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"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." Dr. Hunter S. Thompson  "It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it." David Stanowski To find older articles; use Search or Site Map |
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Friday
29 December 2006
Pinetop Perkins! Galveston is a city rich with musical history. The center of that of that legacy can be found on The Strand. On Christmas night 2006, the patrons of Poor Michael’s on the Strand had the opportunity to experience a part of this history! Billy Bourbon was on stage, as he is every Monday night at Poor Michael’s, with Tom Rodgers on bass, and Gary Lee on drums. Sitting in with the band was UTMB’s own, Dr. Joseph B. Zwischenberger on harmonica - “Doc Z” to his musical friends. Suddenly, lightning struck as a music legend walked into the bar! Pinetop Perkins is best known as “Muddy Waters’ piano player”. However, his legacy is much wider and deeper. He, along with a handful of others, created an entire style which influenced, Jazz, Swing, Boogie-Woogie, Honky Tonk, Country, Blues, and Rock & Roll. Ask any piano player about the barrel-house roll, and they’ll talk about Pinetop Perkins. Pinetop was born in Mississippi, 93 years ago. He’s played professionally since 1926, notably with Sonny Boy Williamson, Robert Nighthawk, B.B. King, and Earl Hooker, as well as the aforementioned Muddy Waters. To this day he still tours, currently as the front man for his own band. Estranged from his family, he prefers to be out amongst his fans during the holidays. His manager had called ahead to the bar to see if there was a band, and a piano. Indeed there was a band, but no piano. But, when Pinetop Perkins showed up at the bar, and was introduced to the band, there was no way they were not going to jam with him!! The ever resourceful Gary Lee ran out the door, crying over his shoulder, “I think I know where I can get a keyboard!” With his drummer missing, Billy Bourbon switched to acoustic guitar, and Tom Rodgers, and Doc Z joined in for a 25-minute set performed for an enthusiastic audience, gearing up with the anticipation of seeing the legendary Blues man perform! It was Christmas Night, Poor Michael's had put out a spread of food, with turkey, and all the fixin’s. There was a great feeling in the room. It might be a stretch to call it a Christmas miracle, but being able to come up with keyboard, on short notice, at 10 pm, on Christmas Night, is very close! Finally, in walked Gary Lee, with a dusty, early 90’s Roland synthesizer over his shoulder. Its piano sound was what musicians would call “cheesy”. Not the axe you want to give a living legend to play on, but it would have to do. Now, many people, at Pinetop Perkins’s level, would have acted like a prima-donna and refused to play. However, he chose to show everyone how the pros do it! He made the best of what he had; performing a blistering 30 minute set, including “How Long”, “Got My Mojo Working”, and “Going Down to Mississippi”! Pinetop Perkins made that old Roland sound awfully damn good! He laid down some truly "Authentic Blues", that night, as only a special few can! The audience joined in by singing the choruses back at him, and the band all had big grins on their faces. For those lucky enough to be there (insert Tiny Tim’s voice from “A Christmas Carol”), “…it was the Best Christmas Ever"!  Billy Bourbon & Pinetop Perkins $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
And now a word from our sponsor  Buy the new "Universal Remote"
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