R.I.P Pinetop Perkins – The Piano Man

The former Muddy Waters blue piano man Pinetop Perkins passed on Monday in Austin TX at the ripe old age of 97 – still playing in Austin clubs and blues festivals right up until last month. 

I had the great priviledge of seeing Pinetop a few times live – mostly at our terrific Blues Festival here in Ottawa.

There was no mistaking his passion for blues, his incredible energy and charisma for music and his fans.

I remember back in the early 2000’s saying Hello to him as he was shuttled to and from the stage for his performance (he joined the Allman Brother Band on stage that year) in a golf cart.  Dressed to kill in a sharp suit and bowler hat, this guy was the Blues with a capital B

He never went to school, his education came from the road, playing 1-night stands with some of the greatest musicians ever including Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, Robert Nighthawk, BB King…and the list continues on and on. 

The oldest musician EVER to win a Grammy, Perkins had some 20 dates booked already this year and was apparently considering another album…in many ways he was a late bloomer that received more attention and glory long after the prime of his life had passed. 

What is perhaps most incredible to me is how much one man would influence an entire generation of piano and blues music…from Greg Allman through Jerry Lee Lewis, very few great blues, rock and boogie woogie bands in the past 3-4 decades have been untouched by Perkins electrifying playing. 

Here is a sampling of his great blues piano playing and distinctive singing…

Listen to the Boogie Woogie on this one, remember he is a young 91-years old here

And here he is playing and signing his classic – “They Call Me PineTop Perkins”

I feel blessed that I was able to see the magic produced by Mr Perkins…now he can jam with the Alberts, Freddy, Muddy and SRV and we’ll close our eyes imagining what that will sound like! Sweeeet!