Johnny Winter: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|American blues guitarist and singer (1944–2014)}}

'''John Dawson Winter III''' (February 23, 1944 – July 16, 2014) was an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, and guitaristrecord producer.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ruhlmann |first1=William |title=Johnny Winter {{!}} Album Discography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/johnny-winter-mn0000819983/discography |website=AllMusic |language=en-us}}</ref> Winter was known for his high-energy [[blues rock]] albums and, live performances, inand slide guitar playing from the late 1960s andinto the early 1970s2000s. He also produced three [[Grammy Award]]-winning albums for blues singer and guitarist [[Muddy Waters]]. After his time with Waters, Winter recorded several Grammy-nominated blues albums. In 1988, he was inducted into the [[Blues Foundation]] Hall of Fame and in 2003, he was ranked 63rd in [[Rolling Stone (magazine)|''Rolling Stone'']] magazine's list of the "[[Rolling Stone's 100 greatest guitarists of all time|100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time]]".<ref>{{cite magazine | title=100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-20111123/johnny-winter-20111122|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222014705/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-20111123/johnny-winter-20111122|archive-date=February 22, 2016}}</ref>

Johnny Winter was born in [[Beaumont, Texas]], on February 23, 1944.<ref name="Sullivan">{{cite book| last = Sullivan| first = Mary Lou| title = Raisin' Cain: The Wild and Raucous Story of Johnny Winter| publisher = Backbeat Books| year = 2010| isbn = 978-0-87930-973-2|pages=5, 19–21, 120–121, 327}}</ref> He and his younger brother [[Edgar Winter|Edgar]] (born 1946) were nurtured at an early age by their parents in musical pursuits.<ref name="Sullivan"/> Both were born with [[albinism in humans|albinism]]. Their father, [[Leland, Mississippi]] native John Dawson Winter Jr. (1909–2001), was also a musician who played saxophone and guitar and sang at churches, weddings, Kiwanis and Rotary Club gatherings. Johnny and his brother began performing at an early age. When Winter was ten years old, the brothers appeared on a local children's show with Johnny playing ukulele.

His recording career began at the age of 15, when his band Johnny and the Jammers released "School Day Blues" on a Houston record label.<ref name="Sullivan" /> During thisthat same period, he was able to see performances by classic blues artists such as Muddy Waters, [[B.B. King]], and [[Bobby Bland]]. In the early days, Winter would sometimes sit in with [[Roy Head]] and the Traits when they performed in the Beaumont area, and in 1967, Winter recorded a single with the Traits: "[[Tramp (Lowell Fulson song)|Tramp]]" backed with "[[Parchman Farm (song)|Parchman Farm]]" (Universal Records 30496). In 1968, he released his first album ''[[The Progressive Blues Experiment]]'', on Austin's [[Sonobeat Records]].

| first = Cub| author-link = Cub Koda| work = [[AllMusic]]| access-date = July 17, 2014}}</ref> It featured the same backing musicians with whom he had recorded ''The Progressive Blues Experiment'', bassist [[Tommy Shannon]] and drummer Uncle John Turner, plus Edgar Winter on keyboards and saxophone on 2 tracks, and (for his "Mean Mistreater") [[Willie Dixon]] on upright bass and [[Big Walter Horton]] on harmonica. The album featured a few selections that became Winter signature songs, including his compositionsong "Dallas" (an acoustic blues, on which Winter played a steel-bodied, [[resonator guitar]]), [[Sonny Boy Williamson I|John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson]]'s "[[Good Morning Little School Girl]]", and B.B. King's "Be Careful with a Fool".<ref name="Koda"/>

