Johnny Winter In 1976: Together Tour Triumphs, Stadium Steals & No-Gimmicks Firepower

JOHNNY WINTER In 1976

Johnny Winter In 1976 captures the year he proved the blues didn’t need lasers, smoke, or circus animals to win a stadium—just a Gibson Firebird pushed hard through wide-open amps and that razor-wire vibrato slicing clean through the night. The Together tour with Edgar tore across Canada and the States, and yes, it even featured Dan Hartman (yep, the “Instant Replay” guy) holding down the low end while the band hit rooms like Winterland, the Hollywood Palladium, and bigger fields like San Diego Stadium. “Sweet Chicago,” “Rock ’n’ Roll Hootchie Coo,” and “Highway 61” weren’t nostalgia—they were live ammo. Each Magazine Article and Newspaper Article here reads like a sweaty ticket stub with ink still drying.

Photo of Johnny Winter - https://vinyl-records.nl/ — Johnny Winter meets his old friends with whom his success career started in 1969: Tommy Shannon and "Uncle" John Turner

Sonobeat Records: Pioneers of Austin’s Music Revolution

The History of Sonobeat Records during the 1960s

Synopsis: First published in 1975 or 1976, this article chronicles the rise and impact of Sonobeat Records, a small but pioneering record label based in Austin, Texas. During the mid-1960s, the Austin music scene began to take off, with KAZZ-FM, a progressive radio station, playing a central role. Managed by Bill Josey and his son, Bill II (known as DJ Rim Kelly), KAZZ-FM broadcast live performances and supported rising local talent, including legendary acts like Townes Van Zandt, Janis Joplin, and the 13th Floor Elevators.

The Joseys decided to create Sonobeat Records, becoming one of the first labels to focus on local Austin musicians. They began by recording live performances, using their broadcasting experience to capture the vibrant energy of the local scene. Their first release, featuring the band Babycakes, was a modest start, but Sonobeat soon became known for its experimental and diverse catalogue, featuring psychedelic rock, country, blues, and jazz.

Over the years, Sonobeat helped launch the careers of several artists, most notably Johnny Winter, whose Sonobeat recordings sparked national attention and led to a contract with Columbia Records. Winter’s blend of hard-driving blues and rock epitomized the unique sound of the Austin music scene. Other notable releases included work by Plymouth Rock, Mariani, and Wali and the Afro-Caravan, showcasing Sonobeat’s eclectic musical range.

Despite its small scale, Sonobeat had a lasting influence on the Austin music scene, helping to shape the city’s reputation as a hub for live music and creative expression. After Bill Josey’s death in 1976, Sonobeat gradually faded from the scene, but its legacy endures in the classic records and groundbreaking artists it helped bring to the world.

Read The Full Article: Pioneers of Austin’s Music Revolution

Sunday 2 May 1976, Hollywood Palladium: Johnny Winter introducing "Slip of the Wrist"

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Photo of Hollywood Palladium: Johnny Winter introducing Slip of the Wrist

Johnny Winter Ignites MacFarlin Auditorium with Pure Rock Energy, No Gimmicks Needed

Wednesday 5 May 1976 McFarlin Auditorium

By PETE OPPEL Johnny Winter proved Wednesday night that laser beams, strobe lights, movies and other visual effects are not needed to put on a really fine rock concert. What is required is excellent musicianship and outstanding material. Winter provided both at a concert before a near capacity crowd at MacFarlin Auditorium. There were no artificial pyrotechites, but plenty of musical ones. Winter and his group laid out the best basic rock roll music heard in this city this year. Winter played only nine numbers during his 90-minute set and that in eluded two encores. But while the songs were long, they were filled with enough energy, enough excitement and enough variation to keep them from ever getting tedious.

HE STARTED his show off with the Bobby Womack classic "It's All Over Now ' and from there went into "Rock 'n' Roll Hootchie Coo." He relied quite a hit on other rock standards, going back to the very roots of the genre, updating such 50's beauties as Larry Williams' "Bonie Maronie" and Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode." His slide interlude during Dylan's "Highway 61" was excellent and Winter is the only man who can coax a hand into playing "Jumping Jack Flash" with the same energy and quality as The Stones. But the highlight of the evening was the one slow blues number performed during the set, "Sweet Chicago." listening to Winter play his soul out during that number made me wonder why it has become impossible to capture the essential Winter on record, film or television screen. The concert stage is his medium and he exploits it to the fullest.

Back in January I said it would take one great concert to top the Allman Brothers year-opening show. Johnny Winter accomplished that feat Wednesday night.

24 July 1976 Johnny Winter at Electric Rodeo, High Noon, Lamar Park Grand Rapids

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Photo of Poster of Electric Rodeo, High Noon, Lamar Park Grand Rapids — Poster of Electric Rodeo, High Noon, Lamar Park Grand Rapids

Brass Ring Productions Presents: Johnny & Edgar Winter "Together" with Special Guests "R.E.O. Speedwagon", Heat, Nils Lofgren at Electric Rodeo, Lamar Park , Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Johnny Winter Steals the Show, Overshadowing Blue Öyster Cult and ZZ Top at San Diego Concert

Monday, 9 August 1976 - San Diego Stadium (now Qualcomm Stadium)

San Diego Johnny Winter's band opens for Blue Oyster Cult and headliner Z.Z.Top. The huge crowd's enthusiastic response to Johnny's set was incredible. Blue Oyster Cult followed...but the crowd, still riding high off Winter's set, did not react with the same enthusiasm - only perking up during BOC's then current hit song "Don't Fear The Reaper". Headliner Z.Z.Top had an elaborate theatrical show with all kinds of animals onstage as props, but was just worlds away musically from the powerful set heard earlier from Winter's band. Johnny owned the day. Floyd Radford was on 2nd guitar in Winter's band.