 |
| Photo by Steve Hefter |
Johnny Winter died early Wednesday morning in
Zurich, Switzerland. The news was first reported by Bradenton, Florida resident
Jenda Derringer, the wife of classic rock music legend Rick Derringer.
Derringer has performed and recorded with both Johnny and Edgar Winter and
remained very close friends through the years.
At 7:00 this morning this statement was released on Johnny Winters official Facebook site ...
At 7:00 this morning this statement was released on Johnny Winters official Facebook site ...
"Legendary Johnny Winter Dies at 70
Texas blues icon Johnny Winter has passed away on July 16, 2014 in his hotel room in Zurich, Switzerland.His wife, family and bandmates are all saddened by the loss of their loved one and one of the world's finest guitarists.An official statement with more details shall be issued at the appropriate time."
JOHNNY
WINTER is acknowledged worldwide as a legendary blues
artist, but he also holds the title of American rock ‘n’ roll hero. Winter wore
both hats equivalently on stage. Only Johnny Winter could scream ROCK ‘N’ ROLL! … a battle cry to a generation of
rebellion youths in front of sold-out arenas and stadiums with his kind of
intensity and emotional reverberation. No other audience could reciprocate to
those words more passionately than at a Johnny Winter concert. And who more
revered than Johnny Winter (except for the man himself) could follow up his ROCK ‘N’ ROLL battle cry with perhaps
one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll songs in history, “Johnny B. Goode.”
Johnny Winter was born and raised in Beaumont,
Texas. In 1969, Winter signed with Columbia Records in one of the largest solo
deals of the time. Winter was enticed to join his first band after listening to
local deejay J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper of “Chantilly Lace fame”) spinning
50s rock ‘n’ roll music over the airwaves. But it was the blues that would
become his essence, and his admiration for legendary American blues artists
like Robert Johnson, Elmore James, John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters to name
just a few.
Winters first album was entitled, The Progressive Blues Experiment originally
issued by Austin’s Sonobeat Records
in 1968, and rereleased by Columbia Records
in 1969. Winter’s self-titled second album with Columbia was also released that
year, the album included covers by Robert Johnson, Sonny Boy Williamson,
Lightnin’ Hopkins and B.B. King. Winter’s successful debut album set the stage
for an appearance at the famed Woodstock Festival in New York. Winter was not
included in the Woodstock movie or initial soundtrack because of contractual
issues between Steve Paul (Johnny’s former manager) and festival
organizers.
Johnny Winter’s next album, Second Winter, featured some of his predominant concert setlist
material, Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode,” and Bob Dylan’s “Highway 61
Revisited.” In 1970 Winter formed a new band featuring several members of The
McCoys (“Hang On Sloopy”) including legendary guitarist and songwriter Rick
Derringer. Steve Paul was also The McCoys manager and responsible for bringing
them together. The band released, Live
Johnny Winter And spotlighting Derringer’s penned, “Rock and Roll, Hoochie
Koo.” It was during this time that Winter fell under the spell of Heroin
addiction.
In 1973, Johnny Winter returned to the music scene
with his fifth studio album, Still Alive
and Well followed by Saints and
Sinners (1974) and Captured Live (1976).
In 1977, Chess Records, long-time record label for
legendary blues guitarist and vocalist Muddy Waters, dissolved. Johnny Winter
revitalized Waters by inviting him into the studio to record what would be
recognized as Muddy Waters comeback album. Winter produced and played on the
Chicago-style electric blues album entitled, Hard Again. It was Muddy Waters first album released on Blue Sky
Records, a label created by Steve Paul for Columbia. The album won a Grammy Award for Best Ethnic
or Traditional Folk Recording.
Johnny Winter continued to produce and play on
several studio albums and a best-selling Live album with his good friend Muddy
Waters … I’m Ready (1978), Muddy “Mississippi” Waters Live (1979)
and King Bee (1981) Waters final
release. Two of those albums won Grammy Awards. The string of Johnny Winter
albums initiated for Muddy Waters produced the most lucrative period in the
career of the legendary bluesman. Muddy Waters died in 1983.
Since 1984, Johnny Winter focused solely on blues
oriented-material in the recording studio. His heart was saying no to rock and
roll while his soul was saying yes to the blues. Winter abandoned rock ‘n’ roll
to resurrect the blues.
Johnny Winter has headlined the New Orleans Jazz
& Heritage Festival, Chicago Blues Festival, Warren Haynes Christmas Jam,
Swedish Rock Fest and Europe’s Rockplast. Winter performed with The Allman
Brothers Band at the Beacon Theater for their 40th Anniversary of
the bands inception. He’s also performed at the 2007 and 2010 Crossroads Guitar
Festivals.
In 2008, The
Gibson Guitar Company released the Johnny Winter signature Firebird guitar in a
ceremony presented by Slash (Guns N’ Roses guitarist) in Nashville.
Johnny Winter earned the title of one the hardest
working performers in the music business by consistently touring worldwide.
His latest
studio releases … the critically acclaimed Roots (2011) CD which featured
compositions by some of Johnny’s favorite blues artists and included guest
performances by … Vince Gill, Warren Haynes, John Popper, Derek Trucks and Susan
Tedeschi, selected by Johnny’s producer/manager and guitarist Paul Nelson.
Johnny Winter’s most recent CD is entitled ‘Step
Back’ and is a follow-up to the ‘Roots’ CD featuring guest artists … Eric Clapton, Billy
Gibbons (ZZ Top), Ben Harper, Mark Knopfler, Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Dr. John, Brian Setzer, Joe Bonamassa, Leslie
West (Mountain), and Jason Ricci. The release contains classic blues covers and
is set to be released on September 2nd.
Winter is currently a headliner on the ‘Rock ‘N’
Blues Fest’ starring Johnny Winter, (Brother) Edgar Winter, Vanilla Fudge,
Peter Rivera (original voice & drummer of Rare Earth) and Savoy Brown’s Kim
Simmonds. The concert is scheduled to arrive at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater,
Florida on August 16th.
I chatted with Johnny’s Brother, Edgar Winter, on
Tuesday (July 15th 2014) about the event.
Nobody played the blues & rock and roll like JOHNNY WINTER
‘The Blues’ &
‘Rock and Roll’ will never be the same!
RIP JOHNNY WINTER 1944-2014
Contact classic rock music journalist
Ray Shasho at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com
© Copyright rayshasho.com. All Rights Reserved
