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January '69: Texas bluesman Johnny Winter, with lightning-fast fingers and a raw, authentic sound, hits New York City. His Fillmore East debut alongside legends like B.B. King cements his status as a rising star.
Synopsis: Johnny Winter, a seasoned blues guitarist from Texas, is set to electrify New York City with his crackling-fast, authentic blues. After years of honing his craft in Southern bars and lounges, Winter is bringing his signature staccato and harsh style to the Fillmore East. His band, "Winter," features John Turner on drums and Tommy Shannon on bass, with Winter himself handling vocals, guitar, and harmonica. Winter's music is a raw, unadulterated expression of the blues, capturing its agony and funkiness. He's a charismatic performer who keeps the audience engaged with his energetic stage presence and electrifying guitar solos. This weekend, Winter shares the bill with blues legend B.B. King and English guitarist and vocalist Terry Reid. An albino with a distinctive appearance, Winter has embraced his uniqueness and turned it into an asset, proving that talent and passion can overcome any obstacle.
Transcript of the poster:
WINTER Featuring Johnny Winter
"The hottest item outside-of Janis Joplin ... If you can imagine a 130 pound cross-eyed albino with long fleecy hair playing some of the gutsiest fluid blues guitar you have ever heard, then enter Johnny Winter (Mike) Bloomfield called him the best white blues guitarist he had ever heard." — ROLLING STONE
"Mr. Winters ... Is one of the finest blues musicians to ever appear on the Fillmore stage." — NEW YORK TIMES
"It's not very often that something special. happens .. :Janis Joplin certainly is, as are Hendrix, Dylan, the Airplane, who else on the American scene? It's been a long time since anyone came along with that kind of class and charisma, but Johnny Winter flew into town last Friday, and, on tho basis of one set in which he jammed with the Kooper-Bloomfield show ...
It seems he may well be the next to join a very elite list ... The superlatives (Bloomfield) chose would be hard for the Stones to live up to, but Winter came out and just wiped the place out. 'A' talents (Beatles, Stones, Donovan ...) would be those with the highest aspirations and accomplishments. Johnny Winter stands a good chance, I think, to come up Into the 'A' category." — VILLAGE VOICE