Perkins was born in Belzoni, Mississippi. He began his career as a guitarist, but then injured the tendons in his left arm in a fight with a chorus girl in Helena, Arkansas. Unable to play guitar, Perkins switched to the piano, and also switched from Robert Nighthawk's KFFA radio program to Sonny Boy Williamson's King Biscuit Time. He continued working with Nighthawk, however, accompanying him on 1950's "Jackson Town Gal".
In the 1950s, Perkins joined Earl Hooker and began touring. He recorded "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie" (written by Pinetop Smith) at Sam Phillips' studio in Memphis, Tennessee. ("They used to call me Pinetop," he recalled, "because I played that song.") However, Perkins was only 15 years old in 1928, when Smith originally recorded "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie".
Perkins then relocated to Illinois and left the music business until Hooker convinced him to record again in 1968. Perkins replaced Otis Spann when he left the Muddy Waters band in 1969.[3] After ten years with that organization, he formed The Legendary Blues Band with Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, recording through the late 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s.
Perkins played a brief musical cameo on the street outside Aretha's Soul Food Cafe in the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers, having an argument with John Lee Hooker over who wrote "Boom Boom." He also appeared in the 1987 movie Angel Heart as a member of guitarist Toots Sweet's band.
Although he appeared as a sideman on countless recordings, Perkins never had an album devoted solely to his artistry, until the release of After Hours on Blind Pig Records in 1988. The tour in support of the album also featured Jimmy Rogers and guitarist Hubert Sumlin. In 1998 Perkins released the album Legends featuring Sumlin.
Perkins was driving his automobile in 2004 in La Porte, Indiana when he was hit by a train. The car was wrecked but the 91-year-old driver was not seriously hurt. Until his death, Perkins lived in Austin, Texas. He usually performed a couple of nights a week at Nuno's on Sixth Street. In 2005, Perkins received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 2008, Perkins received a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album for Last of the Great Mississippi Delta Bluesmen: Live In Dallas together with Henry James Townsend, Robert Lockwood, Jr. and David Honeyboy Edwards. He was also nominated in the same category for his solo album, Pinetop Perkins on the 88's: Live in Chicago.
The song "Hey Mr. Pinetop Perkins", performed by Perkins and Angela Strehli, played on the common misconception that Perkins wrote "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie":
Hey Mr. Pinetop Perkins
I got a question for you
How'd you write that first boogie woogie
The one they named after you
At the age of 97, he won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album for Joined at the Hip, an album he recorded with Willie "Big Eyes" Smith. Perkins thus became the oldest-ever Grammy winner, edging out comedian George Burns who had won in the spoken word category 21 years earlier (Perkins had tied with Burns, at the age of 90, in 2004).
A little more than a month later, Perkins died on 21 March 2011 at his home in Austin. At the time of his death, the musician had more than 20 performances booked for 2011. Shortly before that, while discussing his late career resurgence with an interviewer, he conceded, "I can't play piano like I used to either. I used to have bass rolling like thunder. I can't do that no more. But I ask the Lord, please forgive me for the stuff I done trying to make a nickel." Along with David "Honeyboy" Edwards, he was one of the last two original Mississippi Delta blues musicians, and also one of the last to have a personal knowledge of, and friendship with, Robert Johnson.
Selected discography
1976: Boogie Woogie King (recorded 1976, released 1992)
1977: Hard Again (Muddy Waters)
1988: After Hours
1992: Pinetop Perkins with the Blue Ice Band
1992: On Top
1993: Portrait of a Delta Bluesman
1995: Live Top (with the Blue Flames)
1996: Eye to Eye (with Ronnie Earl, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith and Calvin "Fuzz" Jones)[9]
1997: Born in the Delta
1998: Sweet Black Angel
1998: Legends (with Hubert Sumlin)
1998: Down In Mississippi
1999: Live at 85! (with George Kilby Jr)
2000: Back On Top
2003: Heritage of the Blues: The Complete Hightone Sessions
2003: All Star Blues Jam (with Bob Margolin et al.)
2003: 8 Hands on 88 Keys - Chicago Blues Piano Masters The Sirens Records
2004: Ladies Man
2007: 10 Days Out: Blues From The Backroads (with Kenny Wayne Shepherd and the Muddy Waters Band—Live)
2008: Pinetop Perkins and Friends
2010: Joined At the Hip (with Willie "Big Eyes" Smith)
2012: Heaven (with Willie "Big Eyes" Smith on one track and liner notes by Justin O'Brien)
Grinder Man Blues
Pinetop Perkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someone called me Pinetop Perkins,
And someone called me the Grinder Man
Now let you have it quiet and easy,
I′ll let you have it on an easy plan
Now I got so many customers,
And it'll take me a whole week to get around
Now don't be uneasy darlin', because I ain′t goin′ to let you down
Still they call me Pinetop Perkins, someone called me the Grinder Man
Someone called me Pinetop Perkins, someone called me the Grinder Man
Now let you have it quiet and easy,
I'll let you have it on an easy plan
Now I got so many customers, and it′ll take me a week to get around
I've got so many customers,
And it′ll take me a whole week to get around
Now don't be uneasy darlin′, because I ain't goin' to let you down
The song "Grinder Man Blues" by Pinetop Perkins is a classic blues track that is centered around the life of a man who is known by different names – Pinetop Perkins and the Grinder Man. The song begins with Perkins letting the listeners know about the multiple names he is called by people. This could be a representation of his popularity and impact in the blues community, or it could be a nod to how the blues genre itself is a melting pot of sounds and styles that are influenced by different people.
Perkins then goes on to describe how he has so many customers that it would take him an entire week to service them all. This line could be an allusion to his busy schedule as a performer, playing at different venues and entertaining his fans. In addition, the line could also signify the presence of competition in the blues industry – there are several other musicians who are similarly skilled and who are vying for the same opportunities.
Throughout the song, Perkins reassures his listeners not to worry about being let down, as he will always come through, regardless of how many customers he has. This line could be interpreted as a metaphor for life in general – sometimes it may seem overwhelming, but one must keep moving forward and overcoming obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone called me Pinetop Perkins, someone called me the Grinder Man
The singer is known by two different names - Pinetop Perkins and the Grinder Man. This suggests that he is a skilled and well-known individual in his profession.
Now let you have it quiet and easy, I′ll let you have it on an easy plan
The singer is willing to provide his services to the client in a relaxed and easy manner. He wants to give the client a smooth experience without any stress or pressure.
Now I got so many customers, And it'll take me a whole week to get around
The singer has a large number of customers and it will take him a week to serve them all. This indicates that his services are highly in demand and he has a busy schedule.
Got so many customers, and it′ll take me a week to get around
The artist is reiterating that he has a lot of customers to serve, and it will take him a week to finish. He wants to ensure that the client understands the extent of his business and isn't left waiting for too long.
Now don't be uneasy darlin', because I ain′t goin′ to let you down
The artist reassures the client that they shouldn't worry or get anxious because he won't disappoint them. This shows that the artist values his customers and their satisfaction is important to him.
Writer(s): Peter Chatman
Contributed by John J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.