What's considered by many the home of the blues in Austin kicked off its 35 year anniversary celebration with a celebration of a different kind.
Antone's nightclub was the setting for the birthday party for Pinetop Perkins, one of the oldest Grammy award recipients.
Perkins who turns 97 on July 7th, spent time signing autographs and taking pictures as he released his new CD days before he heads off to Spain on tour.
When KVUE asked Pinetop how it felt to turn 97, he replied, "pretty good. It's old. I can't do no walking like I used to".
Clifford Antone who died in 2006 from a heart attack opened his original nightclub called Antone's on 6th street in 1975.
B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Bobby Bland and Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan were fixtures there.
In 1985, Antone brought Pinetop Perkins to Austin where he took care of him with medical treatment, a place to live and Antone is credited for helping to get Pinetop's music and name back in the blues mainstream.
"I think that Antone's is around and has been around as long as it has because the community has always embraced it and I think it's always been about music," said Susan Antone, Clifford Antone's brother.
Antone's will celebrate it's 35 years as the home of Austin blues over the next 35 days.
"I used to play for him a long time ago, yeah I love that Clifford," said Perkins.
The Peterson Brothers, an 11-year old and 13-year old from Bastrop got the crowd warmed up as the opening act.
The youngsters were followed by Austin's own Marcia Ball who introduced Pinetop Perkins to the stage a little after 9 p.m. Thursday.
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