R.I.P. Johnny Winter, blues legend dead at 70

[bluesbassman]

Source: consequenceofsound.net

Blues legend Johnny Winter has died, according to American Blues Scene. He was 70 years old.

The news was also reported by the wife of Winter’s longtime bandmate, Rick Derringer.

Born in Beaumont, Texas in 1944, Winter remained active in music for over five decades, earning acclaim as both a guitarist and record producer. His big break came while opening a show for Mike Bloomfield in 1968. Winter’s performance that evening caught the eye of Columbia Records, who quickly signed him to a contract. He was given a $600,000 advance, the largest one ever received at that time.

In the years that followed, Winter would release nearly 20 albums. He was praised for his high-energy performances and elaborate chops, leading to seven Grammy nominations and a nod as the 63rd best guitarist ever by Rolling Stone.

Read more: http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/07/r-i-p-johnny-winter-blues-legend-dead-at-70/

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One of my all time favorite guitarists. A true Bluesman. RIP Johnny.

[cbayer]

1. RIP. He played a very critical role at a very critical point in my life.

He will always have a place in my heart.

Rock n'Roll Hoochie Koo.

[JI7]

2. looks like we are losing a lot , 70 isn't that old either

[thucythucy]

27. JW had significant health issues all his life.

He was born with albinism, which, from what I understand, often leads to a lower life expectancy.

One of the greats, was JW. I played his albums constantly, back in the day, and had the chance to see him several times. Unbelievable chops.

Sad day for anyone who loves the blues.

[Cirque du So-What]

45. I too had the privilege of seeing him perform several times

His concerts were always amazing.

[thucythucy]

47. I think my favorite album is

"White Hot and Blue"--which from what I see doesn't often get included as his best, but it always gets me jazzed It's mid-seventies, and has just the most incredible slide and lead guitar, great singing, and I forget who the harp player is but some fantastic harmonica solos to complement Winter's guitar. Cool tunes too: Walkin' By Myself, If the River Was Whiskey, One Step at a Time, even a kick-ass version of Messin' with the Kid.

That album, and Buddy Guy's first album "A Man and the Blues" saved my sanity during some very tough years of my life.

What a sad day this has been.

Best wishes to you and yours.

[Cirque du So-What]

48. I'm partial

to Second Winter, although I listened to Johnny Winter And Live until the grooves wore out. That music transports me. Best wishes to you & yours too.

[delrem]

3. He made his mark.

[Granny M]

4. Rest in peace. nt

[dhill926]

5. Aw man...

RIP...

[Unknown Beatle]

6. One of my favorite albums

is Live Johnny Winter And. Great music by a great musician.

RIP Johnny. You and your brother Edgar played great together.

[BobbyBoring]

31. Mine too

And the only 3 sided LP I know of

[Half-Century Man]

7. Once again, it get a tiny bit darker

One of the great tragedies of life is the too few of us worth a damn, are too often here for too short a time.




Penned at a friends funeral, appropriate here

[steve2470]

8. RIP Johnny

I did love Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo.

[brewens]

30. That was a great version on the Edgar Winters White Trash "Roadwork" album.

A local classic rock band would always point out that they played the White Trash version of Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo. Tobacco Road from that album is tremendous as well, Johnny wasn't out there for that as far as I know though.

[steve2470]

34. Johnny's version of Rock and Roll, Hootchie Koo

[SkatmanRoth]

9. RIP Johnny Winter

I loved listening to your music. I listened to it on an AM radio station in Tennessee when we would go out crusin' in our old jalopies.

[Cooley Hurd]

10. Cross gently, Johnny...

[DontTreadOnMe]

12. Great blues guitarist.

Saw him play many times over the decades. He will be missed.

[madokie]

13. RIP, Mr Bluesman

cross gently

[icymist]

14. Awww Man! RIP Johnny Winter.

[GOLGO 13]

15. Aww man! And we just lost the last Ramone too.

Not a good month for rock & roll.

