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contents | blues | |||||||||||||
| Born In The Honey - The Pinetop Perkins Story  Born In The Honey, set for international release May 15, 2007 by the new VizzTone Label Group through Redeye Distribution, is not only an extensive portrait of the 93 year-old blues piano player, Pinetop Perkins, but also a microcosm of the "Great Migration" from the Delta to the industrialized North over the last century. As well as following Pinetop's performing career, Born In The Honey also tells of the incident that ended his career as a guitar player, how he taught Ike Turner to play the piano, the explosion that affected his hearing, his days as a car mechanic and his nights as a ladies man. Included on this hour-long DVD is historic film footage and stills of cotton picking, African-American participation in World War II, Tutweiler and Clarksdale, MS, Helena, AR, Memphis, TN, St. Louis, MO and Cairo and Chicago, IL.Produced by Peter Carlson and narrated by Chuck Dodson, the title, Born In The Honey, refers to Pinetop's birthplace, the Honey Island Plantation in Belzoni, MS. Pinetop as well as numerous fellow friends and musicians and business people recount his story in loving detail taking the viewer through his life and times performing with Robert Nighthawk, Earl Hooker, Sonny Boy Williamson on the King Biscuit Time Radio Show, Ike Turner, Muddy Waters and his band and finally his solo career begun at the age of 83 under the guidance of his manager, Pat Morgan. Interviewees include Ann Rabson, Bernard Allison, Bob Margolin, Bobby Rush, Bubba Sullivan, owner of the Blues Corner in Helena, Dr. John, Eddy Clearwater, Hubert Sumlin, Ike Turner, Kim Wilson, Koko Taylor, Lonnie Brooks, Marcia Ball, Mitch Woods, Paul Oscher, Sam Carr (Robert Nighthawk's son), Taj Mahal and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith. Ike tells of his fascination with "Pinetop's fingers rippin' across the keys" as well as their time playing together, while Bobby shares a story with an interesting twist of lovers united. Interspersed throughout the DVD are live performances starring Pinetop with other musicians including Bob Margolin, Mookie Brill, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Ann Rabson, Diunna Greenleaf, who also performs the opening gospel song, Curtis Salgado and Calvin "Fuzz" Jones. Born In The Honey reveals all the ups and downs of Pinetop's life, the accolades from the Grammy's to the lows of alcohol abuse. As Pinetop says himself at the beginning of the DVD – "I had a rough time, but I made it." And at the young age of 93 Pinetop still has more to give. Join Pinetop with special guests Hubert Sumlin, Gary Clark Jr., Chris Layton, Scott Nelson, Riley Osborn and Buddy Flett for a great night on Thursday, May 24 @ 8 p.m. at Antone's in Austin, TX. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |