Bluesmen finally get their due at the Grammys

By Dean Goodman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Two bluesmen in their 90s won the first Grammys of their colorful careers on Sunday, a reminder that there's more to the music industry than fresh-faced youngsters.

Pianist Willie "Pinetop" Perkins, 94, and guitarist David "Honeyboy" Edwards, 92, won the traditional blues Grammy for their appropriately titled album "Last of the Great Mississippi Delta Bluesmen: Live in Dallas."

They recorded the project with Henry James Townsend and Robert Lockwood Jr., who both died in 2006. Townsend, who was 96 when he died, was represented at the ceremony by his 21-year-old son, Alonzo.

Perkins, a former sideman with Muddy Waters, was nominated in the traditional blues category with another album, "Pinetop Perkins on the '88's -- Live in Chicago."

As an indication of their extraordinary reach into the annals of music, Edwards recalled that he played with Robert Johnson, the fabled "King of the Delta Blues," in 1937.

Johnson, who wrote and recorded such blues staples as "Crossroads" and "Sweet Home Chicago," is considered one of the most influential figures in rock music, with artists from Muddy Waters to the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton owing their careers to him.

According to legend, Johnson sold his soul to the devil in order to play guitar. "I don't know about that. He told me that, but I didn't believe him," Edwards said.

He also recalled the day that Johnson died in 1938, at the age of 27, possibly poisoned by a lover's jealous husband.

He was buried the day he died, on a Wednesday, Edwards said, "but his sister come on the Thursday and had him dug up, and put him in a casket, and put him back in the ground ... And I was there the same time when that happened."

(Editing by Steve Gorman)