Pinetop Perkins

Thursday, May 13, Soiled Dove, 303-299-0100

After being stabbed by an angry chorus girl in Helena, Arkansas, in the mid-1940s, Joe Willie "Pinetop" Perkins gave up playing slide guitar because the tendons in his left arm were severed during the incident. Thankfully he could still tickle the ivories, and soon he distinguished himself as the Mississippi Delta's premier blues pianist. In fact, Pinetop's inspired brand of barrelhouse and rolling boogie-woogie influenced the sound of swing and eventually swing's red-haired stepchild, rock and roll. A former Chess Records session man who spent five years with Sonny Boy Williamson on Helena's wildly popular King Biscuit Time radio program, Perkins is perhaps best known as Otis Spann's replacement in Muddy Waters's band from 1969 to 1980. After forming the Legendary Blues Band eight years later, the Grammy-nominated maestro made up for lost time in the studio, issuing over a dozen releases under his own name, including his most recent disc from 2002, Pinetop Is Just Top. At age ninety, with his mojo still workin', the slippery-handed music maker remains an utterly compelling and soulful performer, breathing new life into old standards like "Caldonia," "Kidney Stew," "Hi-Heel Sneakers" and "Big Fat Mama." Now, kiddies, remember, it's nice to respect your elders.

 
My Voice Nation Help
0 comments
Sort: Newest | Oldest
 

Concert Calendar

  • May
  • Wed
    22
  • Thu
    23
  • Fri
    24
  • Sat
    25
  • Sun
    26
  • Mon
    27
  • Tue
    28
Denver Event Tickets
©2013 Denver Westword, LLC, All rights reserved.
Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places Denver / Boulder

    Voice Places

    Find everything you're looking for in your city

  • Happy Hour App

    Happy Hour App

    Find the best happy hour deals in your city

  • Daily Deals

    Daily Deals

    Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city