Austin Sound

Yesterday afternoon the Statesman reported that blues pianist, Antone’s fixture, and Austin legend Pinetop Perkins passed away at the age of 97. Perkins reportedly died at home in his sleep due to cardiac arrest. The pianist was a pillar of Austin since moving here with the aid and support of Clifford Antone in 2003, and garnered three Grammys, including a Lifetime Achievement Award. Perkins was an icon of a trifecta of Delta, Chicago and Austin blues, having played with nearly every blues legend of note from Sonny Boy Williamson to Muddy Waters. In a statement posted on the artist’s website, B.B. King called Perkins “one of the last great Mississippi bluesmen,” while Susan Antone notes appropriately, “He was a member of our family, not just the Antone’s family, but the Austin family.” Arrangements are still pending. Watch a video of Pinetop and Clifford Antone playing the Broken Spoke back in 2005 below:

There were a lot of Texas artists that received Grammy nominations this year, but we’re most excited to see Pinetop Perkins return to the list after winning last year and local Latin favorites Grupo Fantasma get a nod for Best Latin Rock Or Alternative Album for Sonidos Gold! Pinetop is up for Best Traditional Blues Album for Pinetop Perkins & Friends, and Marcia Ball also gets some recognition under Best Contemporary Blues Album with Peace, Love & BBQ. Check out all the Texas related artists among the Grammy Nominees below (list courtesy of the Texas Music Office). The 51st annual Grammy Awards will be held on Feb. 8, 2009.

As everyone should know by now, the incomparable Pinetop Perkins will be blowing out the candles on his 95th Birthday Cake tonight at Antone’s, and it promises to be a celebration worthy of almost a century of legendary blues. What’s more, Pinetop isn’t even close to slowing down. Last year he took home a home along with David Honeyboy Edwards for their album Last of the Great Mississippi Delta Bluesmen: Live in Dallas, and he has just released a new album, Pinetop Perkins and Friends. The latest features the pianoman laying down tracks with Eric Clapton, Willie Kent, B.B. King, Jimmie Vaughan and other artists for whom he has been a seminal influence.

Check out the cool mini-doc in celebration of the release below, and get yourself down to Antone’s tonight by 8:00pm. You never know who might be showing up to help celebrate.

As the Stateman’s blog reported a few days ago, this year’s Grammy nominations include a few notable Austin nods, including two for legendary blues pianist Pinetop Perkins in the Traditional Blues Album category. The albums recognized are Perkins’ live efforts Last Of The Great Mississippi Delta Bluesmen: Live In Dallas and Pinetop Perkins On The 88’s - Live In Chicago.

Also garnering nominations were Patty Griffin in Contemporary Folk/Americana Album for her latest, Children Running Through and Billy Joe Shaver for Everybody’s Brother in the Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album of the year.