Pinetop Perkins Foundation

The Pinetop Perkins Foundation
Eleventh Annual Workshop Experience 2020

June 09, 2020 - June 12, 2020

Masterclasses in Piano, Guitar, Harmonica, Bass and Drums
Hopson Plantation and Shack Up Inn - Clarksdale, MS

For piano, guitar, bass, drums and harmonica, professional Blues musicians will present the music and techniques for playing it. Sorry, no beginning students allowed. Everyone needs to already have a basic knowledge of their instrument. We won't be starting from scratch. Any musician who has been playing seriously for a year or so should be able to make a lot of progress in his or her Blues playing. We require at least two years experience for piano workshop participants.

Workshops are open to the young and young at heart - adults welcome!

Scholarships are available for youth ages 12 to 21.

Announcing Our Interns For 2019

Special Guests

Lisa Biales will be offering voice tutorials at the 2019 Workshop Experience

Musical Director - Bob Margolin

Bob Margolin

Born in 1949, I was just the right age to learn from and play with the departed masters of Delta and Chicago Blues. Now I pay it forward to young musicians who create their own Blues music today and for the future. My experience playing guitar in Muddy Waters’ band in the 1970s, as a bandleader and recording artist since, and as the first instructor of the Pinetop Foundation’s guitar workshops all lead me to my new job as Musical Director.

I’ll ramble through the piano, harmonica, and guitar workshops and impart the how’s and why’s of “playing well with others.” I’ll tell personal stories, more than history, about the Blues legends who are my friends — from Muddy and Pinetop to Stevie Ray to today’s Blues stars. I’ll meet, jam, and socialize with the workshoppers to help them find their own Blues and get what they want from the classes and our real Blues Club concert at the famous Ground Zero Club in Clarksdale.

I will make “Music Director” more than being Principal not Professor. I’m available to any workshoppers for a private lesson or discussion of any aspect of creating or performing Blues music that intrigues YOU. I’ve been on the road a long time and seen everything twice. When you get to a crossroads, I hope I can point toward…the direction that’s right for you.

It’s a thrill and honor for me to be teacher, collaborator, and friend with the workshoppers and their families. The Clarksdale Blues ghosts smile down on all of us.

Harmonica - Phil Wiggins

Phil Wiggins

Phil Wiggins learned from some of the most notable acoustic blues musicians in the area: Flora Molton, Ester Mae "Mother" Scott, Chief Ellis, John Jackson, Archie Edwards, John Cephas, Johny Shines , Sam Chatman and others. He performed with Flora Molton at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival from 1972-1976, where he met John Cephas. He performed with John as the Blues duo Cephas and Wiggins for over 30 years. As ambassadors of the Piedmont Blues, Cephas and Wiggins took their music all over American and the world. This included such venues as Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, Royal Albert Hall, and the White House. Phil served for 5 years as Artistic Director for the Centrum Blues Week in Port Townsend, Washington, and has taught at numerous music camps dedicated to perpetuating traditional Blues for over 25 years. Since John's passing in 2009 , Phil has continued making music leading his own combos; the Chesapeake Sheiks ,Phil Wiggins House Party , Phil Wiggins Tidewater Trio , and the duo Phil Wiggins and Dom Turner.

I will teach traditional Piedmont and Delta blues as well as some classic blues from folks like Bessie Smith and Louis Armstrong as well as some swing standards.I will also teach some string band and jug band songs. I will teach by breaking the songs down phrase by phrase and encouraging people to use their ear and also to sing the songs in order to get the melodies down

We will also focus on playing rhythm and accompaniment. The classes will be customized to suit the ability levels of whoever shows up. And the main focus will be to have a good time and celebrate the blues.

