He was a great figure of American blues ... Pianist Pinetop Perkins died at the age of 97 years. He had just received a Grammy Award for his latest album, "Joined at the Hip", recorded with one of his old friends, Willie 'Big Eyes'Smith. Born in the cotton fields of Mississippi, Pinetop Perkins had played with Big Joe Williams, Sonny Boy Williamson and of course Muddy Waters.