Contrary to [[urban legend]], Johnny Winter did not perform with [[Jimi Hendrix]] and [[Jim Morrison]] on the infamous 1968 Hendrix bootleg album ''[[Bleeding Heart (album)|Woke up this Morning and Found Myself Dead]]'' from New York City's [[The Scene (performance venue)|the Scene]] club. According to Winter, "I never even met Jim Morrison! There's a whole album of Jimi and Jim and I'm supposedly on the album but I don't think I am 'cause I never met Jim Morrison in my life! I'm sure I never, never played with Jim Morrison at all! I don't know how that [rumor] got started."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.djnoble.demon.co.uk/ints/JOHNNYW.INT.html |title=Johnny Winter on Jimi Hendrix |magazine=UniVibes |date=January 28, 1970 |access-date=March 6, 2012 |archive-date=February 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214061710/http://www.djnoble.demon.co.uk/ints/JOHNNYW.INT.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In live performances, Winter often told the story about how, as a child, he dreamed of playing with the blues guitarist [[Muddy Waters]]. He got his chance in 1974, when blues artists came together to honor Waters, the musician responsible for bringing blues to Chicago; the resulting concert presented many blues classics and was the start of a TV series, ''[[Soundstage (TV series)|Soundstage]]'' (this particular session was called "Blues Summit in Chicago"). And in 1977, after Waters' long-time label [[Chess Records]] went out of business,<ref name="Sullivan"/> Winter brought Waters into the studio to record ''[[Hard Again]]'' for [[Blue Sky Records]], a label set up by Winter's manager and distributed by Columbia.<ref name="Deming"/> In addition to producing the album, Winter played guitar with Waters veteran [[James Cotton]] on harmonica. Winter produced two more studio albums for Waters, ''[[I'm Ready (Muddy Waters album)|I'm Ready]]'' (with Big Walter Horton on harmonica) and ''[[King Bee (album)|King Bee]]'' and a best-selling live album ''[[Muddy "Mississippi" Waters – Live]]''.<ref name="Deming"/> The partnership produced three [[Grammy Awards]] for Waters and an additional Grammy for Winter's own ''[[Nothin' But the Blues (Johnny Winter album)|Nothin' But the Blues]]'', with backing by members of Waters' band. Waters told ''Deep Blues'' author [[Robert Palmer (American writer)|Robert Palmer]] that Winter had done remarkable work in reproducing the sound and atmosphere of Waters's vintage [[Chess Records]] recordings of the 1950s. AllMusic writer Mark Deming noted: "Between ''Hard Again'' and ''[[The Last Waltz]]'' [1976 concert film by [[The Band]]], Waters enjoyed a major career boost, and he found himself touring again for large and enthusiastic crowds".<ref name="Deming">

After his time with Blue Sky Records, Winter began recording for several labels, including [[Alligator Records|Alligator]], [[Point Blank Records|Point Blank]], and [[Virgin Records|Virgin]], where he focused on blues-oriented material.<ref name="Sullivan"/> In 2004, he received a [[Grammy Award]] nomination for his ''I'm a Bluesman'' album. Beginning in 2007, a series of live Winter albums titled the ''Live Bootleg Series'' and [[Live from Japan|a live DVD]] all entered the Top 10 ''[[Billboard charts|Billboard]]'' Blues chart. In 2009, ''[[The Woodstock Experience]]'' album was released, which includes eight songs that Winter performed at the 1969 festival. In 2011, Johnny Winter released ''[[Roots (Johnny Winter album)|Roots]]'' on [[Megaforce Records]]. It includes Winter's interpretation of eleven early blues and rock 'n' roll classics and features several guest artists ([[Vince Gill]], [[Sonny Landreth]], [[Susan Tedeschi]], Edgar Winter, [[Warren Haynes]], and [[Derek Trucks]]). His last studio album, ''[[Step Back (album)|Step Back]]'' (which features appearances by [[Joe Bonamassa]], [[Eric Clapton]], [[Billy Gibbons]], [[Leslie West]], [[Brian Setzer]], [[Dr. John]], [[Paul Nelson (musician)|Paul Nelson]], [[Ben Harper]] and [[Joe Perry (musician)|Joe Perry]]), was released on September 2, 2014. Nelson and Winter won a Grammy Award in the Best Blues Album category for ''[[Step Back (album)|Step Back]]'' in 2015. Nelson said Winter knew it was an award winner and Winter told him "If we don't win a Grammy for this, they're nuts."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://californiarocker.com/2017/02/08/paul-nelson-joe-louis-walker-grammy/ |title=Paul Nelson GRAMMY Nom: 'My Friend the Late Johnny Winter Would Be Proud of Joe Louis Walker and Me' |publisher=California Rocker |date=February 8, 2017 |access-date=October 26, 2017 |archive-date=October 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027025022/http://californiarocker.com/2017/02/08/paul-nelson-joe-louis-walker-grammy/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Teddy Slatus Managementmanagement ===

During the time Teddy Slatus was employed as Winter's manager (1984 to 2005) it has been alleged Slatus abused his power and continued to give Winter [[Methadonemethadone]] to stop him from asking about getting paid. Johnny could barely talk or play anymore until [[Paul Nelson (musician)|Paul Nelson]] took over Johnny's management in 2005, slowly easing him off drugs, alcohol, and smoking.

