STEVE INSKEEP, Host:
And now let's take a moment to remember a legendary blues man.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
JOSEPH WILLIE: (Singing) Now my heart is full of sorrow, eyes just full of tears. You've been gone 24 hours, seems like a million years.
INSKEEP: Perkins told NPR in 2007, he never learned to read or write music, but he had an intuitive ability to harmonize with a group.
PERKINS: I can hear that stuff coming to me before it get to me. How you do that? Did you read it? No, I don't read that, sir. No, I didn't get no schooling. Mm-mm.
INSKEEP: It's MORNING EDITION, from NPR news. I'm Steve Inskeep. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.