There were also at the funeral video taped messages from friends like Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Pete Townsend, and Chet Atkins. After the service as George sat in his powder blue Lincoln and watched that hearse pull away from the funeral home with his good friend in it, you could see the sadness and pain on his face. Carl truly was what Rock-A-Billy music is all about. He was such a big influence on so many people, and the people of his hometown of Jackson, Tennessee lined the streets on both sides of the road for the entire seven miles from the funeral home to the gravesite, from the homeless to the rich and famous, they all loved Carl Perkins.

Carl had never moved away from Jackson during all of his success, and had supported the people and the city with the financial blessings of his talent and success. The Chevrolet dealership gave him a new Corvette every 6 months just to show their appreciation, but the only place he ever drove it was to go coon hunting. Carl and his coon dog were the only passengers to ever ride in those new Corvettes. I hadn't really realized Carl's influence on my music until we started working together. It was a great honor to sing harmony with him and because of his influence on my singing and phrasing it was very easy.   


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