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Carl Perkins: The King of Rockabilly
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.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published November 26, 2024
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2,443 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Apter
45Ìýbooks48ÌýfollowersJeff Apter is the author of more than 30 books, many dealing with the world of music. He has written biographies of Keith Urban, Malcolm and Angus Young of AC/DC, Jeff Buckley and the Bee Gees. As ghostwriter, he has worked with ARIA Hall of Famers Kasey Chambers and Richard Clapton, and AC/DC’s Mark Evans. He was also the creative consultant for the award–nominated live production A State of Grace: The Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley and spent four years on staff at Rolling Stone Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 26, 2024
“’I had only three childhood idols,� John [Lennon] would tell a friend. ‘Elvis, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis.� Paul McCartney would go one step further: ‘If there were no Carl Perkins,� he’d state, ‘there would be no Beatles.’�
When I saw this book, I felt a slight buzzing at the back of my mind. Huh. Carl Perkins. Have I heard of him? Sounds familiar, but...? And then I read the synopsis, which said that he wrote Blue Suede Shoes, and was the first one to perform it. I went to my streaming service and typed it in; since he wasn’t the one to have made the song iconic, I figured his rendition of it would sound lame. But no! No, it didn’t. So now I knew that I had to read this biography.
My thanks go to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the review copy. This book will be available tomorrow, November 26, 2024.
Perkins was born in 1932, grew up the son of a Tennessee sharecropper, and starting at age 6, he worked in the cotton fields with his family all day, “from can to can’t.� Had he not, he and his family might have starved. This was a time when no governmental safety net existed, nor did child labor laws. The man who would become his closest friend, John Cash—who would perform and record as Johnny—lived in nearly identical circumstances across the Mississippi River in Arkansas. The only good aspect of this grueling life was the singing. His family sang with the other field laborers, who were mostly African American, and while still a child talked his father into purchasing a guitar.
Perkins was 21 years old when he went to Memphis, where Sam Phillips, founder of Sun Records, had advertised that he would record anyone, anywhere, any time. He had some original music that Phillips liked; not long afterward, he and his wife, Valda, heard his record on the radio. Perkins said, “Valda, she dropped the baby, and I like to fainted.�
Phillips had three other promising musicians signed, and they got to know one another well, sometimes performing together. The other men were Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and Jerry Lee Lewis. The first two became Carl’s lifelong friends; Lewis was unpredictable, sometimes violent, and Perkins avoided him when he could. But on one occasion, when the four were together, Lewis complained that the three men with guitars could move around, whereas he was stuck at his piano. Perkins asked him whether he could play standing up, and suggested he “make a fuss� while he did it, advice which altered and improved Lewis’s career.
Perkins’s hit original song, “Blue Suede Shoes,� sold millions, and Perkins was on his way; but just as his momentum was growing, he and his brothers were in a serious car wreck and hospitalized. Once Perkins was able to play again, he felt that loyalty demanded he wait for his brothers—his bandmates—to heal. By the time they could play again, Elvis had also recorded the song, and his career was catapulted into the stratosphere. For a while it appeared that Perkins’s career was finished, but soon help came from an unlikely source: The Beatles wanted to meet him. They wanted to record his songs. They looked up to him as a mentor, and became his lifelong friends.
Reading about Perkins, I am amazed at his capacity to remain grounded and retain the values with which he was raised. Some men would have resented Elvis, but Perkins was delighted for him—and enjoyed the royalties when Presley recorded and performed Perkins’s music. How many men, raised in such horrifying poverty, would place family loyalty over fame and fortune? How many could be so reasonable? Perkins later said that when he saw Elvis perform, he could see why the man was rising so quickly. Elvis was immaculately turned out, and the girls went crazy for him. Perkins wasn’t much to look at, and he knew it, and he would never flirt with his audience, because “I was a married man.� And indeed, he remained faithful to Valda for all the decades of their lives together, and he counted himself lucky to have her. Meanwhile, the royalties from the Beatles, Elvis, and others enabled him to buy a modest but much loved house for himself, Valda, and their growing family, and later he would be able to do the same for his parents. And as it happened, his career as a performer was not dead, only sleeping.