[Nitram]

16. Loved his guitar

His voice, not so much. RIP.

[icymist]

17. Blues legend Johnny Winter dies in Switzerland (2nd source: USA Today)

Guitarist, singer and music producer Johnny Winter has died at age 70.

Winter, older brother of Edgar Winter — also a music legend — rose to fame in the late 1960s and '70s with his performances and recordings that included producing his childhood hero Muddy Waters.

"I love blues. I don't mind a little rock and roll, too, as long as it's blues-based rock and roll," he told Guitar World in 2010.

Winter's representative, Carla Parisi, confirmed Thursday to AP that Winter died Wednesday in a hotel room in Zurich. A Facebook note says "his wife, family and bandmates were all saddened by the loss of one of the world's finest guitarists."

He had been on an extensive tour that took him to Europe for his last performance Saturday at the Lovely Days Festival in Wiesen, Austria. He performed in May at the annual Jazz Fest in New Orleans.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/07/17/blues-legend-johnny-winter-dies-in-switzerland/12771833/

[independentpiney]

18. Shame to see another one go, a great guitarist

But honestly, with his long term heroin use it's impressive he made it this far.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

19. A sad day, indeed...

He was scheduled to play here in town in a couple weeks... He came through Melbourne, FL at LEAST once a year.

[onwardsand upwards]

20. I guess he went away ...

A high energy rocker and an honoured professor of the blues.

The live album, with Rick Derringer, beautifully captured the electrifying atmosphere of his live performances, in his prime. It's still my favourite album of his and, I think, the best work that he or RD ever did. "Mean Town Blues", on that album, is an all-time classic guitar duet/duel that will remain unsurpassed.

Thanks for the good times, and rest in peace, man.

[jcboon]

21. I loved him

RIP Johnny

[panader0]

22. Oh shit...

What sad news. No words....

[malthaussen]

23. Seems like a lot of bluesmen are leaving us lately.

Some in their 90s, some young fellas like Johnny.

-- Mal

[DFW]

24. He was a prince of a guy

I met him at a rock festival in France when I was 18. I had bought a cheap plastic electric guitar in Sweden to carry around just to keep my fingers limber. It was white with some gaudy blue glitter. Looked crazy. Johnny saw it and "had to have it." He said he might not ever play it onstage, but he wanted to hang it on his wall. I said sure--if he gave me back the $40 I had paid for it and let me take a picture of him with it. He immediately agreed to both. I wish I still had that picture!

He was always thin as a rail, but when he got out that firebird and his slide, he was like a dynamo turned up full blast.

[bigtree]

32. great story

[steve2470]

33. great story ! nt

[Dustlawyer]

54. He was a really nice guy! My sister married one of his close friends and he and the whole band

would crash at their house sometimes when he came through Beaumont. Got to meet him there and listen to some great jam in the house. It got a little crazy and I left, wish it had stayed. Introduced a friend in law school in Houston to him who was a huge fan. She was speechless and he was so cool to her, signing her albums and calming her down! We had just knocked on the door of his girlfriend's apartment in downtown Houston and he answered. As soon as I told him who my sister was he relaxed and let us in! It's rare when you meet an idol and they actually deserve your adulation!

[Maynar]

56. Great story, man

Thanks for sharing.

[BabbaTam]

25. you will be missed

Have fun in the angel band brother, I loved how you used to sing your leads as you played them. It sounded cool. Rock on!!

[rickyhall]

26. RIP: Johnny Be Good

[workinclasszero]

28. RIP Johnny

One of the greats has passed on....

[Strelnikov_]

50. One of my favorite videos

Love the outro riff at 5:15

Gibson Firebird . . . thumb pick . . . London '74 with a Texas boy show'in how it's done.

[groundloop]

64. I never have figured out what a 'crossfire hurricane' is

Anyway, I love Johnny's version of that song, thanks for posting the link. Johnny has always been one of my favorite musicians, besides being a great guitarist his voice fit his music perfectly.

