Born in the Honey assembles a wonderful cast of blues legends to both pay tribute to Perkins as well as swap stories about time spent with him. Bobby Rush has a great story about Pinetop the prankster. Ike Turner, Bob Margolin, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Ann Rabson, Paul Oscher, Dr. John, Lonnie Brooks, Hubert Sumlin, Taj Majal, Kim Wilson, Marcia Ball, Koko Tayler, and Bernard Allison are all interviewed during the documentary as is Pinetop himself.
“One of the things that really amazes me about Pinetop's longevity is that I don't believe I've ever seen him eat anything but McDonald's,” said Ann Rabson.
Pinetop Perkins is a blues icon, and Born in the Honey does a fine job of telling his story. The production value of the DVD is solid, but not spectacular and the sound quality of some of the performance footage is occasionally suspect. These are minor nitpicks but they are noticeable. They are easily forgiven because of the cast of admirers who are interviewed as part of the documentary. Also included in the package is a 10-song CD, Pinetop Perkins on the 88s. The first nine tracks are taken from a live performance.
So many biographical documentaries seem to cover subjects who have passed away, subjects who won't continue adding chapters to their life stories.
Pinetop Perkins is still alive and well. This recognized Lifetime of Achievement will reach its 94th year in July. He is among the last living connections – living legend is a wholly appropriate title for the man – to one of America's greatest gifts to the artistic world, but he is no living museum. Pinetop Perkins continues to tour and perform, bringing pure Delta blues piano to new generations of fans in search of the honey.
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