Carl Perkins
While some ill-informed revisionist writers of rock history would like to dismiss Carl Perkins as a rockabilly artist who became a one-hit wonder at the dawn of rock & rolls early years, a deeper look at his music and career reveals much more. A quick look at his songwriting portfolio shows that he composed Daddy Sang Bass for Johnny Cash, I Was So Wrong for Patsy Cline, and Let Me Tell You About Love for the Judds, big hits and classics all. His influence as the quintessential rockabilly artist has played a big part in the development of every generation of rockers to come down the pike since, from the Beatles George Harrison to the Stray Cats Brian Setzer to a myriad of others in the country field as well. His guitar style is the other twin peak — along with that of Elvis lead man Scotty Moore — of rockabillys instrumental center, so pervasive that modern-day players automatically gravitate toward it when called upon to deliver the style, not even realizing that theyre playing Perkins licks, sometimes note for note. As a singer, his interpretation of country ballads is every bit as fine as his better-known rockers. And within the framework of the best of his music is a strong sense of family and roots, all of which trace straight back to his humble beginnings.