PERKINS (FAMOUS), CARL LEE - Madison County, Tennessee | CARL LEE PERKINS (FAMOUS) - Tennessee Gravestone Photos

Carl Lee PERKINS (FAMOUS)

Ridgecrest Cemetery
Madison County,
Tennessee

April 9, 1932 - January 19, 1998

Carl Lee Perkins was born April 9, 1932 in Tiptonville, Lake county, Tennessee to Buck and Louise Perkins. They were poor sharecroppers and Carl started working in the cotton fields when he was six years old. This is where he got his first experience hearing the workers singing gospel songs. His father loved country music and as a young boy he would sit and listen to the Grand Ole Opry on his fathers radio at night. His father made his first guitar out of a cigar box and broom handle, but later was able to afford a used guitar for Carl. When he was 15 years old, the family moved to Jackson, Tennessee. He and his brother began playing music in local taverns. Occasionally he would also play on the Jackson radio station WTJS. He also supported himself by working odd jobs at the dairy and picking cotton. In 1953 he married his sweetheart Valda Crider, who supported his musical endeavors. When they heard Elvis Presley's record of "Blue Moon of Kentucky" in 1954, she encouraged him and his brothers to audition for Sun Records and they began making their own records. His biggest hit came with "Blue Suede Shoes" in 1955 which later on gave him the title of "King of Rockabilly Music". He also wrote songs with Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. He moved to Columbia Records in 1958. He performed at jubilees and on tv programs and collaborated with many other musicians on various records. He wrote songs that were recorded by Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Glen Campbell and the Judds, while performing with many others. He was a strong advocate for child abuse prevention and spearheaded the first center in Tennessee with the Jackson Exchange Club. He developed throat cancer and died of a stroke on January 19, 1998 in Jackson, Tennessee.

Contributed on 7/28/18 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 155313

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Additional PERKINS Surnames in RIDGECREST Cemetery

Additional PERKINS Surnames in MADISON County

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Submitted: 7/28/18 • Approved: 7/30/18 • Last Updated: 8/2/18 • R155313-G0-S3

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