Carl Perkins: The King of Rockabilly

Australian music and popular culture writer Apter (Don’t Dream It’s Over: The Remarkable Life of Neil Finn) adds to his shelf of music biographies with this affectionate look into the life of rockabilly legend Carl Perkins (1932–98). 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.