MPL Communications buys rights to Carl Perkins’ catalogue

From McCartney buys rights to Carl Perkins’ catalogue – ABC News:

Former Beatle Paul McCartney’s music publishing company has obtained rights to 23 classic rock ‘n’ roll songs composed by the late Carl Perkins, including Blue Suede Shoes, Honey Don’t and Matchbox.

Under the long-term music publishing deal, Sir Paul’s MPL Communications Inc will be responsible for worldwide administration of the Perkins catalogue.

No financial terms of the deal were disclosed.

“Carl Perkins was one of my earliest influences, I am quite simply a fan of his,” Sir Paul said in a statement.

Perkins, the “Rockabilly King” who died in 1998 at age 65, is considered one of the most influential singer-songwriters of his era, penning hits for such greats as Johnny Cash with Daddy Sang Bass, Patsy Cline with I Was So Wrong, the Judds with Let Me Tell You About Love, Elvis Presley and the Beatles.

He recorded his own hit version of Blue Suede Shoes, before Presley turned it into a smash record for himself.

Three songs in the newly acquired catalogue were recorded by the Beatles: Honey Don’t and Matchbox with Ringo Starr on lead vocals, and Everybody’s Trying to Be My Baby with George Harrison singing lead.

Sir Paul also recorded Matchbox as a bonus track on his DVD release of Back in the US.

Other rockabilly standards in the Perkins collection include Dixie Fried, Boppin’ the Blues and Cat Clothes.

MPL, founded in 1971, boasts one of the largest privately owned collections of music publishing rights, which includes the catalogues of such composers as Sir Paul himself, Buddy Holly, Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser and Meredith Wilson.