Pinetop Perkins

Pinetop Perkins (born Joe Willie Perkins on July 13, 1913 in Belzoni, Mississippi) is an American blues musician from Mississippi. He began his career as a guitarist, but then injured the tendons in his left arm in a fight with a choirgirl in Helena, Arkansas. Unable to play guitar, Perkins switched to the piano, and also switched from Robert Nighthawk's KFFA radio program to Sonny Boy Williamson's King Biscuit Time. He continued working with Nighthawk, however, accompanying him on 1950's "Jackson Town Gal".

Related Topics:
July 13 - 1913 - Blues - Mississippi - Guitar - Helena, Arkansas - Piano - Robert Nighthawk - KFFA - Sonny Boy Williamson - King Biscuit Time - 1950

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In the 1950s, Perkins joined Earl Hooker and began touring, stopping to record "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie" (written by Pinetop Smith) at Sam Phillips' studio in Memphis. ("They used to call me Pinetop," he recalled, "because I played that song."http://www.nea.gov/honors/heritage/Heritage00/Perkins.html) He then relocated to Illinois and left music until Hooker convinced him to record again in 1968.

Related Topics:
1950s - Earl Hooker - Pinetop Smith - Sam Phillips - Memphis - Illinois - 1968

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When Otis Spann left the Muddy Waters band, Perkins was chosen to replace him. He stayed for more than a decade, then left with several other musicians to form the Legendary Blues Band, recording through the late 1970s, 80s and early 90s. Perkins performed concerts on his own and did some touring in 2004 at the age of 91.

Related Topics:
Otis Spann - Muddy Waters - Legendary Blues Band - 1970s - 80s - 90s

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