I have read many musicians� biographies and memoirs, and all of them had greater name recognition than Perkins; but from what I can see, Perkins was the most decent person among them. This is not to detract from others, but seriously…what a nice guy!
Meanwhile, author Jeff Apter writes in an intimate, conversational way that makes this book surprisingly hard to put down, and his research is beyond reproach. Highly recommended.
When I saw this book, I felt a slight buzzing at the back of my mind. Huh. Carl Perkins. Have I heard of him? Sounds familiar, but...? And then I read the synopsis, which said that he wrote Blue Suede Shoes, and was the first one to perform it. I went to my streaming service and typed it in; since he wasn’t the one to have made the song iconic, I figured his rendition of it would sound lame. But no! No, it didn’t. So now I knew that I had to read this biography.
My thanks go to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the review copy. This book will be available tomorrow, November 26, 2024.
Perkins was born in 1932, grew up the son of a Tennessee sharecropper, and starting at age 6, he worked in the cotton fields with his family all day, “from can to can’t.� Had he not, he and his family might have starved. This was a time when no governmental safety net existed, nor did child labor laws. The man who would become his closest friend, John Cash—who would perform and record as Johnny—lived in nearly identical circumstances across the Mississippi River in Arkansas. The only good aspect of this grueling life was the singing. His family sang with the other field laborers, who were mostly African American, and while still a child talked his father into purchasing a guitar.
Perkins was 21 years old when he went to Memphis, where Sam Phillips, founder of Sun Records, had advertised that he would record anyone, anywhere, any time. He had some original music that Phillips liked; not long afterward, he and his wife, Valda, heard his record on the radio. Perkins said, “Valda, she dropped the baby, and I like to fainted.�
Phillips had three other promising musicians signed, and they got to know one another well, sometimes performing together. The other men were Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and Jerry Lee Lewis. The first two became Carl’s lifelong friends; Lewis was unpredictable, sometimes violent, and Perkins avoided him when he could. But on one occasion, when the four were together, Lewis complained that the three men with guitars could move around, whereas he was stuck at his piano. Perkins asked him whether he could play standing up, and suggested he “make a fuss� while he did it, advice which altered and improved Lewis’s career.
Perkins’s hit original song, “Blue Suede Shoes,� sold millions, and Perkins was on his way; but just as his momentum was growing, he and his brothers were in a serious car wreck and hospitalized. Once Perkins was able to play again, he felt that loyalty demanded he wait for his brothers—his bandmates—to heal. By the time they could play again, Elvis had also recorded the song, and his career was catapulted into the stratosphere. For a while it appeared that Perkins’s career was finished, but soon help came from an unlikely source: The Beatles wanted to meet him. They wanted to record his songs. They looked up to him as a mentor, and became his lifelong friends.
Reading about Perkins, I am amazed at his capacity to remain grounded and retain the values with which he was raised. Some men would have resented Elvis, but Perkins was delighted for him—and enjoyed the royalties when Presley recorded and performed Perkins’s music. How many men, raised in such horrifying poverty, would place family loyalty over fame and fortune? How many could be so reasonable? Perkins later said that when he saw Elvis perform, he could see why the man was rising so quickly. Elvis was immaculately turned out, and the girls went crazy for him. Perkins wasn’t much to look at, and he knew it, and he would never flirt with his audience, because “I was a married man.� And indeed, he remained faithful to Valda for all the decades of their lives together, and he counted himself lucky to have her. Meanwhile, the royalties from the Beatles, Elvis, and others enabled him to buy a modest but much loved house for himself, Valda, and their growing family, and later he would be able to do the same for his parents. And as it happened, his career as a performer was not dead, only sleeping.
I have read many musicians� biographies and memoirs, and all of them had greater name recognition than Perkins; but from what I can see, Perkins was the most decent person among them. This is not to detract from others, but seriously…what a nice guy!
Meanwhile, author Jeff Apter writes in an intimate, conversational way that makes this book surprisingly hard to put down, and his research is beyond reproach. Highly recommended.
July 30, 2024
Well written and researched biography. A lot of interesting details about Perkin’s life that were new to me.