<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thesunchronicle.com/devices/features/stories/after-battling-anxiety-and-addiction-veteran-bluesman-johnny-winter-returns-to-his-roots/article_3edeeb49-2758-59d2-9d6c-87e76cc81259.html | title=After battling anxiety and addiction, veteran bluesman Johnny Winter returns to his 'Roots' | date=January 2014 }}</ref>

In 1993 Winter married Susan Warford, who died in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/johnny-winter-still-alive-well |title=Johnny Winter: Still Alive & Well |publisher=Guitar World |date=July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/johnny-winter-1944-2014 |title=Johnny Winter: the crazy tale of the man behind the myth |first=Mary Lou |last=Sullivan |date=August 18, 2014 |publisher=loudersound.com |access-date=19 January 2023 |quote=Johnny always had multiple girlfriends but he told them outright that he couldn’t be true to one person. But Susan finally had enough of it. She told him if he didn’t marry her and get rid of the girlfriend he had set up in a high-rise apartment in Houston (the woman in the photo), she would leave. They were married in 1993 and had been together for 42 years when he died in July.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://hankinsandwhittington.com/tribute/details/150599/Susan-Winter/obituary.html | title=Obituary of Susan Warford Winter &#124; Hankins and Whittington Funeral Services }}</ref>

Winter was professionally active until the time of his death near [[Zürich]], Switzerland, on July 16, 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.americanbluesscene.com/2014/07/johnny-winter-dead/|title=Johnny Winter dies at 70|date=July 17, 2014|publisher=American Blues Scene|access-date=July 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718033254/http://www.americanbluesscene.com/2014/07/johnny-winter-dead/|archive-date=July 18, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was found dead in his hotel room two days after his last performance, at the [[Cahors#Culture|Cahors Blues Festival]] in France.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-johnny-winter-20140718-story.html |title=Johnny Winter dies at 70; dazzling blues guitarist |newspaper=LA Times |date=July 17, 2014}}</ref> The cause of Winter's death was not officially released.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.expatica.com/ch/news/swiss-news/us-blues-legend-johnny-winter-dies-at-70_297414.html |title=US blues legend Johnny Winter dies at 70 in Zurich |date=July 17, 2014 |publisher=Expatica Switzerland |access-date=July 17, 2014 |archive-date=July 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726004749/http://www.expatica.com/ch/news/swiss-news/us-blues-legend-johnny-winter-dies-at-70_297414.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> According to his guitarist friend and record producer [[Paul Nelson (musician)|Paul Nelson]], Winter died of [[emphysema]] combined with [[pneumonia]].<ref name=PennyBlack1>Torem, Lisa (February 9, 2015). [http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Article.aspx?id=7781 "Paul Nelson: Interview Part 1"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901221051/http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Article.aspx?id=7781 |date=September 1, 2018 }}, Penny Black Music. Retrieved February 11, 2015.</ref>

Writing in ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine, after Winter's death, 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"&nbsp;... [he] "made an iconic life for himself by playing the blues".<ref>Marchese, David (July 17, 2014). [https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-lion-in-johnny-winter-a-tribute-to-the-guitar-icon-20140717 "The Lion in Johnny Winter: A Tribute to the Guitar Icon"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223180642/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-lion-in-johnny-winter-a-tribute-to-the-guitar-icon-20140717 |date=February 23, 2018 }}. ''Rolling Stone''. Retrieved October 30, 2014.</ref>

