Joseph William Perkins (July 7, 1913 – March 21, 2011), known by the stage name Pinetop Perkins, was an American blues pianist. Perkins played with some of the most influential blues and rock and roll performers in American history and received numerous honors during his lifetime, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Blues Hall of Fame.
He is still playing the blues in clubs and festivals. He is believed to be the oldest of the Delta blues musicians who is still active. He now lives in Austin, Texas. [November 2009]
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Won 12 consecutive Blues Music Awards from The Blues Foundation as best blues pianist from 1992-2003. The following year his name was removed from competition and the award was renamed the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year.
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Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2003.
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When he received his 2009 Grammy Award in February 2010, he became the oldest Grammy winner at age 97.
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Won the following Grammy Awards; 2005 Lifetime Achievement; 2007 and 2009 for Best Traditional Blues Album.
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He is a legendary Delta and Chicago blues pianist. He worked with John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters, among others.
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Blues
TV Series documentary performer - 2 episodes, 2003 writer - 2 episodes, 2003
Benny & Joon
1993
performer: "PINETOP'S BOOGIE WOOGIE" - as Joe 'Pinetop' Perkins / writer: "PINETOP'S BOOGIE WOOGIE" - as Joe 'Pinetop' Perkins
Mississippi Masala
1991
performer: "Yancey Special"
Sincerely Yours
1955
music: "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie" - as Clarence "Pinetop' Smith
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Angel Heart
1987
Toots Sweet Band - Piano
The Blues Brothers
1980
Luther Jackson (as 'Pinetop' Perkins)
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
The 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2012
TV Movie in memoriam
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Sidemen: Long Road to Glory
2016
Documentary
Himself
Woke Up This Mornin' in the Arkansas Delta
2015
Documentary
Himself
Time Brings About a Change... A Floyd Dixon Celebration
2013
Documentary
Himself
I Got the Blues in Austin
2010
Short
Himself
The Man
2009/III
Himself
The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll
2009
Himself
Delta Rising: A Blues Documentary
2008
Documentary
Himself
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
2008
TV Special
Himself
Falsifyin'
2007
Documentary short
Himself
10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads
2007
Video documentary
Himself
Soul of the Delta
2005
Documentary short
Himself
Antone's: Home of the Blues
2004
Documentary
Himself
Mountain Stage
2001-2004
TV Series
Himself - Musician
The Blues
2003
TV Series documentary
Himself
22nd Annual W.C. Handy Blues Awards
2001
TV Special
Himself
Muddy Waters: Got My Mojo Working
2000
Video documentary
Himself
The Last Waltz
1978
Documentary
Himself - Playing Piano with Muddy Waters (uncredited)
Known for movies
Benny & Joon (1993) as Soundtrack
Sidemen: Long Road to Glory (2016) as Himself
Time Brings About a Change... A Floyd Dixon Celebration (2013) as Himself
The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll (2009) as Himself
$6 Million
