Blues Musician Pinetop Perkins Dead at 97

Pianist Pinetop Perkins in Paris, France (Maison de Radio France) 7 November 1976 (Photo: Lioneldecoster)

Blues Musician Pinetop Perkins Dead at 97
Tuesday, 22 March 2011

The world's oldest Grammy winner, bluesman Pinetop Perkins, has died at the age of 97 in Austin, Texas.

Representatives for Perkins said he died in his sleep.

Perkins won a Grammy in February for his traditional blues album Joined at the Hip: Pinetop Perkins & Willie “Big Eyes” Smith. He surpassed the late comedian George Burns, who won a Grammy at 95, to be the oldest Grammy winner ever.

Perkins also won Grammys in 2007 and 2005, the latter for lifetime achievement.

The Grammys are the most prominent of U.S. music awards.

Perkins began his career playing the guitar, but an injury in the 1940s forced him to stop. He continued his career on the piano, playing primarily in groups until late in his career. He played musical dates in Austin until the last few weeks of his life.