Clarksdale, MS: April 21, 1988
The "Original" Muddy Waters Blues Band

The Delta Blues Museum and it's founder, Sid Graves, were hosting the largest event this small Delta town had ever seen. Billy Gibbons, along with other members of ZZ Top were donating a guitar that Billy had had made from the Cypress beams from Muddy Waters' cabin located near Clarksdale on Stovall Plantation. The guitar, christened the Muddywood, was being used to launch a fund raising drive for the Delta Blues Museum and also to honor ZZ Top's musical guru, Muddy Waters. One block away from this media circus, I operated a small tavern, the Cotton Exchange, where I had regularly featured live blues on the weekends. But for this special day, I wanted to do something special with the music. I called Pinetop Perkins. Pinetop was as excited about the possibilities as I was, and we assembled a unique band of musicians who had actually played with the late great Muddy Waters at one time or another. The event was billed as "a Tribute To Muddy Waters" featuring Pinetop Perkins on piano and vocals, Mojo Buford on harp, Ted Harvey on drums, Bob Stroger on bass, and most notably, Louis Myers on guitar. Pinetop's playing and vocals were impeccable. Bob Stroger laid down a dog house bass that would not quit. Mojo Buford blew harp like a wild man, while Ted Harvey rocked the house with the most solid backbeat that I've heard since he played with Hound dog Taylor. and Louis Myers' Cool Chicago riffs mixed with the heat of the MIssissippi night were things of which other guitar players can only dream. When the memorable night ended, blues lovers and novices alike walked out of there knowing that they had witnessed something very special.
  - John Mohead