September 12, 2024
As a music fan, I knew who Carl Perkins was and was interested in learning more about him. Plus, The Beatles covered some of his songs and The Beatles were my favorite band for a very long time. I am 47 years old, and after I turned 13 years old, I purchased all there albums with some of Bar Mitzvah money! I added books, memorabilia, and posters to my Beatles collection throughout the years. As I have gotten older, I am not as big as a fan as I used to be. I still like music, don’t get me wrong, especially 60’s, but I tend to skip over Beatles songs. Maybe I am just Beatled Out!
I rarely stop and screenshot quotes from books, but this one had two that popped out to me:
“If there were no Carl Perkins, there would be no Beatles.� � Paul McCartney.
“If it hadn’t been for your daddy, I would have never picked up the guitar.� � George Harrison to Stan Perkins, Carl’s son.
I really enjoyed learning more about his life and how some of his hit songs came to be. Carl was one of the first major stars from Sun Records and Sam Phillips, the founder. Yes, also on that short list is Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash. It was Carl who suggested to Lewis to not just sit still at the piano! It was a Carl recording session with Jerry Lee Lewis playing on a song, and Elvis was just hanging in the control room. Elvis then moved to the studio to jam and Sam Phillips called Johnny Cash to come in asap, and that was how the million dollar quartet came to be!
Carl had some bad things happen to him (car accidents, drinking, and close friends and family dying), but he never gave up. He was also totally dedicated to his wife and kids.
Unfortunately, after he recorded Blue Suede Shoes in 1955, he never had another hit and he also switched record companies a few times. Despite that, he did get back by playing with Johnny Cash, and later Carl turned solo with his own group, The CP Express, which his son’s were in! How awesome is that! When he first started, Carl’s bandmates were his brothers.
Overall, I enjoyed it and it was a quick and easy read for me.
I rarely stop and screenshot quotes from books, but this one had two that popped out to me:
“If there were no Carl Perkins, there would be no Beatles.� � Paul McCartney.
“If it hadn’t been for your daddy, I would have never picked up the guitar.� � George Harrison to Stan Perkins, Carl’s son.
I really enjoyed learning more about his life and how some of his hit songs came to be. Carl was one of the first major stars from Sun Records and Sam Phillips, the founder. Yes, also on that short list is Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash. It was Carl who suggested to Lewis to not just sit still at the piano! It was a Carl recording session with Jerry Lee Lewis playing on a song, and Elvis was just hanging in the control room. Elvis then moved to the studio to jam and Sam Phillips called Johnny Cash to come in asap, and that was how the million dollar quartet came to be!
Carl had some bad things happen to him (car accidents, drinking, and close friends and family dying), but he never gave up. He was also totally dedicated to his wife and kids.
Unfortunately, after he recorded Blue Suede Shoes in 1955, he never had another hit and he also switched record companies a few times. Despite that, he did get back by playing with Johnny Cash, and later Carl turned solo with his own group, The CP Express, which his son’s were in! How awesome is that! When he first started, Carl’s bandmates were his brothers.
Overall, I enjoyed it and it was a quick and easy read for me.
October 27, 2024
My thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an advance copy of this biography on an unfairly overlooked musician who was at the beginning of a movement, a man who influenced many, dealt with many tragedies, and yet continued to be a man who helped others, loved others and kept on being true to himself and his music.
The Gods who oversee rock n' roll music can be very fickle. Some become famous and stay famous. Some fade away. Some die early, and some hang on, performing wherever and whenever they can, singing louder over the talking crowds, but still keeping real. Others have an almost Schrödinger's cat existence, famous to other musicians, still popular to tour, but not really thought of as being around. And then you get Carl Perkins. Perkins career was a little bit of everything, highs, lows, bad luck, bad labels, strong and influential fans, and a friends. Perkins also had something that many lack. A strong family, and a strong feeling of what was right, in his life, for his family and for his music. Carl Perkins: The King of Rockabilly by writer and music historian Jeff Apter is a look at this talented performer, a musician whose unique style helped to forment a musical revolution, even if he was left behind.
