Bluesman Pinetop Perkins, 97, dies

AUSTIN, Texas – Pinetop Perkins, one of the last old-school bluesmen who played with Muddy Waters and became the oldest Grammy winner this year, died Monday at his home of cardiac arrest. He was 97.

Perkins was having chest pains when he went to take a nap and paramedics could not revive him, said Hugh Southard, Perkins’ agent.

The piano man played with an aggressive style and sang with a distinctive gravelly voice.

“He was one of the last great Mississippi Bluesmen,” B.B. King said of his friend in a statement. “He will be missed not only by me, but by lovers of music all over the world.”

Perkins accompanied Sonny Boy Williamson on the popular King Biscuit Time radio show broadcast on KFFA in Helena, Ark., in the 1940s. He toured with Ike Turner in the 1950s and joined Waters’ band in 1969.

Perkins won a Grammy in February for best traditional blues album for “Joined at the Hip: Pinetop Perkins & Willie “Big Eyes” Smith.” That win made Perkins the oldest Grammy winner, edging out late comedian George Burns, who was 95 when he won in the spoken category for “Gracie: A Love Story” in 1990.

Perkins also won a 2007 Grammy for best traditional blues album for his collaboration on the “Last of the Great Mississippi Delta Bluesmen: Live in Dallas.” He also received a lifetime achievement Grammy in 2005.