Johnny Winter has been a guitar hero without equal. Signing to Columbia records in 1969 called largest solo artist deal of it’s time, Johnny immediately laid out the blueprint for his fresh take on classic blues a prime combination for the legions of fans just discovering the blues 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 guitar players in rock and the clear link between British blues-rock and American Southern rock (a la 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.
Growing up in rough-and-tumble town populated by oilfield wildcatters and shipyard workers, he spent long hours listening to a local deejay named J.P. Richardson – The Big Bopper of “Chantilly Lace” fame – and became hooked on 50’s rock & 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 still high in those days. The town had been side to 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 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 tome. 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. Who opened Winter’s eye’s and ears to rural blues and Cajun music. Clarence, who 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 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 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 a few years later in 1968 when Rolling Stone writers Larry Sepulvado and John Burks featured him in a piece on the Texas Music scene, which 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 such blues classics as B.B. King’s “Be Careful with a Fool,” Sonny Boy Williamson II’s “Good Morning Little School Girl,” 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 chart and was promptly followed by Second Winter later 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 SRV’s Double Trouble and drummer Uncle John Turner. Winter stayed with Columbia and it’s 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”!
Johnny joined Alligator Records in 1984. His desire to record nothing but authentic blues made for a perfect fit. When Johnny released Guitar Slinger later that year, it was widely hailed as his best (and bluesiest) album ever; it charted in both Billboard and Cashbox as well as earning a Grammy nomination. The next year, Johnny followed up Guitar Slinger with Serious Business. The powerhouse album won Johnny his second Grammy nomination with Alligator Records. Third Degree, his final Alligator release, came out in 1986. The album featured several special guests and an array of blues styles. Original blues cohorts, Tommy Shannon and Uncle John “Red” Turner, as well as Mac “Dr. John” Rebennack, all made guest appearances. Johnny also played two solo acoustic cuts on the National Steel guitar (the first time he’d played the National in the studio since 1977).
Johnny was living his artistic dream, recording nothing but pure blues.His Alligator albums earned their way onto rock radio and a video for the song Don’t Take Advantage of Me played on the fledgling MTV network for over six months. But no matter how much commercial success Johnny’s Alligator albums received, they never compromised his commitment to his roots.
Today Johnny Winter is enjoying an unparalleled resurgence performing to sold out shows worldwide even after a long life full of honors and accomplishments such as a triumphant appearance at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival with Derek Trucks, Buddy Guy and Clapton that has been immortalized on the Emmy award winning DVD. In a ceremony with Slash presenting in Nashville, Gibson Guitars released the signature Johnny Winter Firebird guitar that has been his beloved trademark for years. A Live through the 70s DVD is a hit along with his Live Bootleg Series CDs that have all entered the Top 10 Billboard Blues charts. Two unique instructional DVDs have been produced by Cherry Lane/Hal Leonard to the gratitude of players around the world. Always one for special appearances he recently performed with the Allman Brothers at the Beacon Theater in Manhattan on the 40th anniversary of their debut.
In addition Winter has been headlining such prestigious events as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Chicago Blues Festival, Swedish Rock Fest, Warren Haynes X-mas jam and Europe’s Rockpalast viewed by millions just to name a few. Warner Bros. has now released a 40th anniversary DVD of Woodstock: 3 Days of Love and Peace the Director’s cut featuring, for the first time, Johnny playing his smoking classic “Meantown Blues.”
His recent Grammy nominated “I’m A Bluesman” disc on Virgin/EMI, has only added to his Texas-sized reputation. Joining him on this CD are guitarist Paul Nelson, bassist Scott Spray, 2 members of his current scorching road-tested touring band also consisting of drummer Vito Liuzzi. Performing now with a renewed vigor and fire to say that he is “back” would be an understatement. In fact, he never left. He
is just better than ever.
A LOOK BACK
1944
John Dawson Winter III is born in Beaumont, Texas on Febrary 23rd. His brother Edgar is born three years later.
1953 – 1959
Johnny begins playing clarinet at age five; switches to ukelele and then guitar a few years later. Performing with his younger brother 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 Winter brothers 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, BB King, and Bobby Bland.
1962
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 winds 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 (Black Plague).
1967
After 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, released nationally by Imperial.
1968 – 1974
Signed to a much bally-hooed 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 his 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 on Waters’ Grammy-winning comeback album Hard Again, Grammy-winning I’m Ready (1978), 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/performing on Harmonica 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. This CD boasted guest appearances by Dr. John and Albert Collins. Produced by Dick Shurman, the disc featured the memorable “Illustrated Man,” a song by the Nashville team of Fred James and Mary-Ann Brandon chronicling Johnny?s well-tattooed torso. Other tracks include Winter?s own title tune and his equally stand-out “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 on Highway 61 Revisited, a highlight of Bob Dylan’s 30th anniversary tribute released by Columbia Records on CD and video.
