Carl Perkins holding his Gibson guitar

THE FOUNDER · THE FOUNDATION

CARL
PERKINS.

1959–2018 · The Lion King

A LIFETIME IN AOTEAROA MUSIC

Father. Artist.
Songwriter. Mentor.

Carl Perkins was the founder and heart of House of Shem. Raised in a musical whānau, he built a lifetime in Aotearoa music through Blue Image, the Māori Hi-Marks, Dread, Uprising, Herbs and Mana.

Back home in Whanganui, Carl formed Shem in 1997. With his sons Te Omeka and Isaiah beside him, it grew into House of Shem and the albums Keep Rising, Island Vibration and Harmony.

His faith, discipline, songwriting and love for whānau remain the foundation of the music today.

Read Carl’s full AudioCulture history ↗

CARL PERKINS · OFFICIAL LINKS & ARCHIVES

Papa Carl’s own Facebook page and the official House of Shem channels carrying his voice, music and story.
40+YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL MUSIC
NZ HALL OF FAMEINDUCTED WITH HERBS
LIFETIMEPACIFIC MUSIC AWARD WITH HERBS
3FOUNDATIONAL HOUSE OF SHEM ALBUMS
ARCHIVE FILM

CARL PERKINS · MANA · 1987

Mana —
Ain’t Gonna Stop.

The official music video from Carl’s Mana chapter — a defining piece of Aotearoa reggae history.Open on YouTube ↗
MANA · AIN’T GONNA STOP · OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

THE LEGACY

His voice remains
inside the harmony.

Carl’s discipline, faith, songwriting and devotion to whānau remain the foundation beneath every House of Shem chapter.
Explore Carl’s AudioCulture profile ↗Watch Carl remembered ↗