Carl Perkins was born in Tennessee in a house that kept out neither cold nor water. His parents were sharecroppers and Perkins grew up working in the cotton fields picking and harvesting with many African Americans, who broke up the monotonous days with songs. Songs that touched Perkins in ways that he couldn't describe but gave him a love for music, and rhythm, for with music anything can be done. Perkins surfed the radio his parents owned at night to hear music from far away places, blues songs, jazz, music that would stay in his head and show later in his playing. Perkins learned guitar on a cheap two string, and took lessons from another sharecropper, who taught him blues licks and volume. Perkins drafted his brothers into playing honky tonks, dodging bottles taught him to move, and how to play to keep the fighting down, the dancing high, and the beer flowing. Running out of cover songs to perform Perkins began to write songs, and with his wife's encouragement, traveled to Sam Phillips and Sun Records to record his songs. Soon a song about shoes "Blue Suede Shoes" in fact, became a huge hit, but just as things were going right, tragedy in a car accident changed Perkins career.
I knew about Cark Perkins, but never knew much about the man, nor the influence he had on others. A man who Paul McCartney said "If there were no Carl Perkins, there would be no Beatles." I really had no idea about the influence nor the many songs that Perkins did. Nor that he was a part of Johnny Cash's band for so long. This is a very well-written and really well-researched biography. There is a real you-are-there scenes in the book, both happy, recording songs, and sad, the car accident that derailed his career, the loss of his brothers. What comes across most is that no matter what, Perkins was a man who loved his family, and loved being able to help others. Numerous charities, helping bandmates, building a house for his parents. A very wonderful biography about a man with love in his heart, and rock n roll to his soul.
The Gods who oversee rock n' roll music can be very fickle. Some become famous and stay famous. Some fade away. Some die early, and some hang on, performing wherever and whenever they can, singing louder over the talking crowds, but still keeping real. Others have an almost Schrödinger's cat existence, famous to other musicians, still popular to tour, but not really thought of as being around. And then you get Carl Perkins. Perkins career was a little bit of everything, highs, lows, bad luck, bad labels, strong and influential fans, and a friends. Perkins also had something that many lack. A strong family, and a strong feeling of what was right, in his life, for his family and for his music. Carl Perkins: The King of Rockabilly by writer and music historian Jeff Apter is a look at this talented performer, a musician whose unique style helped to forment a musical revolution, even if he was left behind.
Carl Perkins was born in Tennessee in a house that kept out neither cold nor water. His parents were sharecroppers and Perkins grew up working in the cotton fields picking and harvesting with many African Americans, who broke up the monotonous days with songs. Songs that touched Perkins in ways that he couldn't describe but gave him a love for music, and rhythm, for with music anything can be done. Perkins surfed the radio his parents owned at night to hear music from far away places, blues songs, jazz, music that would stay in his head and show later in his playing. Perkins learned guitar on a cheap two string, and took lessons from another sharecropper, who taught him blues licks and volume. Perkins drafted his brothers into playing honky tonks, dodging bottles taught him to move, and how to play to keep the fighting down, the dancing high, and the beer flowing. Running out of cover songs to perform Perkins began to write songs, and with his wife's encouragement, traveled to Sam Phillips and Sun Records to record his songs. Soon a song about shoes "Blue Suede Shoes" in fact, became a huge hit, but just as things were going right, tragedy in a car accident changed Perkins career.
I knew about Cark Perkins, but never knew much about the man, nor the influence he had on others. A man who Paul McCartney said "If there were no Carl Perkins, there would be no Beatles." I really had no idea about the influence nor the many songs that Perkins did. Nor that he was a part of Johnny Cash's band for so long. This is a very well-written and really well-researched biography. There is a real you-are-there scenes in the book, both happy, recording songs, and sad, the car accident that derailed his career, the loss of his brothers. What comes across most is that no matter what, Perkins was a man who loved his family, and loved being able to help others. Numerous charities, helping bandmates, building a house for his parents. A very wonderful biography about a man with love in his heart, and rock n roll to his soul.
January 1, 2025
This is a solid biography of one of the keystone figures of ROCK AND ROLL AND ROCKABILLY MUSIC.
Carl Perkins also had a very good career as a country artist in the 60's and 70's and wrote country his and songs well into to the 1980's.
Jeff Apter's book traces Carl's musical career from the very beginning to it's end when he died of cancer in January of 1998. The book pretty much deals mainly with Carl's musical career and not very much about his personal life at home. But his career was long and filled with enough highlights to flesh out the book without dealing with his personal life and problems other than mentioning them to set the stage for what the music at the time was about.
