RIP Johnny Winter

philbrown · Post by **philbrown** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 4:56 am

Legendary Johnny Winter Dies at 70.
Texas blues icon Johnny Winter has passed away on July 16, 2014 in his hotel room in Zurich, Switzerland.

He was a huge early influence on my guitar playing and also the first concert I ever saw (with my dad) at Memorial Hall in Kansas City. He was jamming with the drummer and backed right off the stage. Only missed a couple of bars, jumped up on the stage and sat on the edge and played like nothing ever happened.

MIDI Life Crisis · Post by **MIDI Life Crisis** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 6:54 am

Saw him a few times - remarkable. Sorry to hear of his passing.

wylie1 · Post by **wylie1** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 8:04 am

First stuff I learned on guitar 40yrs ago
Thanx for the inspiration Johnny.

Shooshie · Post by **Shooshie** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 9:33 am

I think one of our members used to perform with Johnny. I'll let him weigh in on the subject.

Sorry to hear of his passing. He and Edgar were icons in the Houston area where I grew up, but he's much older than I.

RIP Johnny

MIDI Life Crisis · Post by **MIDI Life Crisis** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 9:52 am

Shooshie wrote:...but he's much older than I.

Sure! Rub it in... LOL

buzzsmith · Post by **buzzsmith** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 11:01 am

Yes. I played with Johnny and Edgar for a couple of years prior to either's national recognition. Amazing talents. Back then we were basically a club cover band.

(Me, 2nd from left. This was a promo photo for our engagement at Sak's Boom Boom Room in Bossier City.)

Buzzy

wylie1 · Post by **wylie1** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 11:16 am

great photo

buzzsmith · Post by **buzzsmith** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 11:50 am

I have dozens but we won't belabor.

This is from the Act III Club-Houston enjoying a moment outside on a break. Around late spring 1966. Different bass player.

buzzsmith · Post by **buzzsmith** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 11:52 am

Yes, Shooshie, Johnny passed at age 70 and I believe Edgar is now 67.

I also think that Edgar's health is very good.

Buzzy

buzzsmith · Post by **buzzsmith** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 11:54 am

Last one, I promise.

A very young Johnny and Edgar Winter with mom, Edwina, at the piano.
From Edgar Winter's web site.

Shooshie · Post by **Shooshie** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 1:10 pm

MIDI Life Crisis wrote:
Shooshie wrote:...but he's much older than I.
Sure! Rub it in... LOL

I guess 11 years isn't so much. But it seemed like it back then.

Buzzy has a lot of pictures on his Facebook page. I highly recommend a jaunt down memory lane, or in Buzzy's case, the time-machine super-highway! I spent a couple evenings there, and I don't know if I saw everything, but I sure saw a lot. I think I made the whole circuit of at least several of the albums. Of course, a lot of it is regionally biased for those of us who grew up around Houston and who remember all those names and places associated with music. Clubs, studios, dance halls, radio stations, you name it; they're all in Buzzy's collection.

Shoosh

crduval · Post by **crduval** » Fri Jul 18, 2014 4:29 pm

I absolutely loved his guitar playing. I was a huge fan and learned all the tunes s from his Austin Texas album, Live And and John Dawson Winter III when I was a kid. I finally saw him live in college, and he really ripped it up. I loved his aggressive rock and roll take on the blues and of course his singing voice was unforgettable.

My favorite recorded moment was from Edgar Winter's fantastic Roadwork live album, when Edgar says "people keep askin' me, where's your brother?' Followed by the unmistakeable sound of his guitar and him going "yeah!" - then a great live version of rock and roll hoochie koo. Awesome!

RIP Johnny, thanks for all the great music!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

bayswater · Post by **bayswater** » Fri Jul 18, 2014 5:30 pm

I only saw him once in Waterloo around 1971. Things were a lot simpler then. A couple of amps per musician, a few mics to pick up vocals and the drums. They came on stage, plugged in and started playing.

Right away, I was in total awe of the playing, the sound, and control he had of the guitar and amp. Then about a minute into the first song, he stopped and waved to the rest of the band for silence. He went up to the mic, apologized for his bad playing, and started over again.

Shooshie · Post by **Shooshie** » Fri Jul 18, 2014 10:35 pm

buzzsmith wrote:

Cool microphones! I guess the SM55 was kinda the thing, then. In 50 years we've made it all the way up to the SM58!

Shoosh

David Polich · Post by **David Polich** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 1:15 pm

So sad to hear this. I wore out my copy of "Second Winter" and "Johnny Winter And Live".
Incredible guitar playing. I can't think of anyone alive today who could fill Johnny's shoes.

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