Wikipedia

Pinetop Perkins

Joe Willie"Pinetop"Perkins(July 7, 1913 – March 21, 2011) was an Americanblues pianist.He played with some of the most influential blues androck-and-rollperformers of his time and received numerous honors, including aGrammy Lifetime Achievement Awardand induction into theBlues Hall of Fame.

Pinetop Perkins
Perkins at the Riverwalk Blues Festival inFort Lauderdale, Florida,2006
Background information
Birth nameJoe Willie Perkins
Born(1913-07-07)July 7, 1913
Belzoni, Mississippi,U.S.
DiedMarch 21, 2011(2011-03-21)(aged 97)
Austin, Texas,U.S.
GenresPiano blues,boogie-woogie,Delta blues,Chicago blues
Occupation(s)Musician, singer
Instrument(s)Piano, vocals, keyboards
Years active1920s–2011
LabelsBlind Pig,Antone's

Life and career

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Perkins in 1976

Early career

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Perkins was born inBelzoni, Mississippiand raised on a plantation in Honey Island, Mississippi.[1]He began his career as a guitarist but then injured thetendonsin his left arm in a knife fight with a chorus girl inHelena, Arkansasin the 1940s.[2]Unable to play the guitar, he switched to the piano.[3]He also moved fromRobert Nighthawk's radio program onKFFAtoSonny Boy Williamson'sKing Biscuit Time.[4]He continued working with Nighthawk, however, accompanying him on "Jackson Town Gal" in 1950.

In the 1950s, Perkins joinedEarl Hookerand began touring. Herecorded"Pinetop's Boogie Woogie"atSam Phillips'sSun StudioinMemphis, Tennessee.The tune was written byPinetop Smith,who created the original recording in 1928. Perkins didn't write; he "got as high as third grade in school."[3]He learned to play-off Smith's records. As Perkins recalled, "They used to call me 'Pinetop' because I played that song."[5]

Perkins then relocated toIllinoisand left the music business until Hooker persuaded him to record again in 1968. Perkins replacedOtis Spannin theMuddy Watersband when Spann left the band in 1969.[4]After ten years with that organization, he formed theLegendary Blues BandwithWillie "Big Eyes" Smith,recording from the late 1970s to the early 1990s.[4]

Later career

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Perkins played a brief musical cameo on the street outside Aretha's Soul Food Cafe in the 1980 movieThe Blues Brothers,having an argument withJohn Lee Hookerover who wrote "Boom Boom".He also appeared in the 1987 movieAngel Heartas a member of guitarist Toots Sweet's band.

Perkins was asidemanon countless recordings but never had an album devoted solely to his artistry untilAfter Hours,released byBlind Pig Recordsin 1988.[6]The tour in support of the album featuredJimmy Rogersand guitaristHubert Sumlin.

The death of Perkins's common law wife, Sara Lewis, in 1995, triggered a depression and periods of drinking.[7]In 1998, he released the albumLegends,featuring Sumlin. In 2001, Perkins performed at theChicago Blues FestivalwithIke Turner.[8]Turner credited Perkins with inspiring him to play piano.[9]

Perkins with the other final living Delta blues musician,David "Honeyboy" Edwards,in 2008

Perkins was driving his automobile in 2004 inLa Porte, Indiana,when his car was hit by a train. The car was wrecked, but the 91-year-old driver was not seriously hurt. Until his death, Perkins lived inAustin, Texas.He usually performed a couple of nights a week at Momo's, on Sixth Street.

The song "Hey Mr. Pinetop Perkins", performed by Perkins andAngela Strehli,played on the common misconception that he wrote "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie":

Hey Mr. Pinetop Perkins
I got a question for you
How'd you write that first boogie woogie
The one they named after you

As he aged, Perkins's hearing declined.[10]

Death

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On March 21, 2011, Perkins died in his sleep of cardiac arrest at his home in Austin, Texas at the age of 97.[7][11]Multiple memorial services were held in Perkins's honor in cities throughout the United States. TheGround Zero Blues ClubinClarksdale, Mississippiheld a dedicated jam on March 31, 2011, for friends and fans of Perkins.[12]A music-filled open-casket funeral for Perkins was held in Austin, Texas on March 29, 2011, and was attended by several fellow musicians including Willie "Big Eyes" Smith andBob Margolin.[13]

Perkins was laid to rest in theMcLaurin Memorial Gardencemetery in Clarksdale on April 2, 2011, following a final open-casket "homegoing" celebration.[10]The final laying to rest was ministered byHenry Espy,the first Black mayor of Clarksdale, and the altar display included Perkins's favorite meal: a McDonald's Big Mac and apple pie.[10]

At the time of his death, he had more than 20 performances booked for 2011. Shortly before he died, while discussing his late career resurgence with an interviewer, he conceded, "I can't play piano like I used to either. I used to have bass rolling like thunder. I can't do that no more. But I ask the Lord, please forgive me for the stuff I done trying to make a nickel."[14]Perkins andDavid "Honeyboy" Edwardswere the last surviving originalDelta bluesmusicians. Perkins was also one of the last surviving bluesmen to have knownRobert Johnson.[14]

Legacy

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Influence

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Bruce Iglauer,founder of Chicago'sAlligator Records,stated Perkins was "absolutely the premier blues piano player." He added, "His career spanned literally over 80 years. He was the symbol of a whole generation of musicians."[7]Perkins influenced blues musicians such asIke Turner,who he taught how to play piano.[15][3]"Pinetop would be the birth of rock 'n' roll, because he taught me what I played," Turner said.[7]Perkins collaborated with various bluesmen, includingMuddy Waters,Robert Nighthawk,Earl Hooker,andB.B. King.[7]