According to the book, Carl was looked upon as a musical God by the early rockers and later day stars of the 60's ,70's and 80's, for his ability to play a distinctive style of guitar and laying the foundation for rockabilly and rock and roll in general. Carl had a number of bad breaks and setbacks in his career that may have kept him from achieving superstar status like Elvis did , but in later years, he did not hold a grudge against them or use them as an excuse of any kind.
The book hits all his highlights and low lights too. It is a musical biography first and foremost. If you do not know anything about Carl I suggest you read this enjoyable book and go to Spotify and play his greatest hits record to see what he had done in his life. Stop and play a few tracks from some of his country albums too to get a better, more fuller picture of the man who was a legend back in the 50's.
The book may not win biography of the year, but it is a solid book about a legend that should be better known for more than the BLUE SUEDE SHOES recordings by he and Elvis. 4.5 stars for this very good Biography of CARL PERKINS.
Carl Perkins also had a very good career as a country artist in the 60's and 70's and wrote country his and songs well into to the 1980's.
Jeff Apter's book traces Carl's musical career from the very beginning to it's end when he died of cancer in January of 1998. The book pretty much deals mainly with Carl's musical career and not very much about his personal life at home. But his career was long and filled with enough highlights to flesh out the book without dealing with his personal life and problems other than mentioning them to set the stage for what the music at the time was about.
According to the book, Carl was looked upon as a musical God by the early rockers and later day stars of the 60's ,70's and 80's, for his ability to play a distinctive style of guitar and laying the foundation for rockabilly and rock and roll in general. Carl had a number of bad breaks and setbacks in his career that may have kept him from achieving superstar status like Elvis did , but in later years, he did not hold a grudge against them or use them as an excuse of any kind.
The book hits all his highlights and low lights too. It is a musical biography first and foremost. If you do not know anything about Carl I suggest you read this enjoyable book and go to Spotify and play his greatest hits record to see what he had done in his life. Stop and play a few tracks from some of his country albums too to get a better, more fuller picture of the man who was a legend back in the 50's.
The book may not win biography of the year, but it is a solid book about a legend that should be better known for more than the BLUE SUEDE SHOES recordings by he and Elvis. 4.5 stars for this very good Biography of CARL PERKINS.
December 17, 2024
I received an advance reading copy of this book, for free, through Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ First Reads program in exchange for my honest review.
Carl Perkins: The King Of Rockabilly is an enlightening biography of the least well-known member of the renowned “Million Dollar Quartet�, comprised of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins. Although he was the first of the group to have a single which sold one million copies, with “Blue Suede Shoes� in 1956, Perkins' fame was quickly eclipsed by the other three members of the quartet.
Personal tragedies and professional setbacks derailed Perkins' once promising career. Largely forgotten in the United States, Perkins� music inspired four young musicians in the UK. The Beatles not only covered Carl Perkins� songs on their albums, but a lifelong friendship between the band and Perkins developed. Paul McCartney claimed that, “if there were no Carl Perkins, there would be no Beatles�.
In addition to members of The Beatles, Carl Perkins maintained a lasting friendship with fellow “Million Dollar Quartet� member, Johnny Cash. Perkins recorded and toured with Cash for over a decade, and the two helped each other overcome addiction.
Despite not having reached the level of superstardom that Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis did, Carl Perkins� sound inspired generations of musicians. Perkins� story is an intriguing one, and his legacy is an important one. Author Jeff Apter skillfully details the ups and downs of Perkins' life and career. Carl Perkins: The King Of Rockabilly is a book for anyone who is a fan of rock ‘n� roll music.
Carl Perkins: The King Of Rockabilly is an enlightening biography of the least well-known member of the renowned “Million Dollar Quartet�, comprised of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins. Although he was the first of the group to have a single which sold one million copies, with “Blue Suede Shoes� in 1956, Perkins' fame was quickly eclipsed by the other three members of the quartet.
Personal tragedies and professional setbacks derailed Perkins' once promising career. Largely forgotten in the United States, Perkins� music inspired four young musicians in the UK. The Beatles not only covered Carl Perkins� songs on their albums, but a lifelong friendship between the band and Perkins developed. Paul McCartney claimed that, “if there were no Carl Perkins, there would be no Beatles�.
