An original Mississippi Delta bluesman, Pinetop Perkins played with Muddy Waters

Austin American-Statesman ^ | 21 March 2011 | Michael Corcoran

[Racehorse]

Pinetop Perkins, 1913- 2011

Legendary piano player Joe Willie "Pinetop" Perkins , who gave Austin a walking, talking monument to the blues when he moved here in 2003, died from cardiac arrest Monday at his home in North Austin. The oldest-ever Grammy winner, Perkins was 97 when he accepted the award for best traditional blues album last month .

When the Rolling Stones played Austin for the first time in October 2006 at Zilker Park, the sight they most wanted to see was Perkins, Muddy Waters' longtime piano player, backstage at their show.

Even in failing health, Perkins went to Antone's nightclub three or four times a week to sell CDs and DVDs and chat with fans. He was often called onstage to jam, including Saturday at South by Southwest, when he played piano for fellow Mississippi native Bobby Rush .

"He was a member of our family, not just the Antone's family, but the Austin family," said Susan Antone, who is planning a memorial at the club.

An original Mississippi Delta bluesman, Perkins grew up with musical folk heroes such as Robert Johnson and Son House and played on Sonny Boy Williamson 's essential "King Biscuit Time" radio program in the 1940s, He received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 2005.

That recognition, plus the comfort he felt in his new hometown of Austin, ended a four-year retirement. "As soon as we got back from that trip to L.A.," his full-time caregiver Barry Nowlin told the American-Statesman last year , "he told me, 'I want you to get my manager on the phone.' He was ready to perform again."

[Mr. Silverback]

RIP, Pinetop.

Heck of a blues man.

[I see my hands]

[OldDeckHand]

RIP Pinetop.

Blues, Dixieland, Bluegrass are all uniquely American musical forms and it's a shame that they aren't more popularly appreciated.

[I see my hands]

Listen, see.

[dep]

that’s too bad. joe willie was an interesting guy — every piano he encountered he said was out of tune. here’s a picture i took of him a couple of years ago:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/depscribe/4975650142/in/set-72157624920207830/

[ReverendJames]

Pinetop Boogie. My favorite.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XngXWmVQ-B0

[Liberty Valance]

I’m sorry to hear of his passing. Rest in peace Mr. Perkins.

[HiTech RedNeck]

The guy still smoked at that age... phewee. Wonder how old he would have gotten if he hadn’t.

[OldDeckHand]

"The guy still smoked at that age... phewee. Wonder how old he would have gotten if he hadn’t."

I'm reminded of a Dennis Leary joke from way back...

They say smoking takes 10-years off your life. Sure. But, they're the worst 10-years.

[dfwgator]

To think he outlived Jack LaLanne.

[myprecious]

I saw Pinetop in Austin a year ago in a little blues club. It was great! My daughter was 20 years old last spring break and we just stumbled onto the legend by accident. What a treat.

RIP

I have a photo on my photobucket if someone could help me.

[Mr. Mojo]

One of the last of the old guard.

[Mr. Mojo]

lol...he did indeed. All-night blues jams in smoke-filled rooms beats veggie juice and jumping jacks any day.

[myprecious]

< img src=”http://m71.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/lifepointe/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_9428.jpg.html?&pbauth=1_uLEBonVPfaLdh1h3YMYz2TJg1BH53uPQsDUb2g0ltUdOBYFDlNs1mTsazGHWP9ly%2FVNRB1YGrDwDZvv2OU2xGOjkj%2F9q59wGoHo1W3RcIeDdfwl8MlWWdq%2FJQVFl8JNVNb6G05t%2F9Uc2bXPFl%2F8e6SHGaiRA4I8NYzRZl9d3O0M%3D";>

[myprecious]

Can’t get it right from phone. I will try tomorrow when my daughter and laptop come home for spring break. The picture is from last year’s spring break. What irony.

[Fester Chugabrew]

“Joined at the Hip”: A fine ending to this guy’s career. Will miss him. RIP, Mr. Perkins. Ya done good for the blues.

[spyone]

Here’s a classic blues performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1FK620bS7A

[cynwoody]

Last August:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SwtO4ZDB1s

I'll miss him!

[Boogieman]

Great tune, but did you know that he’s not the original “Pinetop” and he didn’t write the song? It was originally done by Pinetop Smith, one of the original boogie woogie masters, but Perkins recorded it later and had a hit with it, and since the song was called “Pinetop’s Boogie Woogie”, people started calling him Pinetop!