Johnny Winter

Johnny Winter, blues guitar legend

Passes away at the age of 70

 

Sad news: blues guitar legend Johnny Winter  has passed away at the age of 70 in his hotel room in Zurich Switzerland.

Along with his brother, Edgar Winter, Johnny Winter was a legend and a touring fiend who played thousands of shows around the world since bursting on the scene a half a century ago.  Well known for his looks, as both he and his brother were very distinctive in their look as a result of their albinism, Winter’s legacy included not only his own song writing and guitar work, but also significant work as a producer. Johnny Winter 3

Three times he won a Grammy for producing albums by the greatest legend of the blues, Muddy Waters.  He is an inductee into the Blues hall of fame, and the musicians with whom he has shared the stage, studio and good times is a roll call of the best blues and rock performers of all time.

Winters remained quite active all the way up to the end, including a final performance in France at the Cahors blues festival.  Two days later he passed away in his hotel room, and his family has asked for privacy until such a time as is appropriate.  The exact cause of death has not been released.

Johnny and his brother were both nurtured into musical pursuits by their parents and began performing at an early age.  From his start on a local TV show where he played an Everly Brothers song on ukelele with his brother, Johnny Winter’s public display of his musical talents was seemingly never ending.  He began recording and releasing material as a teen ager and continue to do so for nearly six decades.  Below is a list of his releases.  Winters was preparing to release a new album on September 2nd called “Step Back.”Johnny Winter 2

Vermont blues guitarist Dave Keller reflected, “Winters did an amazing job on producing the final records of Muddy Waters, bringing him back into the spotlight.” 

MA blues guitar slinger Wildcat O’Halloran says “Johnny was the guy I’ve seen the most times of anybody.  He was lightning fast and yet every note was all purely the blues and nothing but the blues.  He never quite had the popular fame of an Eric Clapton but he was an idol to me and millions of other guitar players.  He also gave Muddy Waters a tremendous gift, a couple of fine albums where he brought Muddy to a big label late in his career.”

Erin Harpe, of the Delta Swingers out of Boston, “Just before we went to Europe this Spring, we saw him play at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, MA.  He was great, though he was having a hard time with his health.  It was really cool to see him.  His guitar playing was very influential on a lot of guitar players, myself included.  Going to see Johnny helped me to branch out and connect to that electric style for which he is well known, and was one of the best.”  

 

 

 

 

 

Johnny Winter studio album releases:

YearAlbum informationPeak chart positions
U.S.
1968The Progressive Blues Experiment

  • Released: 1968
  • Label: Sonobeat
40
1969Johnny Winter

  • Released: 1969
  • Label: Columbia
24
Second Winter

  • Released: 1969
  • Label: Columbia
55
1970Johnny Winter And

  • Released: 1970
  • Label: Columbia
154
1973Still Alive and Well

  • Released: 1973
  • Label: Columbia
22
1974Saints & Sinners

  • Released: 1974
  • Label: Columbia
42
John Dawson Winter III

  • Released: December 1974
  • Label: Blue Sky
78
1977Nothin’ but the Blues

  • Released: November 1977
  • Label: Blue Sky
146
1978White, Hot and Blue

  • Released: 1978
  • Label: Blue Sky
141
1980Raisin’ Cain

  • Released: 1980
  • Label: Blue Sky
1984Guitar Slinger

  • Released: 1984
  • Label: Alligator
183
1985Serious Business

  • Released: 1985
  • Label: Alligator
156
1986Third Degree

  • Released: 1986
  • Label: Alligator
1988The Winter of ’88

  • Released: 1988
  • Label: MCA
1991Let Me In

  • Released: 1991
  • Label: Point Blank
108
1992Hey, Where’s Your Brother?

  • Released: 1992
  • Label: Point Blank
2004I’m a Bluesman

  • Released: 2004
  • Label: Virgin
40
2011Roots

  • Released: 2011
  • Label: Sonobeat
163

 

 

Live albums[edit]

Compilation albums[edit]

  • The Johnny Winter Story aka Raised on Rock (Columbia 1980)
  • Scorchin’ Blues (Columbia 1992)
  • A Rock N’ Roll Collection (Columbia 1994)
  • Anthology (Columbia 1995)
  • Return of Johnny Guitar (The Best of Johnny Winter 1984-86) (Empire 1996)
  • White Hot Blues (Sony 1997)
  • Deluxe Edition (Alligator 2001)
  • The Best of Johnny Winter (Sony 2002)
  • The Johnny Winter Anthology (Shout 2009)
  • Bamfest 2007 (Sugar River 2008)
  • Essential Johnny Winter (Columbia 2013)
  • True To the Blues: The Johnny Winter Story (Legacy 2014)

As producer and guitarist[edit]