Although he was an accomplished pianist, by graduation he could play organ, trombone, saxophone and all the percussion instruments.
He studied with noted composer and educator Tibor Serly, who was a student of Zoltán Kodály and also worked with Béla Bartók.
Upon graduation, Perkins toured Europe and returned to form his own dance band and become a songwriter.
Some of those he recorded were "Kentucky Trotter," "The Deserted Patio," "Barbara," "Pop-Gun Patrol," "Fandango," "Feliciana," "Escapade," and "The Frustrated Floorwalker".
In the TV genre, he did music scoring and arrangements for 77 Sunset Strip (WB-TV).