Winter produced three [[Grammy Award]]-winning albums by [[Muddy Waters]] – ''[[Hard Again]]'' (1977), ''[[I'm Ready (Muddy Waters album)|I'm Ready]]'' (1978), and ''[[Muddy "Mississippi" Waters – Live]]'' (1979).<ref name="JohnnyWinterNet">{{cite web| url = http://www.johnnywinter.com/| title = Johnny Winter | website = JohnnyWinterNet| publisher = Bullseye Management| access-date = July 17, 2014}}</ref> Several of Winter's own albums were nominated for Grammy Awards – ''[[Guitar Slinger (Johnny Winter album)|Guitar Slinger]]'' (1984) and ''[[Serious Business (Johnny Winter album)|Serious Business]]'' (1985) for [[Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album|Best Traditional Blues Album]], and ''[[Let Me In (Johnny Winter album)|Let Me In]]'' (1991) and ''[[I'm a Bluesman]]'' (2004) for [[Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album|Best Contemporary Blues Album]]. In 2015 Winter posthumously won the [[Grammy Award for Best Blues Album]] for ''[[Step Back (album)|Step Back]]''.<ref name=BeaumontEnterprise>Tobias, Mike (February 8, 2015). [http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Winter-s-Step-Back-wins-Grammy-for-Best-Blues-6070031.php "Winter's ''Step Back'' Wins Grammy for Best Blues Album"], ''[[The Beaumont Enterprise]]''. Retrieved February 9, 2015.</ref> The album also won the 2015 [[Blues Music Award]] for Best Rock Blues Album.<ref>{{cite web |first=Matt |last=Marshall |date=May 7, 2015 |url=https://www.americanbluesscene.com/2015/05/2015-blues-music-awards-winners/ |title=2015 Blues Music Awards Winners |website=American Blues Scene |access-date=June 16, 2017}}</ref> At the 18th [[Maple Blues Awards]] in 2015, Winter was also posthumously awarded the B.B. King International Artist of The Year Award.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://torontobluessociety.com/2015/01/winners-of-the-18th-annual-maple-blues-awards/ |title=Winners of the 18th Annual Maple Blues Awards « Toronto Blues Society |publisher=Torontobluessociety.com |date=January 18, 2015 |access-date=September 30, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706173838/http://torontobluessociety.com/2015/01/winners-of-the-18th-annual-maple-blues-awards/ |archive-date=July 6, 2015 }}</ref>

Multiple guitarists have cited Winter as an influence, including [[Joe Perry (musician)|Joe Perry]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2004-03-19/203047/ |title=The Insider: Joe Perry |first=Andy |last=Langer |date=March 19, 2014 |work=The Austin Chronicle |access-date=January 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Bridging the Gap: Popular Music and Music Education |edition=Illustrated |first1=Carlos Xavier |last1=Rodriguez |publisher=MENC |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-56545-158-2 |page=17 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4UEJAQAAMAAJ}}</ref> [[Frank Marino]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hardradio.com/shockwaves/marino9.php3 |title=A Conversation With FRANK MARINO |first=Bob |last=Nalbandian |work=Shockwave Magazine |access-date=January 5, 2021}}</ref> [[Michael Schenker]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://glidemagazine.com/180867/michael-schenker/ |title=Michael Schenker Keeps Guitar Legacy Alive & Well (INTERVIEW) |first=Leslie Michele |last=Derrough |date=March 6, 2016 |work=Glide Magazine |access-date=January 5, 2021}}</ref> [[Adrian Smith (musician) |Adrian Smith]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/23207-iron-maiden-out-of-thin-air |title=Iron Maiden: Out of Thin Air |first=Joe |last=Bosso |date=October 19, 2017 |work=PremierGuitar |access-date=January 5, 2021}}</ref> and [[Alex Skolnick]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metal-rules.com/interviews/alex.htm |title=Alex Skolnick: Interview with Metal Rules!! |date=January 27, 1998 |work=Metal-Rules.com |access-date=January 5, 2021}}</ref> and [[Billy Corgan]],<ref>{{Cite web|title = I Need a Hero: In honor of Smashing Pumpkins' twentieth anniversary, a list of Billy Corgan's top ten guitar heroes|url = http://www.riverfronttimes.com/stlouis/i-need-a-hero-in-honor-of-smashing-pumpkins-twentieth-anniversary-a-list-of-billy-corgans-top-ten-guitar-heroes/Content?oid=2453505|website = Riverfront Times|access-date = October 25, 2015}}</ref> whose band [[The Smashing Pumpkins]] released a song titled Tribute to Johnny.

The Firebirdoriginal VFirebird was a departure from Gibson's traditional configuration, with [[mini-humbucker]]Firebird "sidewinder" pickups in place of the company's standard sized [[PAF (pickup)|PAF]] humbucker or [[P-90]] single-coil pickup models.<ref name="Hunter"/> Later Firebirds used a different (non-sidewinder) design, which may account for Winter's preference for the 1963. Firebird pickups were still different than Gibson's Mini-Humbuckers, but the terminology is often incorrectly mixed. Firebird pickups, by nature of their design, are brighter than Mini-Humbuckers. In a 2014 interview, Winter described the tone:

*''[[Serious Business (Johnny Winter album)|Serious Business]]'' (Alligator 1985)

*''[[Third Degree (Johnny Winter album)|Third Degree]]'' (Alligator 1986)

[[Category:BluesAmerican rock musicianssingers]]

[[Category:LeadAmerican lead guitarists]]

[[Category:PeopleMusicians from Beaumont, Texas]]

[[Category:RockAmerican andslide roll musiciansguitarists]]