Who is Carl Perkins

A dedication ceremony will be Friday June 27, 2008, at the International Rock-A-Billy Hall of Fame Inc., 105 N. Church St. in Jackson, Tn. honoring Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley.

The "Rockabilly Highway" applies to a stretch of U.S. 45 from the intersection with Interstate 40 in Jackson, south to the Mississippi state line. This highway runs from Jackson, TN, Carl's hometown to near the birthplace of Elvis, Tupelo, Mississippi.

In a press release, "Wink" Martindale and Jerry Naylor, in a PBS TV special, shared that rockabilly music was born at Sun Records and in the dance halls of Jackson. The International Rockabilly Music Festival is scheduled for August 7-9 in Jackson.

The dedication show took place on the outdoor stage of the Rock-A-Billy museum with W. S. Holland, Carl Mann and Rayburn Anthony performing at the "Rockabilly Highway" dedication ceremony at the International Rock-A-Billy Hall of Fame, in downtown Jackson. There were 14 life-size oil portraits of rockabilly superstars providing the backdrop for the events. Little David Wilkins also made a guest appearance.

To read the full article in the local paper visit Jackson Sun: Rockabilly Highway

Legend Carl Perkins

Carl Perkins Biography-Rollingstones

Carl Perkins-Wikipedia

3. Carl was an excellent musician, singer, and song writer.

2. Carl is called the King of Rockabilly. Carl's music influenced many musicians in many different genres of music, rockabilly, rock and roll, pop, and country just to name a few. Admired by many stars in the music industry, they tell us that Carl helped shape what music is today and that he had a big influence on them. Their admiration for him is well documented.

1. Carl was the founder of the Exchange Club - Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse To me this is the number one reason to love Carl Perkins. He and his family have helped countless numbers of families in West Tennessee.

The first time I had the opportunity to meet Carl Perkins in person, he was filming a commercial for Tennessee Tourism, around 1979-1980. A friend and I were attending a local college and had decided to have lunch at Muse Park in Jackson, TN. We had finished and were feeding the ducks and geese the left overs, when he and Naida Jones approached us and asked if we would like to be in the background of the commercial. Of course, we were thrilled, we skipped class and made a memory that will last a life-time. We were young, but we knew that Mr. Perkins was legendary world-wide and we were honored to be included in the commercial.

I had numerous opportunities to meet him and his wife later, and each time he was friendly, nice and he always seemed interested in interacting with us common folks. He was married to a wonderful lady, Mrs. Val, they were a lovely couple and they contributed to our area in West Tennessee in many ways. Carl and his family were and are admired and respected by many. We will always be thankful that he founded the Exchange Club - Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse whose work continues today.

"In 1979 the National Exchange Club adopted child abuse prevention as a national project and the Jackson Exchange Club began work toward making a center a reality in Jackson. During that same year, the news media in Jackson carried a story about a child who died as a result of child abuse.

Entertainer and songwriter Carl Perkins, a resident of Jackson, saw the child's picture and thought the child resembled one of his own children. He was so moved by the tragic story that he too decided something must be done to stop child abuse.

Carl helped organize a successful concert and the proceeds generated were combined with funds received through a National Exchange Club Grant. This allowed the center to open its doors in October 1981. This was the first Exchange Club Center in Tennessee and the fourth nationwide.

Today, the Center is recognized as one of the largest and most successful of its kind in the Nation. The Center, with over 60 staff members and hundreds of volunteers, works to give the hope of a brighter future to children and families all across West Tennessee." (from their website)

Here is a link to PM Music Photos on their photo page you will see Carl, his son Stan, his son Greg, Albert Hall, W. S. "Fluke" Holland drummer for Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Norbert Putnam, Blues Legend "Honey Boy" Edwards and lots of others. PM Music is a great music store with a wide selection of musical instruments and a marvelous teaching staff. I can personally recommend them, my son is a student there and he loves it!

PM Music Store is Jackson's only authorized Fender dealer.

WHEN THE ANGELS TAKE A STAR HOME

A LEGEND USED TO LIVE HERE,
BUT, THE ANGELS TOOK HIM HOME.
JACKSON HAS LOST IT'S SPARKLE,
NOW THAT HE IS GONE.

WE STILL HAVE HIS MUSIC,
AND HIS SHOES MADE OF BLUE SUEDE.
TO OUR CHILDREN, HE LEFT A LEGACY,
HIS MEMORY SHALL NEVER FADE.

(CHORUS 1)
EVERY TIME THE ANGELS
TAKE A SPARKLING STAR BACK HOME,
THE LIGHTS HERE DIM A LITTLE MORE,
ONCE THEY ARE GONE.

WE ARE LEFT WITH OUR MEMORIES,
OF EACH ONE THAT WE LOVED,
BUT, THEIR FEET NO LONGER WALK HERE,
THEY DANCE ON THE CLOUDS ABOVE.

MANY A NIGHT SHE ENTERTAINED HERE,
BUT, NOW, SHE TOO, IS GONE,
THE OPRY LOST IT'S SPARKLE,
WHEN THE ANGELS TOOK HER HOME.

A PRICE TAG USED TO DANGLE,
FROM THE HAT, UPON HER HEAD.
LAUGHTER WOULD RING OUT,
WHEN HER WITTY WORDS WERE SAID.

(CHORUS 2)
EVERY TIME THE ANGELS,
TAKE ANOTHER SPARKLE AWAY,
THE GLOW FROM HEAVEN SHINES BRIGHTER,
TO HELP LIGHT THE WAY.

JUST CLOSE YOUR EYES AND IMAGINE,
SWEET MUSIC AND LOVE EVERYWHERE,
WHY, YOU CAN ALMOST SEE THEM DANCING,
UPON THE CLOUDS, WAY UP THERE.

ALL AROUND THE WORLD,
HE SHINED LIKE A BRIGHT LIGHT,
NOW, GRACELAND STANDS EMPTY
EACH AND EVERY NIGHT.

MANY CALLED HIM,
THE KING OF ROCK N ROLL,
A MISSISSIPPI BOY,
WITH A TENNESSEE SOUL.

(repeat CHORUS 1)

OH, TO HEAR GRANDPA, CALL THAT MENU OUT,
ONE MORE TIME,
WITH STRINGBEAN ON THE MANDOLIN,
PICKING OUT THE PUNCH LINE.

WE STILL LONG TO HEAR
"HELLO DARLIN" IN OUR EAR,
YES, MANY AN EYE HAS SHED
MORE THAN ONE TOO MANY A TEAR.

WE MISS HANK, AND TAMMY,
AND CHARLIE, TOO.
WELL, THE LIST IS JUST TOO LONG,
TO NAME EACH ONE FOR YOU.

(repeat CHORUS 2)

EVERY TIME THE ANGELS
TAKE ANOTHER ONE AWAY,
THE LIGHT HERE DIMS A LITTLE MORE,
BUT, THEIR MEMORY NEVER FADES.

Sherry Holder Hunt©1999

This song was published in "The Talent Among Us" by Main Street Publications. Reflections & Perceptions by a Group of West Tennessee Writers.

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