In addition to members of The Beatles, Carl Perkins maintained a lasting friendship with fellow “Million Dollar Quartet� member, Johnny Cash. Perkins recorded and toured with Cash for over a decade, and the two helped each other overcome addiction.
Despite not having reached the level of superstardom that Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis did, Carl Perkins� sound inspired generations of musicians. Perkins� story is an intriguing one, and his legacy is an important one. Author Jeff Apter skillfully details the ups and downs of Perkins' life and career. Carl Perkins: The King Of Rockabilly is a book for anyone who is a fan of rock ‘n� roll music.
October 28, 2024
As the first expansive biography of Carl Perkins, this book does not disappoint. The author recounts Mr Perkins life in an engaging and easy to read style that makes the reader feel as though they are walking alongside the man through his life. The book shows Perkins to have been a kind and decent man who’s career was overshadowed by his flashier peers. Despite his personal and career struggles Perkins remains easy to root for throughout the book due to his fundamental decency that shines through in every chapter via the words of those who knew him.
The only thing that kept this book from rating 5 stars for me was the sometimes unnecessary repetition of information relayed earlier in the book, sometimes only pages apart.
Overall this was a fine account of the life of a man who despite his esteem among his peers never found sustained popular success. Highly recommended.
The only thing that kept this book from rating 5 stars for me was the sometimes unnecessary repetition of information relayed earlier in the book, sometimes only pages apart.
Overall this was a fine account of the life of a man who despite his esteem among his peers never found sustained popular success. Highly recommended.
December 10, 2024
What does success look like? If it is worldwide fame and immense wealth, Carl Perkins didn't achieve it. But if it's making a lasting contribution to music, being recognized for greatness by those in the know (such as the Beatles), and having a healthy marriage and family life - then the word certainly fits Carl Perkins. I entered the Giveaway for this book because I'm interested in Elvis, and Carl was in his story from the start. I ended up really interested in Carl Perkins as a person of his own, and in the ups and downs of his life. The book provides a great context for understanding how things were really like in the 50's when modern music was born. Carl comes off as a really good person - always gracious towards Elvis and the others who left him in their wake, while forging a unique path of his own. Thank you to the publisher and Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ for this review copy.
October 22, 2024
Well researched biography of one of the unsung heroes of early rock'n'roll. Expertly balancing Carl's personal life and his music, Jeff Apter paints a vivid picture of this Rockabilly pioneer. I've been a Carl Perkins fan for decades, owning nearly every album and compilation but it had been a while since I'd listened to his music. Not only did I listen to a Carl Perkins playlist while I read, the book also inspired me to again watch "Blue Suede Shoes: A Rockabilly Session" available on YouTube. This biography is well worth the time for fans of early rock'n'roll, Carl Perkins, The Beatles or any of the stable of early Sun Records artists. Highly Recommended
Thanks to NetGalley and Citadel for an advanced reader copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Citadel for an advanced reader copy.
October 25, 2024
Kensington Publishing provided an early galley for review.
Apter is no stranger to writing about the world of music. He has worked on over thirty titles, many biographies ranging from the Bee Gees to Angus Young. With such a track record, I felt like I was in good hands when checking out his latest that dives back into the roots of rock 'n' roll.
I appreciate that the author sticks to the facts and only embellishes the details when needed to set the mood and tone. Like rockabilly itself, this telling of Perkins' story moves fast while keeping the reader engaged. I know I certainly learned a lot of music history here, especially about the interconnected paths of Perkins and so many other music legends.
Apter is no stranger to writing about the world of music. He has worked on over thirty titles, many biographies ranging from the Bee Gees to Angus Young. With such a track record, I felt like I was in good hands when checking out his latest that dives back into the roots of rock 'n' roll.
I appreciate that the author sticks to the facts and only embellishes the details when needed to set the mood and tone. Like rockabilly itself, this telling of Perkins' story moves fast while keeping the reader engaged. I know I certainly learned a lot of music history here, especially about the interconnected paths of Perkins and so many other music legends.
