1955: Carl Perkins sits down to write a new song. In short order, he finishes. Just 48 hours later, he records it for Sun Records.
Released on New Year’s Day of 1956, “Blue Suede Shoes” goes on to sell over a million copies and become the first country & western song to cross over onto the nation’s rhythm & blues charts.
Unfortunately for Perkins, he was hospitalized following a car accident just as the song was peaking, keeping him from television appearances to promote himself and the song. Another singer on the Sun label decides to cover the song. Today, far more people remember the Elvis Presley version.