Laura Lee Perkins (July 20, 1939 – April 6, 2018) was a rockabilly musician. Though not commercially successful, Perkins gained popularity during the European rockabilly revival of the 1970-1990s. She was a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Early life
Laura Lee Perkins was born Alice Faye Perkins in Killarney, West Virginia to Chester and Hazel Perkins. [1] Alice Faye learned to play guitar and piano in her youth. She attended Stoco High School where she also learned to play the trumpet. [1]
Career
Perkins moved to Ohio in 1957 where she met a local disc jockey who sent her demos to his contacts at Imperial Records. Perkins flew to California in February 1958 and recorded with Ricky Nelson's band during sessions at Imperial. [2] The songs produced during these sessions include Don't Wait Up and Kiss Me Baby. [3] The label changed her stage name to Laura Lee Perkins and referred to her as the “female Jerry Lee Lewis” while promoting her 1958 record. [4]
Perkins returned to Ohio and later moved to Detroit in 1959. She continued to perform and tour will several bands. [4] Her early records were never commercially successful, but became highly collectable during the European rockabilly revival. [2] She released the album I’m Back and Here We Go: Laura Lee Perkins, Rockabilly Legend in 2006.
Perkins was a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. [5]
Personal life
Perkins married Neal Kitts in 1963. The couple had three sons. [5]
Discography
Singles
| Year | Song | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Kiss Me Baby / I Just Don’t Like This Kind of Living | Imperial Records |
| 1958 | Don’t Wait Up / Oh La Baby | Imperial Records |
| 1988 | Gonna Rock My Baby Tonight / Come On Baby | Detour Records |
|
Imperial Records |
Album
- 2006: I’m Back and Here We Go!
References
- ^ Family, Bear. "Perkins, Laura Lee". Bear Family Records. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
- ^ a b "Perkins, Laura Lee". Women in Rock & Roll's First Wave. 2018-12-03. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
- ^ Morrison, Craig (1998). Go Cat Go!: Rockabilly Music and Its Makers. Chicago: University of Illinois Press.
- ^ a b Family, Bear. "Presse - Various Artists - Meet The Pearls - Jukebox Pearls - Ugly Things". Bear Family Records. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
- ^ a b "RAB Hall of Fame: Laura Lee Perkins". www.rockabillyhall.com. Retrieved 2020-04-18.[ dead link]
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