[troublesome_mind]

29. Sad day indeed. n/t

[littlemissmartypants]

35. .

[Kali]

36. ...

[rickyhall]

37. So much for my memory

I was thinkin Johnny B Good but it was Jumpin Jack Flash I remember watching him and Edgar on In Concert, mid-70s. But listened to him on underground radio in late-60s also.

[bluesbassman]

38. Johnny played "Johnny B Goode" many times.

Here's a live version from a live show in Copenhagen 1970. Note the bass player is Tommy Shannon who played with Johnny at Woodstock and later joined Chris Layton as "Double Trouble" backing up Stevie Ray Vaughn.

[tymorial]

39. You keep sayin' that your leaving.

If you do I'll help you pack.

[kimbutgar]

40. I had the 45 record of Frankenstein played it so much it had white grooves

I am a R&B fan but that song was awesome. RIP Johnny!

[bluesbassman]

41. Actually "Frankenstein" was an Edgar Winter (Johnny's younger brother) tune.

The guitarist on that track was Ronnie Montrose who was Edgar's guitarist for the entire "They Only Come Out At Night" LP. Ronnie went on to form his own self named band in '73 that included Sammy Hagar as lead singer. We lost Ronnie in 2012.

Great tune though, one of my favorites!

[kimbutgar]

42. Oops my bad. My husband told me it was Johnny Winter

I knew it was by a guy with the last name Winter.

[bluesbassman]

43. No worries, hard to tell them apart sometimes!

Both incredibly gifted musicians.

[Midnight Writer]

57. Frankenstein was written by Johnny Winter

When Johnny's younger brother Edgar was part of Johnny's group, Johnny concocted the instrumental to show off Edgar's multi-instrumental talents. Edgar ran around the stage from keyboards to sax to drums. You can find an early version on Youtube. The hit single version was indeed by the Edgar Winter Group from the "They Only Come At Night" album, an all-time classic rock LP.

Johnny never released the song on an album, but a live version is included on the Second Winter expanded CD release.

Johnny, we will miss you.

[blue neen]

44. RIP Johnny. I used to listen to your music a lot, back in the day.

"Too Much Seconal" is one of my favorite blues cuts. The guitar work is sublime. The flute, well, oh MY.

[bluesbassman]

46. Johnny was an innovator and a great producer too.

He helped Muddy Waters revive his career in the late 70's after Chess folded and Muddy signed with Blue Sky Records. Here's "Hoochie Coochie Man" with Johnny backing up Muddy on slide.

[blue neen]

53. Excellent.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall in THAT studio!

[Half-Century Man]

55. Listening to this, drinking booze straight, and rocking in my chair.

Tonight the years melt away.

He never learned to read or write so well, but he could play a guitar like ringing a bell.
Go, Go, Go Johnny go
Go, Go, Go Johnny go
Go, Go, Go Johnny go
Go, Go, damn; Johnny was great

[blue neen]

62. Yes, that would be the perfect salute to Johnny.

Enjoy.

[awoke_in_2003]

49. Damn...

He was the greatest guitarist from Texas.

[awoke_in_2003]

51. There are two people I regret not seeing live...

Johnny Winter and Roy Orbison.

[Comrade Grumpy]

52. That is sad. I bought his first album when I was a teenager.

[bpollen]

58. At least...

he got to make one more kick-ass record before he passed on. Roots is a fitting epitaph.

[Recursion]

59. That was a guitarist

Damn. The world is poorer for his loss.

[Zorra]

60. RIP. Johnny was a smokin' blues player. Gonna put on Third Degree

and mourn.

[icymist]

61. Here's Johnny Winter playing blues. I just can't believe he's gone...

[groundloop]

65. They just don't make 'em like that anymore.... awesome!!!!

[Sunlei]

63. A true Bluesman. RIP Johnny