1998
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 1997. The songs were selected by members of Winter’s fan club. The entire album is intended as a gesture of gratitude by Winter to his many fans worldwide.
2004
This Grammy nominated disc titled “I’m A Bluesman” released Virgin Records, adds to Johnny’s Texas-sized reputation. For this release, Johnny again paired with his longtime producer Dick Shurman (Robert Cray, Albert Collins, Roy Buchanan), as well as Tom Hambridge (Susan Tedeschi, George Thorogood). Backing him on this 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 feature such friends as keyboardist Reese Wynans (from Stevie Ray Vaughan’s celebrated backing group Double Trouble) among others.
2005 – Today
Johnny and Edgar Winter inducted into the Southeast Texas “Walk of Fame” at Ford Park in their home town of Beaumont, Texas for their contributions to music and career accomplishments.
W.C. Handy Blues Awards. Johnny Nominated for W.C. Handy award for “Second Winter Legacy Edition”.
The future
The Texas guitar tradition runs deep. A gutsy school of blues playing, marked by thick tones, aggressive attack and tons of technique, all delivered in a flamboyant, swaggering style that is endemic to the Lone Star State. From T-Bone Walker and Clarence Gatemouth Brown on through Albert Collins and Freddie King, Billy Gibbons and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, the tradition of the Texas guitar slinger has lived on. The one name that ranks at the top of that exclusive list is Johnny Winter, an international ambassador for rocking Texas blues and still going strong!
Born cross-eyed and albino, Johnny Winter (John Dawson Winter III) disregarded Mother Nature's unkindness to forge a career as one of the few great white blues-rockers.
Winter's father was from Leland, Mississippi. A career army officer who graduated from the Virginia Miliary Institute, he was in Texas on official business when he met his wife-to-be. The new Mrs. Winter moved to Leland, but her husband was shipped overseas, so she returned to her hometown of Beaumont, Texas, where on Wednesday 23 February 1944, she gave birth to John Dawson Winter III. Mr Winter sang in a barbershop quartet and in a church choir and by age five, Johnny began playing clarinet.
Uncle John Turner (UJT) remembers: Johnny's parents were living in Leland Miss. where Johnny's dad was the "boss" of Stovall's plantation. There were no good hospitals or medical care in that area, so Johnny's mother went to her parent's home, who were old Beaumont pioneers, to have Johnny. She stayed there a few weeks and then returned to Leland. Within a few years, they moved to Beaumont.
Johnny's grandfather had been a cotton broker in Leland. When WWII ended, Johnny's father took over the business but was unable to compete with the volume dealers who dominated the industry. Edgar was born when Johnny was 3, a year or 2 later, the family moved to Beaumont for good, but returned to Leland every summer. "I pretty much thought of myself as being from Mississippi till I was 11 or 12," says Johnny.
Initially started playing clarinet at the age of 5, switched briefly to ukelele. "My father told me: The only two ukelele players I ever knew that did anything were Arthur Godfrey and Ukelele Ike, and I think you got a much better choice of makin' it with a guitar."
After school, Johnny entered Lamar technical college and specialized in a commercial branch. But nearly every weekend he hitch-hiked to Louisana to play in small night-clubs. Six months later, he gave up his studies and devoted himself to music.
Growing up in Beaumont/Houston, where from his earliest years he heard the rich, pungent sounds of Negro blues and gospel music all around him.
He also learned country licks from Luther Nalley, a Beaumont music store employee, as well as the current rock tunes of the late 1950s.
At age 11, together with Edgar, the two brothers performed as an Everly Brothers-style duo and even auditioned for Ted Mack's Original Amateur hour.
His first band Johnny (Macaroni) and The Jammers (1959-1960) (aka Johnny Winter's Orchestra), together with his brother Edgar . Johnny won the much pubiliczed "Johnny Melody" contest held by radio station KTRM in connection with the movie "Johnny B. Goode". Along with the publicity, Johnny got a chance to make good in the record world. After deciding on two songs, the band cut "School Day Blues" and "You know I love you" on Dart Records. They both rated high on the charts in Beaumont. This really gave the Jammers a boost. Johnny and the Jammers is made of Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter, Willard Chamberlain, Dan Polson, and Melvin Carpenter. issued the single "School Day Blues b/w You Know I Love You" (Pappy Dailey's Dart records at the Bill Hall's Gulf Coast Recording Studios in Beaumont) which scored a local number hit.
Johnny and the Jammers
Further the band Johnny Winter and The Jammers recorded the records "Creepy" and "Oh my darling" Rated number 7 on KRIC.
Also different members of the band who backed up Ronnie Bennett on his hit "In this letter" and "Just wait and see".
After the band Crystaliers was renamed into Coastaleers, Johnny records his first record: "Night Ride" b/w "Geish Rock" with the Coastaleers.
