Through dumb luck and quirky circumstances, I found myself virtually alone with the 94-year-old Pinetop Perkins, the last of the great Mississippi Delta Bluesmen, at the soundcheck of his recent Asheville appearance. Besides myself (and my wife), only the band members, sound guy, and the club owners were inside the venue at the time. It was one of those rare moments that send chills down your spine—an eerie sense that this really can’t be happening but it is. [Click over to my Asheville blog to see an image from the show.]
For most of the soundcheck Pinetop sat quietly in the seats near us, dressed up and clutching a cane, as he watched the band tune up. After a few minutes, Pinetop slowly walked the few feet to the stage, frail at 94, and was helped to his piano, where he graciously played his classic Down in Mississippi.
Even though frail, his voice was excellent, and his impossibly long fingers still smoothly moved across the keys. I’d forgotten what a truly great Chicago blues band could sound like. There is a huge difference between this level and lesser talents.
The highlights of the show were hearing him sing his theme song, They Call Me Pinetop Perkins, and a show-stopping version of Got My Mojo Workin'
At 94, Pinetop's voice and piano work are still amazingly strong. Even so, it was like watching history, and knowing, certainly, that there would never be another opportunity to see a pre-war Delta Blues Master perform live again, which made the evening a little bittersweet for this life-long fan of the Blues.
Glad you had the opportunity to experience Pinetop. He really is an American Treasure.
Our non-profit organization, The Blue Shoe Project is dedicated to the preservation and perpetuation of the legacy of artists like Pinetop.
Check us out on the web when you have a chance: http://wwww.BlueShoeProject.org.
The album we produced entitled "Last of the Great Mississippi Delta Bluesmen: Live in Dallas" just won the 2007 Grammy Awards. Pinetop appears on the album and his performance is stellar.
Posted by: Blue Shoe Mike | February 20, 2008 at 04:33 AM
I had the EXTEREM pleasure of meeting some of the GREATEST blues muscians in the world in November of '07 in Pittsburgh, PA at a benefit. The cast was Pinetop Perkins, Mojo Buford, Honeyboy Edwards, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, and Calvin Jones. I had the pleasure of dinner, and wonderful music backstage with the men before and aftwer the show, as well as a TON of personal 1 on 1 time. They truely are the BLUE GREATS. Even at their age, they provided an insight into blues I will never forget. I am proud to kow these men, and glad to have them consider me a new friend.
Posted by: Greg Bergman | April 02, 2008 at 12:52 AM