Rockability – a blend of country, western, rhythm and blues.

One of the foremost practitioners of the genre’s style – country crooner, Carl Perkins.

His distinctive guitar style – laying the groundwork for all rock guitar.

He had a major influence on The Beatles, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, John Fogerty, and long-time friend Johnny Cash.

He wrote and first recorded Blue Suede Shoes, later recorded by Elvis Presley.

Several of his early songs -Honey Don’t, Matchbox and Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby, were recorded by The Beatles.

Even though he was influential in music circles Perkins never achieved super star status, dogged by bad luck and poor timing.

Perkins was born in Lake City, Tennessee in 1932, a poor farming community.

He began his musical career playing at local country dances and honky-tonk bars, along with his brothers – Jay and Clayton.

His career came to a standstill after he and his band were involved in a terrible car crash.