Pinetop Perkins, Legendary Blues Piano Man

To Celebrate His 95th Birthday Bash Concert, June 26 at Sound Academy 2 in Toronto

Jazz News by: Joe Curtis

Venue: Sound Academy 2 (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

Thursday, June 26, 2008 -

Grammy Award-winning blues piano man Pinetop Perkins of the legendary Muddy Waters Band, is nearing his 95th birthday soon. He’ll be celebrating in high musical style as a true bluesman should, by playing his 95th Birthday Bash Concert in Toronto on Thursday, June 26, 2008 at Sound Academy 2, at 11 Polson St.:      http://www.sound-academy.com/events/show/125

This is an all-ages event, with an early start and end -- doors at 8 p.m., and showtime 9 p.m.  This venue recently paid host to the Jeff Healey Tribute Concert, which featured the likes of iconic bassman Jack Bruce from Cream, as well as guitarists Randy Bachman and Jimmy Bowskill.

In years gone by, Pinetop has toured and recorded with the late great Honeyboy Edwards, as well as the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton among others. He's also featured in a recently discovered, previously unreleased live Muddy Waters Band recording from their 1977 tour, Breakin' In Up, Breakin' It Down.  This energetic CD also features James Cotton on blues harp, Johnny Winter on guitar and Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith on drums: http://www.jazzreview.com/cd/review-19582.html

Like the Healey Tribute before it, Pinetop’s upcoming June 26th concert will also be a fundraiser for the late blues guitarist/jazz trumpet player Jeff Healey’s favorite charity, the Daisy’s Eye Cancer Fund, which helps children with retinoblastoma: http://www.daisyseyecancerfund.org/

Tickets for this special blues event are $35 in advance, $40 at the door.  They can be purchased by phoning: 416-645-9090 or toll free: 1-888-655-9090 or online at TicketPro: http://ww2.ticketpro.ca/event.php?event_id=93 This is a BerelsBlues/Jeff Healey's Roadhouse presentation.  Doors will be open at 8 p.m.  The show starts at 9 p.m. http://www.berelsblues.com

Tickets purchased for the Jeff Healey’s Roadhouse location will be honored at Sound Academy 2.

This time around, Pinetop will be joined by fellow Muddy Waters Band alumni Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith on drums and Bob Stroger on electric bass … playing his classic ’59 Fender ‘P’ to perfection.

Juno-winning blues/jazz guitarist Jack de Keyzer will be joining this illustrious grouping, as well as Jerome Godboo on blues harp.  De Keyzer and his band have toured worldwide with Pinetop's drummer, Willie 'Big Eyes', and recorded with him. Godboo has performed with Pinetop on two previous occasions at Toronto's El Mocambo.  He's also been blues harp player for rockabilly legend Rompin’ Ronnie Hawkins for years, as well as countless stints in Jeff Healey's Blues Band.  Godboo and de Keyzer are always great crowd pleasers whenever and wherever they perform.

A rare bluesy grouping of such highly talented individuals as these is sure to make music history this night at Sound Academy 2.

Ask yourselves, as many others already have, " When are we going to get a chance again to see this living legend of the blues, Pinetop Perkins in concert … and at such a fine venue as well?"

Come out and celebrate Pinetop’s birthday, and enjoy a bit of bluesy, musical history in the making. Be part of history and a great entertaining night.

Sound Academy 2, at 11 Polson St., Toronto, Ontario: http://www.sound-academy.com/events/show/125                                                                                             

For more information: http://www.jeffhealeysroadhouse.com/

Photo by: © Beryls Blues/Jeff Healey's Roadhouse, 2008

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