Quite frankly, I could see each city with their own versions of a Blues museum.
Not to start a war, neither city is more deserving than the other - in my opinion. Neither city is really the "home" of the Blues. The Deltas are. Granted the largest city near the Mississippi/Arkansas Deltas is Memphis, St. Louis and Chicago were definitely major stops along
The Blues Highway.
Many of the most notable Delta Blues musicians traveled back-and-forth between and lived in each city. Muddy Waters, Albert King, Little Milton, Pinetop Perkins - even W.C. Handy, the Father of The Blues, all lived in St. Louis at some point in their lives. Some of them lived in St. Louis before going to Chicago or Memphis.
With that said, Chicago and Memphis definitely had more noted recording assets (ie. Chess, Sun, Stax) than St. Louis. Although St. Louis had
Bobbin Records and Delmark Records, which later moved to Chicago, St. Louis' blues recording history simply isn't on par with Memphis or Chicago. However, that doesn't mean St. Louis Blues "history" is less important or less relevant.
I just hope St. Louis' museum is good, educational and not a simple tourist trap. Contrary to popular knowledge, St. Louis' Blues history is extensive and impressive.
Speaking of Pinetop Perkins.......He lived in St. Louis for a period of time - TWICE.
Pinetop Perkins passes at 97
St. Louis American
Posted: Thursday, March 31, 2011 12:00 am
By Terry Perkins | 0 comments
Blues legend will be buried Saturday April 2 in Clarksddale, Mississippi.
The blues lost another legend on Monday, March 21, 2011 with the passing of Joe Willie “Pinetop” Perkins at the age of 97 in Austin, Texas. Born near Belzoni, Mississippi on July 7, 1913, Perkins didn’t achieve widespread recognition as a musician until his mid-50s, when he replaced the great Otis Spann as the pianist in the band of blues great Muddy Waters.
During his twenties, Perkins spent several years living and playing in St. Louis, before returning South to eventually work with famed bluesmen Robert Nighthawk and Sonny Boy Williamson in Helena, Arkansas in the 1940s – appearing with Nighthawk on regular broadcasts on radio station KFFA, then playing with Williamson on the “King Biscuit Time” broadcasts.
Perkins returned to the St. Louis area once again in the 1950s, spending several years based in East St. Louis and also Cairo, Illinois, before moving to Chicago in 1958 and eventually working with slide guitarist Earl Hooker for several years, then joining Waters’ band from 1960 to 1980.