A local disc jockey named Clarence Garlow turned Winter on to the blues through his Bon Ton Show on radio station KJET
He hitchhiked to Louisiana, where he backed up local blues and rock musicians, and in the early sixties he traveled to Chicago. Where as a teenager, he pined for the grittier, more enduring part of the city's music, while playing "twist music" on the trendy Rush Street.
Johnny Winter continued to play and record in Texan R&B outfits throughout the 60s, often with brother Edgar Winter. He gained a strong local reputation as a guitarist, commanding a good wage accompanying visiting black blues legends on stage and in the studio. Johnny records many records under fictitious group names like: "Neal and the Newcomers", "The Crystaliers", "It and Them", "Black Plague", (Edgar Winter, Isaac Payton Sweat and Bobby Mizzel (piano) as well as being a sideman for many artists and groups of the Texas Area, including: Gene Terry and his Kool cats and Gene Terry and the Down Beats , Rod Bernard, Junior Cole and
| Johnny Winter performed regularly with Gene Terry and the Down Beats from Big Oak club, to the Catholic Hall in Iowa, LA. Terry Gene DeRouen was born on 7 January 1940 in Lafayette, Louisiana. In 1942, his family moved to Port Arthur, Texas. Gene grew up listening to his father and grandfather performing Cajun music. He also attended house and barn dances with his uncle, R. C. DeRouen, a Cajun musician. His uncle taught him how to play guitar and eventually Gene accompanied him on stage. Gene formed his own group, the Kool Kats in the mid-1950's playing country and western songs. Gradually rhythm and blues began to enter the band's repertoire as Gene became influenced by Little Richard, Elvis Presley and local KTRM deejay J. P. "the Big Bopper" Richardson. The band changed its name to the Down Beats and began attracting a loyal following. Word spread to Lake Charles, LA gaining the attention of local club owners and a five year contract with Goldband Records. Gene Terry and the Down Beats recorded several singles for Goldband including classic "Cindy Lou." The first drummer was R.C. DeRouen which was later on replaced by Ray Tommasini. On bass and guitar were the Hall brothers. I think they were from around Lake Charles, Louisiana. Two saxes, Mike Belile and Doug Dean. Later Mike Aiken from Groves, Texas played drums. Maybe one of the Solis brothers on piano; I'm not sure about that. Mike Aiken, the drummer went on to play with Johnny Courville(Johnny Preston, of "Running Bear" fame). |
He made a good number of commercially viable records, under such synonyms as "Texas Guitar Slim".
Johnny Winter with It and Them or the Black Plague around 1965
Johhny Winter dropped out of Lamar State College and headed north to Chicago to join his friend Dennis Drugan's band, The Gents, but by the end of 1963 he was back in Texas. He recorded the single "Eternally" for the Ken Ritter KRCO label who then leased it to Atlantic. It became a big regional hit and Winter found himself opening for major acts like "The Everly Brothers" and "Jerry Lee Lewis".
In 1964 he toured the south with "The Crystaliers" and "It & Them" before stopping in Houston to record with the Traits on the Universal label in 1967.
Huey P. Meaux remembers: my magic never worked for two talented young boys from Beaumont, Johnny and Edgar Winter, whom he recorded under the names The Great Believers (Amos Boynton – drums, Dave Russell – Bass, Edgar Winter – Keyboards, Johnny Winter – Guitar/Vocals) and Texas Guitar Slim. "We'd put them on a local television show called Jive at Five, and their records would stop selling like you turn a light switch off," Meaux said. "People would freak out, being as they was albinos."
This summary (in chronological order) of Johnny Winter bands and artists Johnny working with during the period: 1959-1969. A complete list of Johnny Winter recordings during this period can be found in the singles section.
| Period: | Band / Description |
|---|---|
| 1959-1962 | Johnny (Macaroni) and the Jammers aka Johnny Winter's Orchestra |
| 1962-1965 | Johnny Winter and his Crystaliers, later renamed in the Coastaleers |
| 1963 | Johnny Winter and The Beaumonts |
| 1962-1965 | It and Them (no known recordings), The Gents, Black Plague |
| 1965-1967 | The Great Believers |
| 1966 | Texas Guitar Slim, Diamond Records: "Broke and Lonely", "Crying in my Heart", Moon-lite Records: Crazy Baby |
| 1966 | The Insight – Cascade Records, "Out of SIght", "Please Come Home for Christmas" |
| 1967 | The Traits |
| 1967? | Neil and the Newcomers, recorded on Hall-Way records 'Night Ride', 'Lost Without You' and 'How do you Live a Lie?' |
| 1969 | Johnny Winter, Uncle John Turner and Tommy Shannon |
His solo break came while hawking an album he'd recorded with "Uncle" John "Red" Turner (drums) and Tommy Shannon (bass) for an obscure regional company (Sonobeat). The Rolling Stone journalists Larry Sepulvado and John Burks caught wind of it and wrote a celebratory piece, entitled "Texas" stated, "Imagine a 130-pound cross-eyed albino bluesman with long fleecy hair playing some of the gutsiest blues guitar you have ever heard.", catapulting Winter from local hero to headline status at New York's Scene club and the prestigious Fillmore East.
