PINETOP PERKINS FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS ANNOUNCED IN BOTH AUSTIN, TX & CLARKSDALE, MS

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Joe Willie Pinetop Perkins passed away from natural causes on March 21, 2011, at the age of 97, in his home in Austin.  In speaking about his passing, Perkins' manager Patricia Morgan said "he decided to have a nap after his breakfast on Monday and never woke up again. He died peacefully in his sleep."

On Sunday, March 27^th a visitation will be held at Cook-Walden Funeral Home - 6100 North Lamar Blvd. in Austin from 3-5pm.  Funeral services will be held the next day, Monday, March 28^th at 5pm also at the Cook-Walden Funeral Home.  Following the services, a Celebration of Life will take place at Antone's Blues Club - 213 W 5^th Street in Austin starting at 8pm.  

The second funeral will be held on Saturday, April 2^nd at 11am at Century Funeral Home - 506 Ashton Avenue in Clarksdale, MS 38614 followed by the burial at McLaurin Memorial Garden Cemetery - Highway 61 North in Clarksdale. Following the services, a Celebration of Life will take place - venue TBA.  Visitation will be on Friday, April 1^st at Century Funeral Home in Clarksdale from 4-7pm.

The heartfelt prayers and condolences are pouring in from the blues community, each one of us feels the loss of Pinetop Perkins deeply.  In a note to Pinetop's manager, blues icon Bonnie Raitt says "I'm so saddened to hear of Pinetop's passing...I feel extremely blessed to have known and gotten to play with him these many decades. And I'm very grateful he got to live such a long and rewarding life, receiving the recognition that he always deserved and so few blues pioneers get to enjoy. He will be sorely missed and always loved."

Pinetop holds a special place at The Blues Foundation given that a Blues Music Award is named after him--the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player Award.

"It may seem strange to say this about a 97-year old, but I can't believe he is gone.  I thought he would be around for many more years of appearances," said The Blues Foundation's Executive Director Jay Sieleman. "He was just such an institution, loved and respected by all."  

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Pinetop Perkins Foundation.  Donations can be made by check or through PayPal. Mail Your Contribution to:  The Pinetop Perkins Foundation, PO Box 1916, Clarksdale, MS  38614 or for PayPal http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=vyesc9cab&et=1104940671342&s=3459&e=001F-iWzy22L9MuAZaY-3jfTwVO010gxWzpmmr0_abAuUL0SwhrY6XQeOSKzEGRVw99D3_yOCslOe10tqo0eL8N75arIxQryG6BK7ITwwWgN-Q8Fia6HyDOC8Qv1Z0uw9Fye-4mck8imto=

 

The Pinetop Perkins Foundation is a tax exempt non-profit organization. Its mission is to provide encouragement and support for youth and young people at the beginning of their musical career; and help provide care and safety for elderly musicians at the twilight of their career.  

Visit  http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=vyesc9cab&et=1104940671342&s=3459&e=001F-iWzy22L9OAv1QE0LXhGxlqWtJyxKHifxNRA86hxOrr8uXhAleFRp4Ugl-FYas-_Z8u0R0lHBCwWau0c6jCLSP8oxHwO0GXOvx8OgaANoindovPpFs5ER7UyFi5zoZRfor funeral and life celebration info, maps and times.