Pinetop played with many of the greats including Muddy Waters, Earl Hooker and Hubert Sumlin. He took his nickname from his mentor Clarence Pinetop Smith Official site
Joseph William Perkins (July 7, 1913 – March 21, 2011), known by the stage name Pinetop Perkins, was an American blues musician, specializing in piano music. He played with some of the most influential blues and rock and roll performers in American history, and received numerous honors during his lifetime including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and induction into the Blues Hall of Fame.
"He is the blues, he is the epitome of it," Mr Southard said. "He lived it, breathed it."
Once asked about his longevity, Perkins said: "I always try to do something different all the time."
Another blues legend, BB King, said: "He was one of the last great Mississippi Bluesmen, and he sure could play the piano. He will be missed not only by me, but by lovers of music all over the world."
Pianist Pinetop Perkins is one of the true originals.... can legitimately claim direct roots in the Delta blues of the 1930s
I did not watch the Grammy Awards television show, but I did go online to Grammy.com to see who actually won the in the blues catagory. I'm presenting the various albums and the two winners. I thought it would be good to see who was nominated also.
I'm glad that I pretty much covered all these albums, so you can click on the artist labels below to see my original write ups. And if you would like to listen to mp3 samples of each album you can click on the image of each album.
Best Traditional Blues Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)
* WINNER *
One Kind Favor
B.B. King
[Geffen Records]
NOMINEES
The Blues Rolls On
Elvin Bishop
[Delta Groove Music, Inc.]
Skin Deep
Buddy Guy
[Silvertone Records]
All Odds Against Me
John Lee Hooker Jr.
[Steppin' Stone Records/CC Entertainment]
Pinetop Perkins & Friends
Pinetop Perkins & Friends
[Stoneagle Music/Telarc]
Best Contemporary Blues Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)
* WINNER *
City That Care Forgot
Dr. John And The Lower 911
[429 Records]
NOMINEES
Peace, Love & BBQ
Marcia Ball
[Alligator Records]
Like A Fire
Solomon Burke
[Shout! Factory]
Maestro
Taj Mahal
[Heads Up International]
Simply Grand
Irma Thomas
[Rounder Records]
Pinetop Perkins is one of the last great Mississippi bluesmen still performing. He began playing blues around 1927 and is widely regarded as one of the best blues pianists. He’s created a style of playing that has influenced three generations of piano players and will continue to be the yardstick by which great blues pianists are measured.
In 2005 he was also presented with a lifetime achievement award at the Grammy’s. In 2000 he received a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment of the Arts. He has been featured in the documentary Piano Blues directed by Clint Eastwood for the Martin Scorsese PBS series, The Blues. In addition, he continued to win the Blues Music Award for best blues piano every year until 2003 when he was retired from that award, which now bears his name--the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year.
