Carl Mann’s Legacy Honored With Roadside Sign

HUNTINGDON (October 28) — The musical legacy of the late Carl Mann, a Huntingdon native, was memorialized with a roadside sign at the intersection of High Street and East Main on Tuesday.

Mr. Mann’s family, members of the Huntingdon Town Council and friends attended the unveiling of the new sign.

The family of Mann expressed their appreciation to the Town of Huntingdon for approving the new signage.

Richard Mann, of Burkesville, Kentucky, is Mann’s son. He thanked city officials for honoring his dad. He said his dad wanted the recognition in Huntingdon for his career.

Rhonda Houghton, his daughter, of Kansas, said she first met her dad in 2020 and learned of a family she did not know she had. She said she hopes the sign reminds people of her dad’s songs that connected with the world and the love and connections he made with his family.

“May this sign stand as a tribute to his music, his life, and harmony that he brought into our hearts, said Houghton.

Andrea Salazar, of Huntingdon, said Carl was a jokester and prankster. Salazar is Carl’s niece. She is the daughter of Carl’s sister, Jean Mann Gulledge of Huntingdon.

Salazar praised the city and the Huntingdon Historical Society for honoring her uncle’s life and legacy.

“I can’t tell you how much this means to Carl’s family. Carl was a pioneer in the Rockabilly scene and contributed much to the music world back in the day,” said Salazar.

The honor of unveiling the sign was granted to Remy Mann, Carl’s granddaughter, who flew in from Germany for the occasion.

Charlotee Mann Belew, Carl’s daughter, also attended the event.

History of Carl Mann

Born in Huntingdon, Mann was a child musical prodigy who began recording at age 15. He signed with Sun Records and, at 16, reached #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 with his cover of “Mona Lisa”.

He performed and recorded for over six decades until his death in 2020 at age 78. Mann was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2006.

Mann’s niece, Andrea Salazar, addressed the Huntingdon Town Council on behalf of Carl’s family to request the signage and offer to cover the costs. Also present were Salazar’s sister, Sabrina Bailey, and Mann’s son, Richard Mann.

During the Council meeting, Salazar said, “Carl Mann was a rockabilly pioneer and spent a lifetime performing for fans all over the United States and Europe. He was the last and youngest artist signed with Sun Record label. He was a guest performer on the Dick Clark show multiple times. Carl spent time touring with Johnny Cash, George Jones, Carl Perkins, Brenda Lee and was personal friends with Loretta Lynn and with Patsy Cline. He had many musical accomplishments, and he is a gold record recipient.

“He was somewhat disappointed that the town of Huntingdon never seemed to recognize him for all that he did. He would be a little hurt when he would go to McLemoresville and see the welcome sign with Dixie [Carter]’s name on it, or he would go to Parsons and see the highway named after Little David Wilkins, or he would go to Jackson and see ‘Home of Carl Perkins’.

Carl Mann: Sun Records Artist Career Highlights

• At age 11 he was performing regularly on the WDXI Jackson Station.

• In 1954, age 12, he performed on the Jr. Grand Ole Opry which was broadcast on WSM Nashville. (First significant appearance)

• In 1954 he formed the band, The Kool Kats with four other band members

• The band played local radio shows in Milan, Tennessee

• Auditioned for Jimmy Martin on the Jaxon label

• First record released on the Jaxon label.

• 1957 “Gonna Rock and Roll Tonight and Rockin’ Love was first single released by Carl Mann and the Kool Kats

• At the age of 16, Carl was signed to a contract with Sun Records in Memphis Tennessee by Sam Phillips as the youngest artist to be signed to the Phillips Label.

• In 1959, “Mona Lisa” was recorded and released as Carl’s faster version of a well- known Nat King Cole song. It reached #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #24 on the R&B singles chart. The song sold over a million copies and Carl eventually received gold record status.

• Carl signed to other labels including Rockhouse Records, Monument and ABC.

• Carl appeared on The Dick Clark Show twice (April, 1959 Oct., 1959)

• 1959 Caravan of Stars Concert Series Hollywood Bowl in California

• Carl performed in New York City, where he became friends with Annette Funicello (American actress and singer)

Carl performed in Las Vegas with Johnny Cash, Brenda Lee and Charlie Feathers at The Golden Nugget at the same time that Patsy Cline played across the street at the The Mint where he would go visit and watch her show.

• Carl was one of the first few to show up at the site of the plane crash of Patsy Cline in Camden, Tn.to assist, immediately upon hearing the news on the radio.

• Carl played with Loretta Lynn at La Grange out of Chicago in the 60’s. He later visited her in Germany where she was performing.

• Carl became acquainted and toured with George Jones for a couple of weeks in Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico.

• Carl toured and played many appearances across the U.S. and abroad including; Germany, Finland, Holland, Sweden, Europe, New York, Las Vegas, Spain, Bismark, Switzerland, Worcester, Philadelphia, Chicago, North Carolina, Atlanta, Kentucky, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico and Tennessee.

• Charlie Rich wrote “’m Coming Home” exclusively for Carl Mann.

Mann recorded this song March 14, 1960. Elvis later recorded the song in 1961 with Floyd Cramer using the same piano arrangement as Carl. This song, performed by Elvis was later used in the 2022 movie “Elvis.”

1960 South of the Border/I’m Coming Home/Pretend London Records

• 1964 Carl served in the United States Army

• 1974 “Twilight Time” reached top of the charts

• 1977 Deal with Dutch record label

• 1980’s Toured Europe, Holland, Sweden

• 1987 Roy Orbison/Carl Mann The Sweet Rockin Stars released

• 1993 4-CD/picture book boxed set released.

TOP Pop Charts book Carl’s Mona Lisa appears listed in this book

• Carl has appeared in various magazine articles including Vintage Rock (on the cover photo), American Music magazine Mar 2006, American Music Sept 2006, Now Dig This, and Keep Rockin magazine

• Extensive list of discography recordings, single and compilation CD’s with such artist as Charlie Rich, Jerry Lee Lewis and other Sun Records artists.

• Performed at Rockabilly Festival Jackson, Tenn.

• Inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in Jackson, 2006

• Performed at annual festival at Tina Turner museum in Brownsville, Tenn.

• 2005 Performed on the Huntingdon Hayride with Dixie Carter, former Miss America Kelley Cash and others.

• First gospel album released in 2005.

• Memorabilia located at Tine Turner Museum in Brownsville.

• Memorabilia located at The Carnegie Museum in Jackson, Tenn.

• Last show 2018 alongside Jerry Lee Lewis in Las Vegas.

• Referred to as “The Last Son of Sun” as he was one of the final artists introduced by Sam Phillips of Sun Records.