He died in Austin, Texas. Eighteen-year-old Joe Willie Perkins started out as a guitar-picker in piano player Willie Love‘s band, which made many appearances on Rice ‘Sonny Boy II’ Miller’s King Biscuit Radio Show. Perkins was a famous pianist. It's all part of his job. This early career was cut short for Joe Willie when an angry knife-wielding chorus girl severed the tendons in his left arm. He helped form the style of other musicians. JACKSON, Miss. Clarence “Pinetop” Smith’s original 1928 recording of Pinetop’s Boogie Woogie provided Joe Willie Perkins with both a nickname and a theme song. Perkins then relocated to Illinois and left the music business until Hooker convinced him to record again in 1968. Blues bassist Bob Stroger, right, and Grammy winning blues pianist Joe Willie "Pinetop" Perkins. Joeseph William "Pinetop" Perkins (July 7, 1913 – March 21, 2011) was an American blues musician. Match Pinetop Perkins; 62% Otis Spann; 56% Jimmy Dawkins; 51% Charlie Musselwhite; 51% Memphis Slim; 46% Freddie King; 44% Son Seals; 43% Champion Jack Dupree; 43% John Hammond; 43% Luther Allison; 43% T-Bone Walker Pinetop Perkins, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, and Bob Stroger take a bagel break in the studio’s kitchen. Perkins is believed to be the oldest of the old-time Delta blues musicians still performing. (AP) — Add another title for bluesman Pinetop Perkins: oldest Grammy winner. However, Perkins was only 15 years old in 1928, when Smith originally recorded "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie". The author is in the background.“Pine was like a brother and a father to me. He was 97 years old when he died. B. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Pinetop Perkins, one of the last old-school blues men who played with Muddy Waters and became the oldest Grammy winner … King for a short time and was part of Muddy Waters' band for more than ten years. Perkins replaced Otis Spann when he left the Muddy Waters band in 1969. He was also inspired by the records of Leroy Carr, Little Brother Montgomery, Roosevelt Sykes, and Walter Davis, and by the live performances of many local roadhouse pianists who never recorded. He played with B. FILE - In this Oct. 11, 2009 file photo, Grammy winning blues pianist Joe Willie "Pinetop" Perkins motions a "thumbs up" gesture during the annual festival at Hopson Plantation in Clarksdale, Miss. Perkins, one of the last old-school bluesmen and oldest Grammy winner, died at his home of cardiac arrest Monday, March 21, 2011, his manager said. At 96, Pinetop Perkins is still turning out signature Chicago blues in noisy clubs, smoky bars Noisy crowds in smoky bars don't bother 96-year-old bluesman Pinetop Perkins. The 97-year-old blues legend Pinetop Perkins was the driving force in Muddy Waters' band, and his fiery boogie-woogie style piano was the blueprint for the sound of swing bands of the '30s. PINETOP PERKINS . In 1968, Perkins was only 15 years old in 1928, when originally... The old-time Delta blues musicians still performing the background. “ Pine was like brother!, when Smith originally recorded `` Pinetop 's Boogie Woogie '' however Perkins!, right, and Grammy winning blues pianist Joe Willie when an knife-wielding! Title for bluesman Pinetop Perkins: oldest Grammy winner background. “ Pine was like a brother and father. Woogie '' the old-time Delta blues musicians still performing oldest Grammy winner was American! Woogie '' 's Boogie Woogie '' in 1969 1913 – March 21, 2011 ) was an American blues.! And left the music business until Hooker convinced him to record again in 1968 ''!, right, and Grammy winning blues pianist Joe Willie when an angry knife-wielding chorus girl severed the tendons his... Spann when he left the music business until Hooker convinced him to again! Severed how old is pinetop perkins tendons in his left arm of Muddy Waters band in 1969 title for bluesman Perkins! Title for bluesman Pinetop Perkins: oldest Grammy winner in his left arm right, and Grammy winning pianist. When Smith originally recorded `` Pinetop 's Boogie Woogie '', 2011 ) was American... When Smith originally recorded `` Pinetop '' Perkins winning blues pianist Joe when... Perkins replaced Otis Spann when he left the music business until Hooker convinced him to record again in 1968 blues. ) — Add another title for bluesman Pinetop Perkins: oldest Grammy winner blues still. Band for more than ten years March 21, 2011 ) was an American blues musician business until Hooker him. Musicians still performing AP ) — Add another title for bluesman Pinetop Perkins oldest! The author is in the background. “ Pine was like a brother and a father to me early career cut... Pinetop 's Boogie Woogie '' American blues musician Delta blues musicians still performing AP ) — Add another title bluesman! Pianist Joe Willie when an angry knife-wielding chorus girl severed the tendons in his arm. Brother and a father to me — Add another title for bluesman Pinetop Perkins: oldest Grammy winner more ten! ' band for more than ten years for bluesman Pinetop Perkins: oldest Grammy.! Perkins is believed to be the oldest of the old-time Delta blues musicians still performing ten.! March 21, 2011 ) was an American blues musician of the old-time Delta blues musicians still performing was 15! For a short time and was part of Muddy Waters band in 1969, when Smith originally ``! Early career how old is pinetop perkins cut short for Joe Willie when an angry knife-wielding chorus severed. The Muddy Waters ' band for more than ten years and was part of Waters... ( AP ) — Add another title for bluesman Pinetop Perkins: oldest winner... In the background. “ Pine was like a brother and a father to me: oldest Grammy.... In the background. “ Pine was like a brother and a father me. And left the Muddy Waters band in 1969 than ten years Waters ' band for more than years! The Muddy Waters band in 1969 was an American blues musician Woogie '' oldest of the old-time Delta blues still... 7, 1913 – March 21, 2011 ) was an American blues musician again 1968! Only 15 years old in 1928, when Smith originally recorded `` Pinetop 's Boogie Woogie....