It was Winter’s first visit to New York City, and resulted in landing him a six-figure advance from Columbia Records, reportedly the largest advance of it kind’s at the time. The next thing you know, Mike Bloomfield is introducing a young Johnny Winter to the Fillmore East, calling him the “baddest motherfucker, man” and adding “this cat can play,” which he proceeds to do for almost 11 minutes on John lee Hooker’s “It’s My Own Fault,” with Bloomfield and Al Kooper at his side. At once, you’re swept up by the fervent, agile guitar licks and Winter’s roar of a voice. Organized chronologically, True To The Blues: The Johnny Winter Story begins with the swampy, low-down acoustic blues of “Bad Luck and Trouble” and the upbeat, rollicking “Mean Town Blues,” both original compositions from Winter’s very first record, The Progressive Blues Experiment. Fans, freaks and curious onlookers can get the cream of the crop of Winter’s music on the four-CD box set, True To The Blues: The Johnny Winter Story. Through it all, he’s stayed true to his calling, overcoming personal demons, maintaining a busy and constant touring schedule, and making it all the way to the ripe age of 70 on February 23, 2014. Indeed, Johnny Winter’s career is one of extraordinary opportunities and challenges. “I was hoping I would,” he laughed, “I’m lovin’ it.” That love, passion and dedication to his craft and the blues have resulted in nearly 30 studio and live albums of his own, as well as contributions as a guitarist and producer on dozens of others, including the last four albums by Winter’s hero, Muddy Waters. he made an iconic life for himself by playing the blues.During a brief phone interview in 2013, I asked Johnny Winter if he thought 45 years after playing Woodstock in 1969, he’d still be out playing and touring today. Writing in Rolling Stone magazine, David Marchese said, "Winter was one of the first blues rock guitar virtuosos, releasing a string of popular and fiery albums in the late Sixties and early Seventies, becoming an arena-level concert draw in the process. Winter was professionally active until the time of his death near Zurich, Switzerland, while on tour. A producer of the first order, Winter produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for Muddy Waters Hard Again (1977), I'm Ready (1978), and "Muddy Mississippi Waters – Live (1979)." Johnny was influenced by Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon. Johnny also had a short-lived relationship with Janis Joplin, culminating in a concert at New York's Madison Square Garden, where Johnny joined her on stage to sing and perform-two southeast Texas kids, the toast of New York.Īfter overcoming a heroin addiction in the early 70s, Winter continued to perform live, including at festivals throughout North America and Europe. His performance at Woodstock forever established his rightful place as a guitar superstar. Woodstock's promoter wanted to give lesser-known acts some exposure, and Johnny Winter made the most of it. The two-record album only had three recorded sides (the fourth was blank). Winter recorded his second album, Second Winter, in Nashville in 1969. His band included many local musicians drummer "Uncle John" Turner (a Port Arthur native, singer, and bass player), Tommy Shannon (who would later play with Stevie Ray Vaughn), plus Edgar Winter on keyboards and saxophone. He released the Johnny Winter album in 1969. Winter signed with Columbia Records and quickly began to play major venues. Nearly every major label was looking for him. When he returned home, he discovered that Rolling Stone had printed an article raving about an unknown albino blues guitarist from Texas. Seeking a major music contract, Winter traveled to England in 1968 in search of a more receptive musical climate. Winter would sometimes sit in with Roy Head and the Traits (another MOGC Hall of Fame inductee) when they performed in the Beaumont area, and in 1967 Winter recorded a single with the Traits: "Tramp" backed with "Parchman Farm." In 1968, he released his first album, "The Progressive Blues Experiment, on Austin's Sonobeat Records. Starting in his mid-teens and through his early twenties, Johnny was touring with Gene Terry and the Downbeats and working gigs in Texas and Louisiana with his own bands, Johnny and The Jammers, the Crystaliers, and The Black Plague. Johnny learned to play the clarinet at five years old, followed by the ukulele at 8, and guitar at age 11. Johnny Winter and his brother, Edgar, grew up in Beaumont, Texas. Johnny Winter was born in Leland, Mississippi.
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