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
editLaura 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
editPerkins 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
editPerkins married Neal Kitts in 1963. The couple had three sons.[5]
Discography
editSingles
edit| 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
edit- 2006: I’m Back and Here We Go!
References
edit- ^ 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]