Pinetop Perkins Foundation

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In the late musician's honor, the Pinetop Perkins Foundation holds annual workshops for young musicians interested in Blues and Jazz music.[16]The workshop, which usually occurs in Clarksdale, Mississippi but was made virtual during theCOVID-19 pandemic,provides young musicians master classes with some of the best living talent in the traditional Blues and Jazz genres, and culminates in a performance at the Ground Zero Blues Club by the students.[16]The other arm of the foundation provides financial relief to aging musicians through a program called the Pinetop Assistance League; with a goal of ensuring that elderly musicians who can no longer earn an income can pay their housing and medical costs in order to have comfort and dignity in their later years.[17]

Awards and honors

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Perkins was named aNational Heritage Fellowby theNational Endowment for the Artsin 2000.[5]

In 2003, Perkins was inducted into theBlues Hall of Fame.[18]

In 2005, Perkins received aGrammy Lifetime Achievement Award.[1]

In 2008, Perkins, together withHenry Townsend,Robert Lockwood, Jr.andDavid "Honeyboy" Edwards,received aGrammy Award for Best Traditional Blues AlbumforLast of the Great Mississippi Delta Bluesmen: Live in Dallas.[1]He was also nominated in the same category for his solo albumPinetop Perkins on the 88's: Live in Chicago.[19]

At the age of 97, Perkins won aGrammy Awardin the categoryBest Traditional Blues AlbumforJoined at the Hip,which he recorded withWillie "Big Eyes" Smith,thus becoming the oldest winner of a Grammy Award,[11]edging out the comedianGeorge Burns,who had won in the spoken word category 21 years earlier.[20]

Documentaries

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Perkins has been the subject of two documentary films:Born in the Honey(2007) andSidemen: Long Road to Glory(2016).[1][21]He also appeared inClint Eastwood's 2003 documentaryPiano Blues.[22]

Selected discography

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WithCarey Bell

WithEarl Hooker

WithMuddy Waters

See also

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References

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  1. ^abcdFriskics-Warren, Bill (March 21, 2011)."Pinetop Perkins, Delta Boogie-Woogie Master, Dies at 97".The New York Times.p. A25.
  2. ^Dahl, Bill."Pinetop Perkins Biography".AllMusic.RetrievedAugust 25,2017.
  3. ^abc"Ike Turner & Pinetop Perkins: Student and Teacher".Elmore Magazine.November 1, 2006.
  4. ^abcRussell, Tony (1997).The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray.Dubai: Carlton Books. p. 154.ISBN1-85868-255-X.
  5. ^ab"Joe Willie 'Pinetop' Perkins: Blues Piano Player".Arts.gov.National Endowment for the Arts. n.d.RetrievedDecember 31,2020.
  6. ^"Pinetop Perkins Profile".Blind Pig Records.RetrievedAugust 25,2017.
  7. ^abcde"Delta blues legend won a Grammy at age 97".Chicago Tribune.March 22, 2011.RetrievedApril 2,2021.
  8. ^Kening, Dan (June 8, 2001)."Chicago Blues Fest turns 18".Chicago Tribune.
  9. ^Dahl, Bill, Whiteis, David (June 7, 2001)."Chicago Blues Festival 2001".Chicago Reader.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^abcMoser, Margaret (April 22, 2011)."Last of the Delta Bluesmen".The Austin Chronicle.RetrievedApril 2,2021.
  11. ^ab"Blues Pianist Pinetop Perkins Dies Aged 97".BBC News.March 22, 2011.
  12. ^"CLARKSDALE: Pinetop Perkins Funeral Arrangements, etc".Msbluestrail.org.RetrievedFebruary 27,2021.
  13. ^Corcoran, Michael."Austin bids Pinetop Perkins a heartfelt farewell".Austin360.com.RetrievedFebruary 27,2021.
  14. ^abChilton, Martin (March 22, 2011)."B. B. King Leads Tributes to Pinetop Perkins".The Daily Telegraph.
  15. ^Turner, Ike, Cawthorne, Nigel (1999).Takin' Back My Name: The Confessions of Ike Turner.London: Virgin. pp.25–27.ISBN9781852278502.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ab"Pinetop Perkins Foundation - WORKSHOP".Pinetopperkinsfoundation.org.RetrievedFebruary 28,2021.
  17. ^"Pinetop Perkins Foundation - PINETOP ASSISTANCE LEAGUE".Pinetopperkinsfoundation.org.RetrievedFebruary 28,2021.
  18. ^O'Neal, Jim (November 10, 2016)."Pinetop Perkins – Inductee".Blues Foundation.
  19. ^"Grammy Awards for Pinetop Perkins".The Recording Academy.RetrievedAugust 25,2017.
  20. ^"Pinetop Perkins, Oldest Grammy Winner, Dead at 97".Billboard.March 22, 2011.ISSN0006-2510.
  21. ^Catsoulis, Jeannette (August 17, 2017)."Once Simply 'Sidemen,' Now They're the Stars".The New York Times.p. C6.
  22. ^"Piano Blues: Directed by Clint Eastwood".PBS.RetrievedDecember 14,2017.
  23. ^"Eye to Eye".Valley Entertainment.RetrievedAugust 25,2017.
  24. ^10 Days Out: Blues From The BackroadsatDiscogs
  25. ^"Pinetop Perkins & Jimmy Rogers with Little Mike and the Tornadoes – Genuine Blues Legends".discogs.RetrievedOctober 15,2017.
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