Piano - Anthony Geraci

Anthony Geraci

I am thrilled to be a part of this years Pinetop Perkins Foundation Workshop. I have been playing Blues Piano since I was 16 years old (b 1954) after hearing a Buddy Guy recording and a Muddy Waters recording-and I haven’t turned back since. Sitting in with the likes of Muddy Waters, B.B.King; touring with Otis Rush, Big Walter Horton, Big Joe Turner and many others has given me the unique perspective of learning directly from some of the originators of this great art form we all love.

Pinetop Perkins piano playing has always meant a lot to me as a musician. He would often stay at my house and we’d play piano together-probably not even knowing how much I was watching his every move on the piano keys!. When playing Blues Piano you really need to understand what it means to be an ensemble player. Pinetop epitomized that group/ensemble type of playing as good as anyone ever has-and that can transcend to any instrument. That is something we will talk about and work on together at the workshop. Building a solo is also something we will also work on together. I have been thrilled to be nominated for The Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year Award by the Blues Foundation in 2016/2017/2018!

The workshop starts out by talking about the great Blues Pianists-Pinetop, Otis Spann, Memphis Slim…and about the roll of a Blues Pianist both as a soloist, and being part of a band. I do bring some “leadsheets”-but I feel they’re more related to jazz than blues. We go over the blues scale, and how to apply that soloing over a standard 12 bar blues. I then like to show students some cool standard blues “riffs” such as the beginning to “Got My Mojo Working.” Then we work on comping-how to be a good ensemble player in a band without getting in other instruments or a vocalists way. As always I’m open to any songs that students may want to learn, or have questions about. Blues Piano has many different styles-Boogie Boogie, Chicago, New Orleans…we’ll try and cover as much as possible. I look forward to working with you all to make us all better Blues Musicians.

Guitar - Fiona Boyes

Fiona Boyes

I am honored to join you all at the 2018 Pinetop Perkins Foundation Workshop. My musical journey began in Australia, deeply bedded in the country blues finger-picking style. Starting as a solo acoustic performer, it was not long before I took up electric guitar too. As a songwriter and musician, I appreciate the inspiration that comes from different instruments, sounds and textures, so it seems natural to play both. I made my first visit to the US in 2003, winning the solo/duo section of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Winning the IBC opened up some wonderful opportunities, enabling me to spend more time in America. Not only did I get to meet some of my blues heroes - including the legendary Pinetop Perkins - but also had the invaluable chance to play, listen and learn from them. Pinetop recorded a song with me on one of my albums, and we spent some time hanging out in Austin too. These moments, along with visiting and touring with Hubert Sumlin are some of my sweetest memories.

Over the years I’ve toured widely, performing at blues, jazz, and guitar festivals, clubs, and cultural centers in16 different countries. I’ve received 7 Blues Music Award nominations, across traditional, acoustic and contemporary categories, and recently won a Blues Blast Music Award for my latest album ‘Professin’ the Blues’.

A reviewer once described my music as a ‘blues road trip’ with influences from many traditional styles of blues; acoustic, electric, West Coast, Chicago, New Orleans, Delta, Mississippi Hills… Recently my albums have also showcased some interesting instruments such as National Reso-Lectric baritone and unique cigar-box guitars.

Previously, I’ve taught guitar and blues songwriting courses at Augusta Blues Week and Jorma Kaukonen’s Fur Peace Ranch - and in my experience there’s something about getting an enthusiastic bunch of like-minded musicians together in the same place that creates a great energy. I’d like to explore some of my musical influences with workshop participants – including the hallmarks of different blue styles, incorporating double stops, bends, dissonance and dynamics – with the aim of extending ourselves musically and having fun.

June 09, 2020 - June 12, 2020

Announcing Our Interns For 2019

Special Guests

Musical Director - Bob Margolin

Harmonica - Phil Wiggins

Piano - Anthony Geraci

Guitar - Fiona Boyes

Bass - Bob Stroger and Heather Crosse

Drums - Lee Williams and Ian Harper

Workshop Schedule - (May Be Subject To Change)

Payment/Deposit

Workshop Registration

Youth Scholarships

Lodging

Contact