JOHNNY WINTER in July 1969

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Johnny Winter, Lonnie Mack, Rockin' Foo, Lights: Brotherhood Of Light

Toronto — Tiny Tim sang "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" and waved his ukulele at more than 27,000 screaming fans. Texan Johnny Winter twanged his blue guitar and got four standing ovations. The Blood, Sweat and Tears rock group didn't bleed and they didn't weep—but they doubtless - contributed some perspiration with their rhythmic rock. All in all, the two-day, $200,000 Toronto Pop festival was termed. a success by organizers Ken Walker, 23, and John Brower, 22. "Not to plan an even bigger festival next year would deprive many beautiful Toronto people of -- something they obviously enjoy", said both.

Source: 69-07-01 LA TIMES

16th Annual Newport Jazz Festival, Thu, Fri, Sat and Sun, July 3, 4, 5, 6. Johnny played on Sunday 6 July and shares the evening with Herbie Hancock, B.B. King, Buddy Rich, and Led Zeppelin.

Newspaper reports: Artists participating include Grammy ''Award winning pianist Bill Evans. ho will add Jeremy Steig on flute to his trio for the occasion; the exciting and popular Young-Holt Unlimited, recently on the charts with "Soulful Strut"; the definitive jazz vocalist, Miss Anita O'Day; returning .to Newport .after a long absence; guitarists Kenny Burrell and George Benson; dynamic and influential young drummer Sunny Murray; altoist Phil Woods and His European Machine; trumpeter, Freddie. Hubbard and his Quintet; and Sun Ra and his Solar Arkestra.

Blues fans will get a double treat on the Mixed Bag Concert when Johnny Winter, a young guitar sensation from Texas, meets veteran blues man B. B. King, the originator of the modern blues guitar style.

Performers at the '69 Atlanta Internation Pop Festival included: Delaney & Bonnie , Creedence Clearwater Revival , Joe Cocker , Johnny Winter, Led Zeppelin , Janis Joplin , Sweetwater .

Review: It's Hard to Fake the Blues (Probably one of Johnny's worst reviews)

Read this Article (External Link)

On the 6th of July in the New York Times there is an advertisementfor the Greatest Pop festival ever: Woodstoc Music and Art Fair, Presents An Aquarian Exposition in Walllkill N.Y. 3 Days of Peace and Music

Two major names in the rock world today will he starred in a concert at 8:30 p.m. on July 25 at Cleveland Public Auditorium. "A Midsummer's Night Dream" is the name given by Belkin Productions, Inc., sponsoring organization, to the concert which will feature the Creedence Clearwater Revival and Johnny Winter. The Revival is riding the crest of popularity currently, with two hit singles on the charts and two other hits that have been on the charts during the past five months. According to a recent review in the Christian Science Monitor, this group produces a "psychedelic sound. . .with earthy blues rhythms and rocking, jarring harmonies." it's considered one of the principal exponents of the present country-rock sound.

The Revival's first million-selling singles were "Susie-Q" and "I Put a Spell on You," These two songs were borrowed from early r & b artists. Johnny Winter has been described as "the most exciting personality and probably the best blues guitarist in the rock field." He's become the Joe Namath of the entertainment business, it's claimed. Johnny received a $500.000 bonus for Signing his first Columbia recording contract. JOHNNY HAS recently appeared at major festivals in Detroit, Newport and New York, completely devastating audiences with his driving, black-blues sound.

This guitarist with the long white hair is something to see and hear say those who have. ABC recording artists SILK will open the show.

Tickets are available by mail order from Burroiv's, 439 Euclid Ave., Cleveland.

Source: 69-07-08 Elyria OH Chronicle Telegram

Laurel Pop Festival in Laurel Md in 1969. Washington Post contained an article about the Festival written by the reporter Bob Woodward (Watergate Scandal). Johnny was a no name at the time. The Festival include Jeff Beck, Jethro Tull, and Headlined by Led Zeppelin. He came out and played cuts from “Progressive Blues Experiment” and Johnny Winter (Columbia). He was Playing with Uncle John Turner and Tommy Shannon. Before his set was over, everyone was standing on their chairs. A couple of times between songs he asked the crowd up front to back up and stop pushing. The Newspaper story speaks of the New white blues player that was the hit of the festival.

