Walter "Baby Sweets" Perkins (February 10, 1932 in Chicago, Illinois – February 14, 2004 in Queens, New York) was an American jazz drummer. Starting out in Chicago, Perkins began his professional career with Ahmad Jamal in 1956–57. He recorded for Argo Records in 1957 as a leader under the name MJT+3 with Paul Serrano on trumpet, Nicky Hill on tenor sax, Muhal Richard Abrams on piano, and Bob Cranshaw on bass. In 1959, he regrouped under the same name with Willie Thomas on trumpet, Frank Strozier on alto sax, Harold Mabern on piano, and Cranshaw on bass; they recorded for Vee-Jay in 1959 and 1960 and played in Chicago until 1962, when he moved to New York City. Perkins played with Sonny Rollins in 1962 and accompanied Carmen McRae in 1962–63. In 1964 he played with Art Farmer and Teddy Wilson. Following this he recorded with many musicians, including Rahsaan Roland Kirk, George Shearing, Gene Ammons, Charles Mingus, Billy Taylor, Booker Ervin, Jaki Byard, Lucky Thompson, Pat Martino, Sonny Stitt, Sonny Criss, and Charles Earland. He died in Queens of lung cancer at the age of 72.

Discography

With MJT+3 With Ahmed Abdul-Malik With Gene Ammons With Chris Anderson With Peter Brötzmann With Ray Bryant With Jaki Byard With Johnny Coles With Sonny Criss With Charles Earland With Booker Ervin With Art Farmer With Gigi Gryce With Ahmad Jamal With J. J. Johnson With Etta Jones With Roland Kirk With Harold Mabern With Pat Martino With Charles Mingus With Sal Nistico With William Parker With Duke Pearson With Dave Pike With Sonny Stitt With Frank Strozier With Billy Taylor With Clark Terry With Lucky Thompson With Bobby Timmons With John Wright