Blue Suede Shoes

Original song written and composed by Carl Perkins. “Blue Suede Shoes” is a rock-and-roll standard written and first recorded by Carl Perkins in 1955. It is considered one of the first rockabilly records, incorporating elements of blues, country and pop music of the time.  Blue Suede Shoes performed by Elvis Presley on his first studio release, Elvis Presley, from RCA records, originally released March 23rd, 1956.  Blue suede shoes were a luxury item in the South, a stylish footwear for a night out. Johnny Cash planted the seed for the song in the fall of 1955, while Perkins, Cash, Elvis Presley and other Louisiana Hayride acts toured throughout the South. Cash told Perkins of a black airman, C. V. White, whom he had met when serving in the military in Germany, who had referred to his military regulation airmen’s shoes as “blue suede shoes”. Cash suggested that Perkins write a song about the shoes. Perkins replied, “I don’t know anything about shoes. When Perkins played a dance on December 4, 1955, he noticed a couple dancing near the stage. Between songs, he heard a stern, forceful voice say, “Uh-uh, don’t step on my suedes!” He looked down and noted that the boy was wearing blue suede shoes and one had a scuff mark. “Good gracious, a pretty little thing like that and all he can think about is his blue suede shoes”, thought Perkins.