Rockabilly Guitar Licks

Carl Perkins place in Rockabilly history.


Carl Perkins with George Harrison in 1985.

Rockabilly Guitar Licks were made popular in the mid fifties by Carl Perkins when he blasted onto the scene with his #1 hit "Blue Suede Shoes."

In July 1954, he heard Elvis sing Blue Moon of Kentucky on the radio, and headed to Memphis to see Sam Phillips. Phillips signed him, sent him to tour with Presley, and lit up the South with rockabilly fever.

Perkins would go on to release a masterful mix of rockabilly music that everyone imitated but few others could equal. Tunes like Blue Suede Shoes, Honey Don't, Dixie Fried, and Matchbox would offer more than the required slapback bass and studio echo, and speak for themselves.
 
These four tunes lifted Perkins to stardom, and underlined that rockabilly had way more musical chops to offer. Over the years many who grew up with classic rockabilly will forever acknowledge that Carl Perkins definitely owns a special place in Rockabilly Music history.


Carl Perkins
A Highly Influential Guitar Player.


Carl Perkins's rockabilly guitar licks at vinyl record memories.

Perkins, who died in 1998, was the composer of many rockabilly standards and other classics, as well as a highly influential guitar player, as you will see in this video.

This original London Rockabilly show, featuring Perkins, along with Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Dave Edmunds, Slim Jim Phantom and others, was recorded live at London's Limehouse Studios in 1985 and features Harrison & Starr in their first reunion gig since the '70's.

But even with all this star power, it's Perkins's show all the way. Not only can the man still play, but he's clearly basking in all the attention...as is Harrison, whose rare live performances should be treasured all the more now that he's gone. Life isn't always fair, but Perkins got love and recognition from the Beatles and countless others that would again highlight Perkins talents as one of the greatest rockabilly performers of all time. 


Carl Perkins Rockabilly Guitar Licks. 


Carl shows George how he created that Echo Sound at SUN Studios without any Reverb equipment. How he figured out a way to make his guitar sound like it did have reverb by tapping each note twice with his left hand.

Music historians should be excited and students everywhere should take notes and be enlightened with just the Rockabilly Guitar licks information on this video.

Watch closely as George stares in wonderment as Carl plays a little tribute to Les Paul, playing these Rockabilly guitar licks on the classic song, "World is Waiting For the Sunrise"

This video demonstrates how deep Carl's influence was on so many players...most especially his good friend George Harrison.


You might also like these...


Ever thought of having your own website? I built Vinyl Record Memories "from scratch" with SoloBuildIt! Click below to find out more....




Next Rockabilly surprise - Ringo Starr - Honey Don't

Return to Carl Perkins Main page.

Return to Guitar Favorites.

Visit the Hank Marvin page.

Return to Home page.



Enjoy this page? Share it with your friends!

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.





Vinyl Record Memories
(VIP Club)

Become a member - FREE to Join.

A Little Bit of Nostalgia in your inbox each month.

FREE  To  Join



Sleepwalk
Vinyl Record Memories


Few songs are so universally and instantly successful at creating a dreamy atmosphere. 

Listen to this Santo and Johnny distinctive "Sleep Walk" sound with some great cover versions. Then judge for yourself who does the best cover of this iconic music from 1959. Read more... 


Listen to Les Paul, Jeff Beck and Hank Marvin do their cover of Sleepwalk.
Jeff Beck cover of Sleepwalk.
Hank Marvin cover of Sleepwalk.


'68 Comeback Special



Elvis did some great things after this special, but nothing that captures the raw power of his performances on this '68 Comeback Special. You'd be surprised how good he really was on the guitar. Read more ...



Lonely Blue Boy



Song originally written for the Elvis movie, "King Creole." It would be Conway's last Top Ten song from his Rock-n-roll years. 

"My name should be trouble
My name should be woe
For trouble and heartache
is all that I know...Read more...



"Blue Suede Shoes"

From Carl Perkins to Elvis.
A Rockabilly Classic Returns.



"You can burn my house...Steal my car...Drink my liquor from an old fruit jar...Do anything that you want to do...But uh-uh honey lay off of my shoes." Read more...



Big River Story by
Rosanne Cash



I think my dad’s ‘Big River’ is one of the most eloquent pieces of American poetry ever written. It is so layered and cinematic. Read more...



Top of Page
Top of Page