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Johnny Winter
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- About Me:
- For nearly four decades, Johnny Winter has been a guitar hero without equal. Signing to Columbia Records in 1969, Johnny immediately laid out the blueprint for his fresh take on classic blues—a prime combination of sounds for legions of fans just discovering the music via the likes of Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton. Constantly shifting between simple country blues in the vein of Robert Johnson to all-out electric slide guitar blues-rock, Johnny has always been one of the most respected singers and guitarists in rock. And he’s the clear link between British blues-rock and American Southern rock bands like the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, Johnny was the unofficial torch-bearer for the blues, championing and aiding the careers of his idols like Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker.
Winter, a native Texan, was born and bred in Beaumont, the town where the famous Spindletop gusher came in to kick off the “black gold” rush in 1901. Growing up in a rough-and-tumble town populated by oilfield wildcatters and shipyard workers, Johnny spent long hours listening to a local deejay named J.P. Richardson—a.k.a. The Big Bopper of “Chantilly Lace” fame—and became hooked on ‘50s rock n’ roll. He formed his first band, Johnny and the Jammers, in 1959 at the age of 15, with his 12-year-old brother Edgar on keyboards.
Racial tensions in Beaumont were high in those days. The town had been the site of one of the worst race riots in Texas history just nine months before Johnny’s birth. Mobs wandered the streets, businesses burned, martial law went into effect, and more than 2,000 uniformed National Guardsmen and Texas Rangers sealed off the town from the rest of the world until tempers cooled. Despite the town’s brutal legacy, Johnny remembers never hesitating as a kid to venture into black neighborhoods to hear and play music.
Looking back, he believes people in the black community knew that he was sincere, that he was genuinely possessed by the blues. “Nothing ever happened to me,” he recalls. “I went to black clubs all the time, and nobody ever bothered me. I always felt welcome.” He also became friends with Clarence Garlow, a deejay at the black radio station KJET in Beaumont. Garlow opened Winter’s eyes and ears to rural blues and Cajun music. Clarence recorded for the swamp boogie specialty label Goldband, KRCO, Frolic, Diamond, Moon-Lite, Hall-Way and other regional labels.
There’s a famous story about a time in 1962 when Johnny and his brother went to see B.B. King at a Beaumont club called the Raven. The only whites in the crowd, they no doubt stood out. But Johnny already had his guitar chops down and wanted to play with the revered B.B. “I was about 17,” Johnny remembers, “and B.B. didn’t want to let me on stage at first. He asked me for a union card, and I had one. Also, I kept sending people over to ask him to let me play. Finally, he decided that there were enough people who wanted to hear me that, no matter if I was good or not, it would be worth it to let me on stage. He gave me his guitar and let me play. I got a standing ovation, and he took his guitar back!”
Winter’s big breakthrough came in 1968 when Rolling Stone writers Larry Sepulvado and John Burks featured him in a piece on the Texas music scene. The article prompted a bidding war among labels that Columbia eventually won.
Johnny’s self-titled 1969 disc announced loudly that there was a new guitar-slinger on the new national scene. The disc included audacious covers, including such blues classics as B.B. King’s “Be Careful with a Fool,” Sonny Boy Williamson II’s “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl,” Robert Johnson’s “When You Got a Good Friend” and fellow Texan Lightin’ Hopkins’ “Back Door Friend.” It also featured two prime original Winter songs, “Dallas” and the controversial “I’m Yours and I’m Hers,” that went into heavy rotation on FM underground radio.
The album peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard charts and was promptly followed by Second Winter that same year. Looking back, writer Cub Koda described the period as one when “Straight out of Texas with a hot trio, Winter made blues-rock music for the angels.” That trio, by the way, included bassist Tommy Shannon, who would go on to be part of Stevie Ray Vaughan’ s Double Trouble, and drummer Uncle John Turner.
Winter stayed with Columbia and its boutique Blue Sky label for more than a decade, turning out such well-received platters as Johnny Winter And (1970), Still Alive and Well (1973) and John Dawson Winter III (1974). He also helped to introduce blues giant Muddy Waters to another generation of listeners by producing and playing guitar on the Grammy-winning Hard Again (1977), as well as the Grammy-nominated I’m Ready (1978), Muddy “Mississippi” Waters Live (1979) and King Bee (1981). The collaborations were so successful that Waters took to referring to Johnny as his “adopted son”!
________________________________________
A LOOK BACK
1944—John Dawson Winter III is born in Beaumont, Texas, on February 23. His brother Edgar is born three years later.
1953 – 1959—Johnny begins playing clarinet at age five; he switches to ukulele, then guitar a few years later. Performing with Edgar as a duo in an Everly Brothers vein, the Winters win a talent contest and appear on local television shows.
1959—The Winter brothers travel to New York to audition for Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour. Soon thereafter, they receive their first taste of rock n’ roll. The Winters gain regional notoriety with the singles “School Day Blues” and “You Know I Love You” released on Houston-based Dart Records. During this time, Johnny begins frequenting all-black blues clubs, and over the years he sits in with such heroes as Muddy Waters, B.B. King and Bobby Bland.
1959—At age 14, Johnny forms his first band, Johnny and the Jammers, with Edgar on piano.
