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Youth In The Blues

THE PINETOP PERKINS FOUNDATION IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE 2011 YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

The Pinetop Perkins Foundation is pleased to announce the names of nine youth scholarship recipients from for the 2011 Master Class Workshops in Piano and Guitar.   five different states

Scholarships this year went to:

Austin Young, Colorado
Christopher Dixon, Tennessee
Jack Gaffney, Colorado
Jonathan Ruckman, Texas
Justin Willis, Georgia
Patrick Knight, Tennessee
Christone Ingram, Mississippi
Layesha Ba, Mississippi
Andrew Blades, Mississippi

The recipients from Mississippi are all in the music program at the Delta Blues Museum and played on the recently-released CD, "From Clarksdale to Kansas City, Vol. 1". "Some of the other kids are already professionals," said President Patricia Morgan. "They are our next generation of blues musicians."

The Foundation is especially indebted to the Rock River Foundation of Mississippi for funding.  We are also very appreciative of the donations received from many individuals after the passing of Pinetop Perkins in March.  In addition we would like to thank the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation of Washington State, and the Tomblin Family Foundation of Austin, Texas for their kind generosity. 

These youth will join other participants in piano and guitar workshops led by Erwin Helfer and Bob Margolin along with intern Clay Swafford at Hopson's Commissary and the Shack Up Inn in Clarksdale, MS from June 15-17th.

A reception in honor of the workshop participants and instructors will be held at  at Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale on Thursday from 5pm to 7pm.

Workshop participants will also join Erwin, Bob and Clay for a performance on stage at Ground Zero Blues Club on Friday June 17th starting at 8pm.   Tickets for Friday night's show are $10 and can be purchased at the door, all proceeds benefit the Pinetop Perkins Foundation.

Formed in 2009, the Pinetop Perkins Foundation is a tax exempt non-profit organization whose mission is to provide encouragement and support for youth and young people at the beginning of their musical career; and help provide care and safety for elderly musicians at the twilight of their career. Fulfilling the first part of their mission, the Foundation offers an annual Youth Workshop Series to bring world-renowned blues artists for instruction and mentoring to young musicians.

Further information, please visit the Pinetop Perkins Foundation website at www.pinetopperkinsfoundation.org, or by calling 662 313 1093.

For press requests, please contact: Amanda Sweet 347-564-3371
amanda@bucklesweetmedia.com