Blues Guitarist Johnny Winter dies at 70

[JaxSon]

http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/17/showbi...html?hpt=hp_t2

JW has always been one of my favorite guitar players. His "Second Winter" album is right up at there at the top. I saw him play live in Memphis, TN way back in 1976. He was whipping out hot blues licks 25 years before Stevie Ray Vaughn hit the scene.

RIP

[slgrieb]

http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/17/showbi...html?hpt=hp_t2

JW has always been one of my favorite guitar players. His "Second Winter" album is right up at there at the top. I saw him play live in Memphis, TN way back in 1976. He was whipping out hot blues licks 25 years before Stevie Ray Vaughn hit the scene.

RIP

Been a tough couple of years for losing great artists. Hate to see Winters go. Killer guitarist, fine record producer.

[Tekboy]

One of the all time greats. I ran into him at Soap Creek Saloon in Austin back in 1973, just after he had released "Still Alive and Well". He was so loaded (he was partying with Doug Sahm and Roky Erickson) that all he had was "Hi, I'm Johnny Winter". There was absolutely no harm in that man.

[JaxSon]

Just had to go listen to his first album, Progressive Blues Experiment, from 1969. It still has it cracks and pops and everything. And I love it!



Probably my favorite song is his remake of B.B. King's, It's My Own Fault.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ72d...312D1E810D53B9

It's over 7 minutes long but you get a good taste of what this guy was capable of way back when with no special effects but a guitar and a big amp. Of course, a hot bass and drums finish it out.

[slgrieb]

Good times for the Blues, back then. Winters and Bloomfield were getting attention, and they were driving new listeners to B.B., Freddie King, Albert Collins, Lightnin' Hopkins, and one of my personal favorites, Mance Lipscomb http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co-lFidsM6Q That was back in the day when Stevie Ray Vaughn was just starting to cut his teeth as a blues man. Speaking of overlooked guys, check out this cut from Mississippi Fred McDowell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TyzAAwJnIw

[slgrieb]

When it comes to younger Blues guys, it doesn't get any better than Keb' Mo' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TyzAAwJnIw and Sonny Landreth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf2k7WpkIxQ

OK, fine, strictly speaking, this isn't Landreth playing the Blues, but he does and this is just such a kick ass cut I had to post it.

[slgrieb]

One of the all time greats. I ran into him at Soap Creek Saloon in Austin back in 1973, just after he had released "Still Alive and Well". He was so loaded (he was partying with Doug Sahm and Roky Erickson) that all he had was "Hi, I'm Johnny Winter". There was absolutely no harm in that man.

That had to have been a real rush! These days, I wonder just how many folks remember either Sahm or Erickson. For my money, Roky is hands down the greatest electric jug player who has ever lived.

[slgrieb]

When it comes to younger Blues guys, it doesn't get any better than Keb' Mo' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TyzAAwJnIw and Sonny Landreth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf2k7WpkIxQ

OK, fine, strictly speaking, this isn't Landreth playing the Blues, but he does and this is just such a kick ass cut I had to post it.

I'm not sure just how I double posted the Fred McDowell cut and left out Keb' Mo' but here's the correct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-ZFg5-oaS0