1962 – 1965—Johnny cuts singles as a leader and sideman for regional labels such as Kroc, Frolic, Diamond, Goldband, Jin and Todd. In 1963, he moves to Chicago to check out the blues scene but ends up playing twist clubs. He returns to Beaumont and records “Eternally,” a pop-flavored number with horn arrangements by Edgar. The single is licensed by Atlantic Records and becomes a hit in the Texas/Louisiana region.
1965 – 1967—Johnny gigs relentlessly throughout the deep South, both with his own band (alternately known as The Cyrstaliers and It and Them) and in a band with Edgar called Black Plague.
1967—Following two and a half years of barnstorming, Johnny settles in Houston.
1968—Surveying the Texas music scene, Rolling Stone magazine dubs Johnny Winter the hottest item outside Janis Joplin. The article creates a flood of interest in The Progressive Blues Experiment, an album of straight blues recorded by Winter’s trio with bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer uncle John Turner, and released nationally by Imperial.
1968 – 1974—Signed to a much ballyhooed contract with Columbia Records, Johnny’s scorching 1968 debut album Johnny Winter leads a steady stream of hard-hitting blues-rock albums, including Second Winter (1969), Johnny Winter (1970), Still Alive and Well (1973) and Saints and Sinners (1974).
1974 – 1977—Winter joins CBS Records affiliate Blue Sky and releases John Dawson Winter III (1974). Other Blue Sky gems include Captured Live (1976) and the acclaimed 1977 album Nothin’ But the Blues, which features Winter accompanied by Muddy Waters’ band.
1977 – 1980—Fulfilling a dream, Winter begins working with blues guitarist Muddy Waters. During the ensuing years they collaborate on a series of classic Blue Sky albums. Winter produces and plays guitar on Waters’ Grammy-winning comeback album Hard Again, Grammy-winning I’m Ready (1978), the Grammy-winning Muddy “Mississippi” Waters Live (1979) and King Bee (1980).
1984 – 1986—Guitar Slinger, Winter’s Grammy-nominated 1984 Alligator Records debut, ends a four-year recording hiatus and ushers in a new creative groove. His Alligator label output continues with the Grammy-nominated Serious Business (1985), Third Degree (1986) and producing and performing on harmonica master Sonny Terry’s Think I Got the Blues.
1988—The Winter of ‘88 on the MCA-distributed Voyager label shows Winter experimenting with a more contemporary-flavored sound. Johnny is inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame.
1991—Winter returns to his blues roots with a vengeance. His Grammy-nominated Let Me In marks a powerful debut on the Pointblank label. The album boasts guest appearances by Dr. John and Albert Collins. Produced by Dick Shurman, the disc features the memorable “Illustrated Man,” a song by the Nashville team of Fred James and Mary-Ann Brandon that chronicles Johnny’s well-tattooed torso. Other tracks include Winter’s own title tune and his equally astonishing “If You Got a Good Woman,” as well as Dr. John’s “You Lie Too Much”—with the good doctor on ivories.
1992—Brandishing a tongue-in-cheek title and wicked, no-frills blues, Hey Where’s Your Brother?, Winter’s sophomore Pointblank release, earns him another Grammy nomination.
1993—Winter performs “Highway 61 Revisited,” a highlight of Bob Dylan’s 30th Anniversary Tribute album, released by Columbia Records on CD and video.
1997—Live in New York City ‘97, Winter’s third Pointblank record, offers a scorching collection of concert favorites. The first album of new Winter material in five years, Live in NYC ‘97 was recorded at New York’s Bottom Line in April. The songs are selected by members of Winter’s fan club. The entire album is a gesture of gratitude by Johnny to his many fans worldwide.
2004—The Grammy-nominated I’m a Bluesman, released by Virgin Records, adds to Johnny’s Texas-sized reputation. For this release, Johnny again pairs with longtime producer Dick Shurman (Robert Cray, Albert Collins, Roy Buchanan) as well as Tom Hambridge (Susan Tedeschi, George Thorogood). Backing him on the disc is his scorching road-tested touring band of ace harmonica man James Montgomery; guitarist Paul Nelson, who co-penned the title track; bassist Scott Spray; and drummer Wayne June. Guest appearances are made by such friends as keyboardist Reese Wynans (from Stevie Ray Vaughan’s celebrated backing group, Double Trouble), among others.
2005—Johnny and Edgar are inducted into the Southeast Texas “Walk of Fame” at Ford Park in their hometown of Beaumont for their contributions to music and career accomplishments.
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I wish I was up at The Club Soda in Montreal Apr 24 to see you both together!! My friend's birthday is that day and he will be there if you get a chance wish Dave a happy birthday :) for me
Blue Skies
Breeze
The 30th of december last year it suddenly appear a lighting sceanery on heaven. Luckely I managed to grab a camera and save the image. It was almost like the creator came down in his greatness. With this photo I want to wish you and yours a merry christmas and a happy, new year full of posibilities and great moments.
Peace, love and respect.
(www.jette.biz)Take care my friend, make time and have a great weekend.
Love and respect. Grandpa_Erik
Have a fantastic blues weekend.Blues'on. Grandpa_Erik
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