Carl Perkins (1932-1998) was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist who is best known for his pioneering rockabilly music. He is often referred to as the “King of Rockabilly” and is credited with helping to bridge the gap between rockabilly and mainstream popular music. Perkins wrote and recorded some of the most influential songs of the era, including “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Matchbox,” and “Boppin’ the Blues,” all of which have been covered by a wide range of artists. Perkins’ songs have been covered by dozens of other musicians, including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, The Beatles, and George Harrison, among many others. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998.
| Name | Carl Perkins |
| Genre | Rockabilly, Rock n Roll |
| Date of Birth | April 9, 1932 |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, bass |
| Labels | Sun Records, Columbia Records |
| Notable Songs | Blue Suede Shoes, Matchbox |
10 Best Carl Perkins Quotes
“I just believed in the song, and I believed that it would go over.”
– Carl Perkins, from YouTube
“I didn’t think about it being a hit record or a money making record. I just thought about what I was going to write.”
– Carl Perkins, from YouTube
“I knew it was a good song and it had a hook that kept a comin’ back.”
– Carl Perkins, from YouTube
“I’m an entertainer. I want to entertain people and make them happy.”
– Carl Perkins, from YouTube
“I wrote a lot of songs that never got recorded or heard.”
– Carl Perkins, from YouTube
“My brother, he was the drummer, and he was a good drummer. He’d keep a good beat.”
– Carl Perkins, from YouTube
“I didn’t think about it being a big hit. I just thought about what I was going to write.”
– Carl Perkins, from YouTube
“I just wanted to make a good record and I didn’t think about money.”
– Carl Perkins, from YouTube
“I wrote it in about an hour, and I just wrote it as I felt it.”
– Carl Perkins, from YouTube
“I just wanted to sing and be able to make it, and I wanted to make sure that my brothers were able to work with me.”
– Carl Perkins, from YouTube
5 Inspirational Carl Perkins Quotes
“I was never in it for the money. I was in it for the music.”
– Carl Perkins, from YouTube
“The more you do something, the better you get at it.”
– Carl Perkins, from YouTube
“If you’re gonna be in music, you’ve got to have something to say.”
– Carl Perkins, from The Guardian
“Music is a universal language.”
– Carl Perkins, from YouTube
“Be the best you can be.”
– Carl Perkins, from YouTube
6 Famous Carl Perkins Quotes
“The best thing I ever did was to learn how to play the guitar.”
– Carl Perkins, from The Guardian
“Some people might think that rock and roll is foolishness, but it ain’t. It’s a force, it’s power. It’s just as strong as any other kind of power, like money and political power.”
– Carl Perkins, from Rolling Stone
“I had a great career, and I’m still a working musician at 80 years old.”
– Carl Perkins, from USA Today
“I’m in the same business they call music. It’s been good to me, and I’m still making a living at it, so I’m still happy with it.”
– Carl Perkins, from The Guardian
“I was the first one to record, ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, and I’ve gone on to record a lot of other things. I’m like a lot of people in show business – I just do my job and leave.”
– Carl Perkins, from Rolling Stone
“I am a musician, and I think that’s the way I’ll be remembered – as a musician.”
– Carl Perkins, from USA Today
8 Carl Perkins Quotes About Love
1.
“Love is the greatest thing that we have, if it wasn’t for God’s love, we’d all be lost.”
– Carl Perkins, from BBC
2.
“Love is the only thing that can heal the world.”
– Carl Perkins, from Guitar World
3.
“When you love somebody, the only thing you can do is try to make them happy.”
– Carl Perkins, from Carl Perkins website
4.
“Love is the only answer to all the problems of the world.”
– Carl Perkins, from PBS
5.
“Love is the only thing that can bring peace and joy in people’s hearts.”
– Carl Perkins, from Carl Perkins website
6.
“Love is the only way to really understand each other and to bring peace and harmony.”
– Carl Perkins, from Guitar World
7.
“Love is the only thing that will bring happiness to this world.”
– Carl Perkins, from Rolling Stone
8.
“Love is the key to understanding, and understanding is the key to success.”
– Carl Perkins, from PBS
8 Carl Perkins Quotes About Life
“The only thing that’s real is your heart and your soul.”
– Carl Perkins, from Elvis Australia
“Follow your heart and keep trying.”
– Carl Perkins, from Elvis Australia
“I was taught early in life to try and do the best that I can.”
– Carl Perkins, from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
“Life is short. You want to live it the best you can, and try to do the right thing.”
– Carl Perkins, from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
“Life is never easy. You have to work hard for the things you want.”
– Carl Perkins, from Rolling Stone
“You have to work hard at anything you do in life, and I worked hard at music.”
– Carl Perkins, from Rolling Stone
“You have to take life one day at a time.”
– Carl Perkins, from NPR
“You can’t take life for granted.”
– Carl Perkins, from NPR
7 Quotes About Carl Perkins
“Carl Perkins was a great, great artist.”
– Paul McCartney, from Paul McCartney Official website
“Carl Perkins was the king of rockabilly.”
