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'Pine Top' Perkins the Blues magician has died aged 97. You may be surprised at this as you had never heard of him until now, well neither had I, however this is my type of music so he needs to be listened to! The States must have been awash with black musicians for many years before the young British bands like the Beatles and Rolling Stones gave them the publicity they so richly deserved. I think it was when questioned on the Johnny Carson show about their musical influences that the racist attitudes of America really showed up. John and Paul mentioned the likes of Howling Wolf, John Lee Hooker and so on yet Johnny had no idea who they were. Black music was not considered acceptable then. However white guys like Bob Zimmerman up in Duluth was using the magic of radio to bring about a radical transformation in both the United States and the western world in general. Taking the name Dylan, after Dylan Thomas the famous Welsh drunk, his music joined with others in transforming society for the better. How interesting that a music ignored by so many, indeed considered dangerous in many ways because of who performed it, was to influence so much change in the USA. Certainly they had been warned in the fifties of this music. Rock and Roll also grew from black influence and gave Elvis his fame, and at first abuse from those who knew best. But it was the men of the sixties who really brought such music to the worlds attention. How glad I am about that. Men like 'Pinetop' supported many famous names over the years, most much more famous than their backing bands, and even today there are men like him still playing their music in their nineties. Good luck to them!
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5 comments:
Wow, we Yanks don't stand a chance in your eyes if our views and behavior are predicated on what Johnny Carson knew or didn't know.
I used to find your offhand generalizations about America and Americans semi-offensive, as you probably know. I don't anymore. I simply accept that your research is limited to watching American movies and old TV programs, and I make allowances for the shallowness you ascribe to us. The fact that you like this music is a redeeming grace, though, and it keeps me coming back to read more of your stuff. The same goes for your superb photography. There is still hope for you. I know how startled you would be to find how many white Americans know about these legends and love their music and collect it. Good post. Pity you couldn't have heard some of Perkins' music when he was in his prime. There are recordings available if you look hard enough. I hope you do.
I ain't much for pure jazz, but blues is hard to beat. Sadly, much of ZZ Top's music was stolen from John Lee Hooker, and they rarely give him much more than a mention in passing out of financial concerns, of course. By the way, isn't it about time for another rant against England in order to remind us that we Americans are not the only ones you hate with a passion?
Ah the Tea Party is out in force today! You folks really do not understand how the world views the US. This is worrying, especially as you are the brighter folks.
I wrote several lengthy comments and deleted each before the old axiom, "can't push a rope" finally lassoed me.
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