvis Presley's rendition of 'Blue Suede Shoes.' Poignant episodes dealing with Perkins's overcoming alcohol-use disorder and family tragedies are juxtaposed with joyful tours in Britain and beyond. Apter also details Perkins's social justice efforts, including establishing a child-abuse prevention center in Jackson, TN. An extensive bibliography and helpful epilogue are included, bringing readers up to date on developments since Perkins's death. Other than Perkins's own 1996 autobiography, little has been published about him, and Apter admirably fills the gap with this detailed and emotionally charged biography." --Library Journal

"Apter's narrative is rich with insider details, exploring not only Perkins' musical achievements but also his personal battles and humanitarian efforts. This biography offers readers a comprehensive look at the man who, as Paul McCartney famously said, played a pivotal role in the birth of rock 'n' roll. For those interested in the history of Rock 'n' Roll Highway 67, Carl Perkins: The King of Rockabilly is a must-read. The book's in-depth exploration of Perkins' career and life provides valuable insight into the legacy of a man whose influence helped shape the sound of rock 'n' roll. Perkins' story is not just a tale of music; it's a testament to the enduring spirit of an artist who, despite the odds, left an indelible mark on the world." --Rock 'n' Roll Highway

"Apter is clearly a Perkins fan and has undertaken an exhaustive exploration of the life of an innovative guitarist, songwriter and singer who learned his craft by working alongside Black sharecroppers who sang blues and rhythm-and-blues in the fields and listening to the spirituals and country music that surrounded him in Tennessee. No one individual did more to bring about the fusion of these elements to form a new music, rock 'n' roll, than Perkins." --NOLA.com

"A worthy chronicle of the Sun Records trailblazer. In the absence of your classic arc to glory, perdition and redemption, the author finds virtue instead in Stoic consistency as he pursues a meticulous six-decade chronology of the rockabilly cat's road, every flop album just a pothole en route to, er, another shot of Blue Suede Shoes.' --The Sydney Morning Herald

"An overdue remembrance of a pioneer of American music." --Lincoln Journal Star

"If you are a fan of Carl Perkins, of 'Blue Suede Shoes' days, Jeff Apter's new biography, Carl Perkins: The King of Rockabilly, is a loving and detailed look at his life, focusing on the deep affection that McCartney, Harrison, and other rock stars had for this gifted and modest man." --Robert Hilburn, author of Johnny Cash: The Life, Paul Simon: The Life, and A Few Words in Defense of Our Country: The Biography of Randy Newman

"This fine biography really does justice to Mr. Blue Suede Shoes!" --Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats

"Carl Perkins was above all else my friend for over twenty-five years. I'm thankful that he is not forgotten. I very much enjoyed the book, which brought back so many memories." --Wes Henley, bandmate and friend of Carl Perkins

"Jeff Apter has succeeded in bringing Carl Perkins to life--not only as a rock and roll pioneer, but as a father, brother, friend, and colleague. In moving prose, Apter tells us about Carl's dirt-poor childhood, his struggle for fame, and his close friendships with Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and, especially, Johnny Cash. Apter practically brings us to tears as we see the Beatles, Carl's biggest fans, introduce him to a new generation of listeners. This is an essential book for fans of rock and its history." --Elizabeth J. Rosenthal, author of His Song: The Musical Journey of Elton John and The Master of Drums: Gene Krupa and the Music He Gave the World

"If Elvis Presley was the voice, Carl Perkins was the sound. Not since Nick Tosches's Hellfire has a book on rock 'n' roll's wildest ancestors been laid as bare or with as much impassioned scholarship. With a fresh take on the genre's earliest roots, Jeff Apter's chronicle of rockabilly's favorite son is the real deal--blazing, rocking vignettes and firsthand accounts offer us a front-row seat to the life and art of the guitarist who unabashedly shaped the American rock sound and once gave another king a real run for his money. Apter masterfully reminds us that there would be no rock 'n' roll without the blazing guitar of this great innovator. A must for music fans and crucial for those whose hearts beat rockabilly. Long live Carl Perkins--the original king!" --C. M. Kushins, author of Beast: John Bonham and the Rise of Led Zeppelin

"The first updated biography in decades of one of rockabilly's most important artists has been unveiled. Boasting a foreword by Stray Cats' Slim Jim Phantom, Carl Perkins: The King of Rockabilly promises new details about the star's private battles, humanitarian work and personal inspirations. . . . Designed to serve as a primer for the uninitiated as well as a go-to source of arcana for rockabilly cultists." --Vintage Rock

"As a lifelong Beatles fan, reading about Perkins's relationship with the band from his perspective was a delight. Jeff Apter's book captures Perkins's talent, passion, and humility and tells a story that is remarkably American. And it illuminates the world of early rock 'n' roll: the constant touring, the small venues, and the community of musicians that formed as all these different acts shared stages over the years, the radio stations, and the music reviewers at the newspapers. . . . His love for music shines on every page. It's a fun biography for anyone who loves the sound of jangling guitars." --The Post and Courier

"If there's an old-time music lover on your list, check out Carl Perkins: The King of Rockabilly. Like most good biographies, this book takes readers back to Perkins' childhood and his earliest influences, moving through to the start of his career and his pioneering work, as well as the people he played with, onstage and off. This is the book to give someone who remembers the music of the '50s or the one who wasn't 'there' but still loves those tunes." --The Bookworm Sez

"'Well, it's one for the money, two for the show/three to get ready, now go, cat, go.' That's just what Australian music writer Jeff Apter does in his affectionate, straight-ahead biography Carl Perkins: The King of Rockabilly. While 'Blue Suede Shoes' became the hit that propelled Carl Perkins to the top of the charts, selling 250,000 copies just one month after its release in January 1956, and became the song with which he became most associated, Perkins went on to write songs such as 'Daddy Sang Bass, ' 'Honey, Don't, ' and 'Dixie Fried' that were cut by many other artists, including Johnny Cash, the Beatles, and Elvis. . . . Will appeal primarily to fans of Perkins, but the book's short and well-paced chapters also serve as a useful introduction to Perkins and his music." --No Depression

"The most impressive part of Apter's biography is not Perkins' career. It is the revelation that Perkins was a genuinely decent man, a faithful husband, devoted father, and loyal friend. Carl Perkins: The King of Rockabilly shows that while nice guys may not always become the biggest stars, they can nevertheless finish first. It is a biography worth reading." --Ricochet

"Where Apter really excels is putting Perkins' music in perspective. . . . Apter succeeds in showing how much more there was to Perkins than 'Blue Suede Shoes.' Perkins is sometimes labeled a one-hit wonder; Apter easily shows the ridiculousness of that opinion. . . . If you want to know about the rock 'n' roll revolution that came storming out of Sun Records in the 1950s, you can't overlook Carl Perkins. His music was as exciting as any of his peers. . . . Apter delivers the quieter story of this under-celebrated musical hero crisply and succinctly, much like a Carl Perkins song." --Chapter 16

About the Author

Jeff Apter is the author of more than 30 books about music and musicians, and his work has been published all around the world. His subjects include Keith Urban, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, AC/DC's Bon Scott and the Young brothers, the Bee Gees, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Cure, and Dave Grohl. He was on staff at Australian Rolling Stone for several years. He lives on the NSW South Coast with his wife and two children, and enough pets to fill a small zoo. Visit him online at JeffApter.com.au.