– Elvis Presley, from Elvis Presley Music
“Carl Perkins was a genius of that era, and he will be remembered.”
– Johnny Cash, from Allmusic
“Carl Perkins was a great writer and singer.”
– Jerry Lee Lewis, from Rolling Stone
“Carl Perkins was a great influence on my music.”
– John Lennon, from John Lennon Official Website
“Carl Perkins was a seminal figure in early rock and roll.”
– Bob Dylan, from Allmusic
Interview with Carl Perkins
Frequently Asked Questions About Carl Perkins
1. What is the most famous Carl Perkins quote?
- “Everybody’s trying to be a star, but don’t nobody wanna pay the price”
- “Get up, get out, and do something with your life”
- “If you can’t be an example, you’ll just have to be a warning”
- “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything”
- “You don’t have to be the best, you just have to try your best”
- “You never know what you can do until you try”
The most famous Carl Perkins quote is likely “Everybody’s trying to be a star, but don’t nobody wanna pay the price”. This quote is often used to illustrate the difficulty of achieving success, suggesting that while many people dream of becoming a star, they are not willing to put in the hard work and dedication that it requires.
2. What is the origin of the quote “Blue Suede Shoes”?
The popular song “Blue Suede Shoes” was written and recorded by Carl Perkins in 1955. The song was inspired by Perkins’ experience of seeing a man in a crowd wearing blue suede shoes, which inspired him to write the song.
The song was a huge success, becoming a number one hit on the Billboard charts and achieving international fame. It has since become a classic, covered by many artists and featured in films, television shows, and other media.
The phrase “blue suede shoes” has become an iconic phrase in popular culture and is often used to refer to fashionable shoes. It has also entered the English language as a metaphor for something that is desirable but not easily attainable.
- Carl Perkins wrote and recorded “Blue Suede Shoes” in 1955.
- The song was inspired by Perkins’ experience of seeing a man wearing blue suede shoes.
- The song was a huge success, becoming a number one hit on the Billboard charts.
- The phrase “blue suede shoes” has become an iconic phrase in popular culture.
- It is often used to refer to fashionable shoes and has entered the English language as a metaphor.
3. How did Carl Perkins influence the development of rock and roll?
Carl Perkins was an influential figure in the development of rock and roll. He was one of the key figures of the early 1950s rockabilly sound and was a major influence on Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and other great rock and rollers. Here are some of the ways Carl Perkins helped shape the development of rock and roll:
- He was one of the first to combine elements of country and rhythm and blues music to create the rockabilly sound.
- He wrote some of the most iconic rock and roll songs of the 1950s, such as “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Matchbox”.
- He was the first artist to record in the newly established Sun Records studio and his recordings were some of the first to be released on the label.
- He played an important role in introducing The Beatles to a wider audience, as he was their first tour manager in the United States.
- His influence can be heard in the music of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and many other artists.
Carl Perkins’s influence on the development of rock and roll cannot be overstated. His music and lyrics helped to define the genre and shaped the sound of the era. He was an innovator and a pioneer, and his legacy continues to this day.
4. What are some of Carl Perkins’ other well-known quotes?
Carl Perkins was a legendary singer, songwriter, and musician who created some of the most iconic rock ‘n’ roll songs of the 1950s and 1960s. He was also an inspirational speaker whose quotes have become famous in the music world. Here are some of Carl Perkins’ most memorable quotes:
- “When you hear good music, it makes you wanna tap your feet and get with it.”
- “Don’t just play it, feel it.”
- “Music is about feeling, not just hearing.”
- “If you can’t feel it, it ain’t music.”
- “You can’t fake feeling.”
- “Music has the power to make people happy.”
- “Music is the language of the soul.”
- “Music is the universal language.”
- “Music is the best way to express yourself.”
- “Music is the food of love.”
5. How did Carl Perkins’ music career begin?
Carl Perkins’ music career began in 1954 in Jackson, Tennessee. He began as a member of a band called the Perkins Brothers Band, which included his brothers Clayton and Jay. The group frequently performed at local clubs and events and played a mix of country, blues, and gospel music.
In 1954, Carl wrote and recorded his first single, “Movie Magg”. He followed this with a series of other singles, including “Turn Around”, “Boppin’ the Blues”, and “Matchbox”. These singles gained him some recognition and he was signed to Sun Records in 1955.
At Sun Records, Carl was able to further develop his musical style. He incorporated elements of both country and blues to create a unique sound. He released several singles at Sun, including the iconic “Blue Suede Shoes”. This song was a hit, reaching #2 on the R&B charts and #1 on the country charts.
Carl Perkins continued to record and tour throughout the 1950s and 60s. He released several albums during this time, including Dance Album, How Great Thou Art, and Whole Lotta Shakin’. His influence has been felt throughout the world of music and he is one of the most important figures of rock and roll.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Carl Perkins was an influential artist whose music and lyrics provided strength and solace for many of his fans. He was a master of the guitar and his songs were often filled with clever wordplay and clever lyrics. His lyrics spoke to many of his listeners and helped them to confront their own struggles. His legacy lives on through his timeless songs and quotes that continue to inspire and motivate today.
