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. Alice Faye learned to play guitar and piano in her youth. She attended Stoco High School where she also learned to play the trumpet.
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. The songs produced during these sessions include Don't Wait Up and Kiss Me Baby. 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.
Perkins returned to Ohio and later moved to Detroit in 1959. She continued to perform and tour will several bands. Her early records were never commercially successful, but became highly collectable during the European rockabilly revival. 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.
Personal life
Perkins married Neal Kitts in 1963. The couple had three sons.
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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Family, Bear. "Presse - Various Artists - Meet The Pearls - Jukebox Pearls - Ugly Things". Bear Family Records. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
- ^ "RAB Hall of Fame: Laura Lee Perkins". www.rockabillyhall.com. Retrieved 2020-04-18.