Coinciding with a compilation of old recordings called The Progressive Blues Experiment, Johnny's 'official' debut album, Johnny Winter (1969), was enthusiastically welcomed by the likes of John Lennon and The Rolling Stones, who opened their famous Hyde Park concert with Winter's "I'm Hers and I'm Yours". Each wrote songs for Johnny – "Rock'n'Roll People" and "Silver Train", respectively. Buoyed by such big-time approbation and his own self-confidence ('In my own mind, I was the best white blues player around,' he said), Winter plunged into an exhausting, if lucrative, schedule on the hard rock circuit. He hit Woodstock and went down a storm.
Formed with ex-McCoys Rick Derringer (guitar), Randy Jo Hobbs (bass) and Randy Z (drums) the band: "Johnny Winter And"
Z was replaced by Bobby Caldwell for the live Johnny Winter And (1970), Johnny's biggest seller outside the US. Showstoppers such as "Rock 'n' Roll Hoochie Koo", "Stormy Monday" and Eddie Boyd's exquisite dirge, "Five Long Years", were drawn mostly from Johnny's Texas repertoire and the McCoys' bluesier stuff.
Between 1968 and 1981, Johnny cut a series of classic albums: Johnny Winter and Second Winter (his albums with the original blues trio plus brother Edgar), Johnny Winter And and Johnny Winter And Live with his new band featuring Rick Derringer on second guitar. Johnny Winter And Live was his best seller ever, and is still considered an essential hard rock landmark.
Johnny's increasing dependency on narcotics, and related bouts of suicidal depression, led to long lay-offs and a fall in quality on the patchy Still Alive and Well (1973) and John Dawson Winter III (1974). Disgruntled, Derringer and the others offered their services to the steadier Edgar – who, nevertheless, teamed up with his brother for 1976's workmanlike.
In 1981 Johnny Winter and Uncle John Turner rejoined to work on some of the songs of Uncle John's album "Gulf Coast Blues" as well as to do a mini-tour.
Together (mostly soul and old-time rock'n'roll favourites). This merger made commercial sense, as did Johnny's move to cut back on touring, moving to production duties for Muddy Waters ' great comeback albums of the late 70s. Though the past fifteen years have not seen much risk-taking by Winter, at least his steady flow of albums – particularly 1987's Grammy-nominated Third Degree (with Dr. John) – has demonstrated that his fretboard dexterity has not deserted him.
For "Nothing but the blues" Winter was joined by by Muddy Waters and his band, but the set received only moderate critical reaction and went largely unnoticed. Winter toured and frequently played festivals as a member of Waters' backing band, as well as touring on his own. He produced and sat in on Waters' LPs "Hard Again", "Im Ready", "King Bee" and "Live Hard Again" And Muddy "Mississipppi" Waters live both won grammy awards.
Winter released a couple more albums before taking four years off.
In 1984, after a four-yeor hiatus from recording, Johnny leaped back into the national spotlight with his first album for Chicago's Alligator Records, Guitar Slinger. It was widely hailed as his best (and bluesiest) album ever, and charted in both Billboard and Cashbox as well as earning a Grammy nomination. The album produced Johnny's first video, "Don't Take Advantage of Me", which received regular play on MTV for over six months. He performed over a hundred concerts following the release of Guitar Slinger, and was featured in dozens of magazines and newspapers, as well as MTVs "Guitar Greats" special. In 1985, Johnny followed up Guitar Slinger with Serious Business, a scorching collection of what Johnny does best – rough and raucous electric blues. The album won Johnny his second Grammy nomination on Alligator Records and was introduced to over 200,000 fans on a month-long tour with George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers, playing major venues.
Johnny's last record for Alligator, Third Degree, came out in 1986. The release features several special guests and an array of blues styles, including guest appearances by his original blues cohorts, Tommy Shannon and Uncle John "Red" Turner, as well as Mac "Dr. John'' Rebennack. Johnny also played two solo acoustic cuts on the National Steel guitar (the first time he'd played the National in the studio since 1977).
Like many of his white-blues rock contemporaries. Winter suddenly found himself out of vogue. The grammy-nominated "Guitar Slinger" marked his return but in a more blues-roots vein. It, along with "Serious Business" and "Third Degree" were critically acclaimed. "The Winter of 88" brought Winter back toward rock & roll but nowhere near the popular success he had enjoyed in the seventies. He remains one of the preeminent white bluesmen of his generation.
