The Blues World Comes Together to Pay Respect, Honor and Celebrate Pinetop Perkins' Life
The blues world will gather together in Austin Texas and Clarksdale Mississippi, this weekend to pay their respects to blues legend Pinetop Perkins, who passed peacefully in his sleep on March 21st, at the age of 97.
Visitation, funeral services, memorials and Celebration of Life jams will be held, where his family, musicians, colleagues, record company and other industry professional and fans will share their tears, stories and love for this sweet man, who was THE longest living blues legend, with a career that spanned eighty years and one of the kindest, down to earth legends in the business.
I know first hand.
Pinetop was one of my mentors, way back in the 1980's, the year after my husband was killed in a traffic accident, leaving me with four children to raise from ages 10 months to 10 years. All I could feel was the blues from that day on, so I was determined to go back to my roots and birth right as the eldest daughter of Oregon's boogy- woogy piano man, Don Brewer, who passed in 1982.
I was seeking the real deal. A Mississippi born bluesman to mentor me, give me guidance and the inside scoop on the blues world from his years as a member of Muddy Water's band. He offered me his couch, in his tiny one room residence at the time, even though I didn't need it. He'd flirt with me and I'd laugh it off, then encourage him to critique me on another song. He taught me many things about life and the blues. He encouraged me to keep everything simple.
Listening to Pinetop play piano, would bring my father's memory back to me. When my tears would flow, missing him and my husband, Pinetop would wipe them away, holding my head on his shoulder, until I could regain my composure, then he'd offer me a drink or something to eat, reminding me to wash my own glass and dish, so his tiny place would remain organized and clean. He was gentle, kind and encouraged me to put my grief into my lyrics and the inflection into my voice as I morphed from a rock-n-roll singer, to a blues and jazz singer.
I may someday write more details about my short time with Pinetop. Maybe I won't. Some things are just better left with those who hold the memories in their hearts. There are others such as Bob Margolin, who enjoyed far more time with him than my life would allow, because I was a young and struggling widowed mother. But I will never forget all he taught me about the blues, life, his advise for handling my children, his kindness to them and me, and his desire to have the younger generations know the blues.
Thank you Pinetop, for all you taught me and many others. Thank you, for the legacy you have left us all. It was an honor to know you and be mentored by you. Thank you, for the music and the memories, which will live on in our hearts forever.
Pinetop said "I'm to broke to die." This is a common issue for blues artists. The Pinetop Perkins Foundation is accepting donations in order to pass on his legacy to younger generations and provide services to aging blues artists. Donations are requested for memorial services and funeral costs at www.pinetopperkins.com
There, you will also find other links to his obituaries by Bob Margolin, Blues Review, Blues Wax and others. You can get all the memorial services information and sign the guest book here:
http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Joe+Willie-Perkins&lc=4884&pid=149560093&mid=4603662&locale=en-US
I know that my father Donald Lee Brewer Sr., was most likely standing at heaven's gate to welcome you and thank you for taking his daughter under your wing, and my guitarist Stevie "Doc" Betts, Pinetop Perkins, Muddy Waters and all the other great blues legends' spirits whom have passed on, will be watching those of us left behind with smiles and jamming right along with everyone here, from beyond the veil and heaven's window to our world.
Rest in peace, dear old friend. You were more than a blues brother to me. You were a blues father, picking up where my own father left off, when his spirit ascended from this world far too young. My heart and spirit will be with everyone at your Celebration of Life jams, funeral and memorial services, in honor of you, even though I am unable to physically attend.