A newspaper advertisement announcing the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, An Aquarian Exposition in Town of Walkhill, near Middletiwn, N.Y. Three Days of Peace and Music

• The Woodstock Music and Art Fair.
• The Atlantic City Pop Festival
• Diana Ross and the Supremes

Johnny Winter's setlist
1. Leland Mississippi
2. Divin' duck
3. Black cat bone
4. It's my own faulty
5. Mean town blues
6. Johnny B. goode

Belkin Productions present: Creedence Clearwater Revival plus Johnny Winter, tickets 3.50$ and 5.50$. Tickets on sale at Record World, Midway Mall, Elyria. This event was also known as "Midsummer's Night Dream"

Source: 69-07-15 Elyria, OHio Chronicle Telegram

The July-August 1969 Forest Hills Music Festival was a six-day concert series held at the Singer Bowl in Forest Hills, Queens, New York. It was organized by Leonard Ruskin, who had also produced the previous year's festival. The lineup featured a mix of folk, rock, and soul artists, including Janis Joplin, Richie Havens, Blood Sweat and Tears, Johnny Winter and others

The complete line-up of the festival as well as the ticket prices:

An ad promoting the Woodstock Music & Art Fair

Mike Jahn writes a full column review of Johnny Winter's performance at the Forest . Hill Event. This article is called: "Agility marks Blues by Johnny Winter at Forest Hills Fete".

Agility Marks Bluet By Johnny Winter At Forest Hills Fete

By Mike Jahn

Johnny Winter, the Texas blues guitarist and vocalist, seems to be singing with ever larger gulps of blues. When he first played here last December he was impressive for his agility in presenting both country and urban blues styles with force. But at that time he had just arrived from playing in and around Texas and seemed somewhat awed by the increased attention he was receiving. Appearing Saturday at the Forest Hills Music Festival, Mr. Winter showed the same agility, but far more power and confidence than previously. Most important, he showed much interest in playing blues-oriented, old-style rock. One of his songs, "Black Cat Bone," is an original.

This song lies on the thin border where country blues meets the early rock of guitarists like Chuck Berry. It combines the crisp feel of bottleneck guitar-playing with the heavy hand of early rock. He played this song Saturday, and closed with a Chuck Berry song, "Johnny B. Goode." He uses his raspy voice and aggressive playing well on material of this sort, which Is directly derived from standard blues.

Through this growing interest in songs like Mr. Berry's, and the increased confidence and force given him by seven months of popularity, Mr. Winter's playing has improved greatly. The hard blues and old rock style has become very popular this year, and Mr. Winter's experiments in it were his best moments. Mr. Winter was backed by John Tarner, drums, and Tommy Shannon, bass.

Source: 69-07-28 New York Times

Johnny Winter, a wiry Texas albino guitarist, rose to fame in the late 1960s, capturing the pop world with his virtuosity and passion for the blues. His unique blend of old and new sounds, along with a high-profile recording contract with Columbia Records, positioned him as a rising star during the Blues Revival. Managed by Steve Paul, Winter navigated a whirlwind of rehearsals, media frenzy, and major performances, all while remaining true to his love for blues music. Despite the spotlight, Winter's genuine dedication to the craft and unassuming nature set him apart in the rock scene.

Read The Full Article Here

Johnny Winter's singing was over-powering at times, but his playing was always good. A standing ovation brought him back to do "Johnny B. Good" as encore, delighting the crowd

It seems certain that Johnny made many new fans Friday night in Cleveland. He recently received a half-million dollar bonus when he signed with Columbia Records.

The full transcript

Creedence Clearwater Revival leaves the audience spellbound By Jan Elkovich

Darkness descended upon Cleveland Public Auditorium Friday night and red stage-lights came up on four young-men, the Creedence Clearwater Revival. They Were ordinary-appear-ing youths in levis, sweat-shirts and boots, with longish hair. Two wore beards. Yet when they began to sing the hall rocked with sound and the audience was spellbound. FROM THE first note of "Born to the Bayou" to the final crash of cymbals in the last number, the audience was enveloped in the magic that has skyrocketed the CCR to the top.

Their current hit, "Green River," was their second number and the jam-packed auditorium echoed and vibrated to the sound, as the audience thrilled. The group's performance included their popular hits "Bad Moon Rising," "Proud Mary," "Lodi," and "Pully-Al." Creedence Clearwater Revival has that intangible substance of stardom which makes the difference in greatness. FLAXEN-HAIRED Johnny Winter, the blues guitarist. was the other part of Belkin Production's "Midsummer's Night Dream" concert. Backed by his red-haired drummer, Johnny stunned the audience into silence. Clearly no one had expected the delicate-appearing young man to have such a strong voice.

His singing was over-powering at times. but his playing was alWays good. A standing ovation brought him back to do "Johnny B. Good" as encore, delighting the crowd. It seems certain that Johnny made many new fans Friday night in Cleveland. He recently received a half-million dollar bonus when he signed with Columbia Records.

LEAD-IN BAND for the show was Silk, a Cleveland group which shows promise. They opened with psychedelic rock. Master of ceremonies was Chuck DunaWay, WKYC disk. jockey.

Source: 69-07-29 Elyria, Ohio Chronicle telegram