A book is finished and others are begun. We recently said goodbye to Pinetop Perkins. He graced us with his elegant presence a couple of years ago and aside from getting to meet him and listen to him play our daughter Izze got to meet him and hang out with him for a bit. When she is older, I hope a trace of this memory will linger. Our friend from the Fur Peace Ranch, Bill Motyczka, wrote this:

Musical friends:

It is with great sadness that I note the passing of Pinetop Perkins yesterday. He was 97.

I had the pleasure of meeting him and hearing him perform five years ago.

Pinetop was best known as Muddy Water’s pianist. A gig he held for over a decade.

It was at Jorma Kaukonen’s Fur Peach Ranch, a music symposium and concert venue in southern Ohio.

Perkins was 92 at that time.

I remember coming out of guitar class for an afternoon break and strolling towards the refreshment location when I came upon a group surrounding the elder blues statesmen who was sitting on a the park bench.

He was dressed better than most people on their way to Sunday church meeting. A flawless dark suit, perfectly wrapped his slender frame.

Poised, concentrated, at true calm.

One of the last Kings of the blues was holding court. One of the symposium teachers, Patrick Sweany, knelt in front of Pinetop. Patrick held a huge arched top open body acoustic across his knees.

He was playing some of his own blues creations.

When he finished the song, Pinetop nodded his head. You could tell that he was happy proud that not only had the blues torch been passed, but it continued to burn brightly.

Latter that evening, Bob Margolin, who played lead guitar for Muddy Waters, brought Pinetop out to join him in concert.

Pinetop had a walking stick in one hand and a supporting arm to hold on to with his other. The top of the walking stick had piano keys carved into it. He had on black and white piano key print socks.

He tottered towards the front of the stage, carefully stepping over the sea of cables on the floor.

He sat down at the piano. Played a few chords. And instantly became thirty years old again.

As he played it was easy to forget that he was doing so on an electric keyboard. He made it sound like a full concert size Steinway.

The part that I best remember was him play “MoJo Working”. He had the house rocking so much that at the end of the song, the audience screamed for an encore.

He then played the song all over again, to even greater applause.

Well the song says that he had his Mojo working, but it just didn’t work on you.

I’m sure Pinetops Mojo is still working on us all.

Fondly in rememberance,

Bill Motyczka

PS – more info at:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/Music/03/22/pinetop.perkins.obit/index.html?hpt=T2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinetop_Perkins

And so it goes… youth becomes experience and the elders gently walk down that long corridor into history and legend. Goodnight, Mrs. Calabash… wherever you are!

This past weekend at the Fur Peace Ranch we hosted Tim Reynolds. Pete Huttlinger was supposed to be with us as well, but illness prevented that and so we send our prayers and love out to Pete and his family. Get well brother and come visit us again. Pete sent his pal Tim Thompson to sub for him and we knew that he would be killer as well… indeed he was. Tim brought his son Myles with him… a young violinist of great talent, skill, poise and charm. Check this duo out. They’re really something.

tim reynolds fur peace station stage

It was a chilly weekend… there was even some snow on Sunday morning, but the Spring spirit was in the air. The fellowship was warm and the classes were hot!

backstage
Here we have Tim Thompson, Jorma, Myles Thompson and Tim Reynolds. This is really good stuff.

The weekend done at the Ranch, with a glance at Old Glory I headed to town to get Vanessa a birthday present.

old glory through the trees

Driving down the Ohio River to the Mason/Pomeroy Bridge I saw a string of barges heading upstream towards Racine and I just had to stop for a picture.

ohio river

Well, back into the throws of home reality… It’s great to be here… great to meet new friends and old at the Ranch and great to be heading down the road to a warmer Spring. Next weekend it’s Acoustic Hot Tuna at the Fur Peace Station. Onward!


Comments

  1. Comment made on April 3, 2011 by kathy

    Happy Birthday Vanessa!!!! Jorma, Pinetop Perkins was great . It is so kind of you to aknowledge him and other musical greats along the path of you career. Just want to say hello, and glad you made it back in ine piece. But primarily i wanted to mention the name of a musician that you may not have already heard about and I always have trouble spelling his name, being descendant from Pepin and Charlomagne,
    (my fathr taught me how to pronunciate it properly, sounds awful when you say it the way I did, lol, anyway, here goes.”John Lefevbre”… in particular… the song, I won’t. It has such a powerful , wow to it, wanted to share a bit, since you have done the same in being the songwriter you are. please listen. thanks. Kathy.

  2. Comment made on March 31, 2011 by Steve Smith

    Bill Motyczka, thanks much for bringing your vivid memory of Pinetop Perkins to life. Rest in peace, Mr Perkins. Your boogie will be remembered for a long, long time. You are one of the greats.

  3. Comment made on March 31, 2011 by Richard

    Fitting tribute and respect paid..Time to personally ramp up for the upcoming record release party in Oneonta..Can’t wait!Happy birthday Vanessa..

  4. Comment made on March 31, 2011 by stein arne hval

    Yes!!! Jorma goes to Scandinavia in desember!! (Finland & Sweden) What about Norway, the land of “hamar promenade”?

  5. Comment made on March 31, 2011 by Dolores

    Pat (Harper) was there that weekend…with Pinetop, Jorma, Roy and Patrick. In fact, I’ve seen a picture of those socks…and the love in the faces of the musicians who had the honor and privilege of sharing this amazing weekend together.

  6. Comment made on March 30, 2011 by MikeT

    Jorma..thanks for mentioning Pinetop. He was a great musician. I had the pleasure of seeing him live last year in an intimate venue in Whippany, NJ. He rocked the house at 96 years old, even if he only play 3 songs …twice over (which means he really played 6 songs). I got to meet him and say hello.. he will be missed.

  7. Comment made on March 30, 2011 by Gerard Maggio

    I got to see Pinetop Perkins perform with the Nighthawks (Jim Thakery and Mark Werner?) In DC around 1977. I think I saw him with Muddy, the same year. So sad that another great is gone. Please live to be 110 Jorma!!! (at least)

  8. Comment made on March 30, 2011 by Tommy Lee in St. Louis

    Thanks for the heartfelt tribute to Pinetop.
    He was one of the GREATS.
    Y’all enjoy spring in Beautiful Southern Ohio!

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