December 8, 2024
I knew almost nothing about Carl Perkins going into this, so I approached it with some trepidation, but I needn't have been concerned. Carl's life - as told by Apter - is really fascinating (and consider me a new fan). About all I have to say against this book is that Apter has a tendency to over-explain that grated on me by the end (along with his unnecessary, but admittedly only occasional, moralizing). Other than that, I really enjoyed it, and I'm sure anyone interested in rock and rockabilly will find the story of Carl Perkins as interesting as I did.
December 28, 2024
I could not put this book down. I really enjoyed reading more about Carl Perkins' life and career. He is a very underrated artist and songwriter and his life was beset by tragedy and setbacks that really dampened his career. Such a shame.
Some of the more unsavory aspects of Perkins' life were quickly touched on - I would have liked a more in depth study of his alcoholism and its effects on his career and life - so I felt the books could have benefitted from a higher page count. But I am glad to have a solid biography available on Perkins, one of the kings of rock and roll.
Some of the more unsavory aspects of Perkins' life were quickly touched on - I would have liked a more in depth study of his alcoholism and its effects on his career and life - so I felt the books could have benefitted from a higher page count. But I am glad to have a solid biography available on Perkins, one of the kings of rock and roll.
February 4, 2025
Carl Perkins was a rock and roll guitarist, singer and songwriter who influenced many legendary hits. He was born in Tennessee and began to write songs at the young age of fourteen. His recording career began with Sun Studio in Memphis and he worked alongside Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis. In 1955 he wrote and recorded “Blue Suede Shoesâ€� which sold over a million copies. He suffered many tragedies including A fateful auto accident that stalled his career. Through his private battles he overcame to become a Rock and Roll legend. Thankyou Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ for this free book.
November 30, 2024
This was a quick read. What a gift the Beatles gave him when they recorded three of his songs. They made him and his music famous. A humble and unpretentious musician, Carl wrote probably three of the most lasting rock n roll songs in history. Anyone who loves music will love this book! Carl Perkins, what a great artist and musician.
READ THIS BOOK! ITS GREAT!
READ THIS BOOK! ITS GREAT!
January 23, 2025
Great telling of Carl’s life and times. As most music biographies go, it starts to get a little dull when it just turns into them hanging out with other famous musicians, but still very cool to see the man Carl was and who he became despite his many tragedies. The best way to enjoy Carl, however, will always be by listening to him or watching his performances.
November 7, 2024
My thanks to Net Galley and Kensington for allowing me to review this arc.
I really enjoyed this! Very well researched. Enjoyed the nostalgic stories of Elvis, Jerry Lee, Johnny , Roy, and the Beatles! Highly recommend.
I really enjoyed this! Very well researched. Enjoyed the nostalgic stories of Elvis, Jerry Lee, Johnny , Roy, and the Beatles! Highly recommend.
November 30, 2024
While this was not a brilliant piece of literature, it was a fascinating look at the life of Carl Perkins. Carl was quite a humble genius and made friends throughout the music industry. Too many to mention, but I loved learning about his collaboration and friendship with The Beatles. Recommended
December 24, 2024
Always a fan, but...
I was Always a life long fan of Carl Perkins , But I didn't know a lot about him. This book is an amazing account of his life. It's an extremely enjoyable read And if you like rockabilly Then it's a must read for you.
I was Always a life long fan of Carl Perkins , But I didn't know a lot about him. This book is an amazing account of his life. It's an extremely enjoyable read And if you like rockabilly Then it's a must read for you.
January 15, 2025
Excellent biography. I couldn't put it down.
Includes related information about Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis as their careers progressed and they played together. Also provides insights into the Beatles that are usually not reported.
Includes related information about Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis as their careers progressed and they played together. Also provides insights into the Beatles that are usually not reported.
November 29, 2024
What an interesting life story Carl Perkins had. This was well written and had great pictures that showed the other great singers that he encountered and entertained amongst! Great read!!!
December 3, 2024
Nice to read a real gentleman who was much more than just Blue Suede Shoes.
December 6, 2024
Other than Carl’s book this is the only other book that focuses on Perkins, which is deeply needed. I found this book very informative. It was also the perfect length. I’m not an expert on Carl Perkins, but the book seemed well research. Although, he did mention that Elvis was 300lbs, which is totally inaccurate. Anyway, if you love music, especially early R&R, than you will enjoy this book.
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