Johnny Winter is a true American music legend. A recording artist for over 28 years, he burst onto the Texas bar scene in the late 1960s and quickly became the archetypal rock guitar hero. He remains the epitome of a hard-working, no-nonsense artist who has built his career on substance rather than image. Fashions come and go, but Johnny Winter continues to create his distinctive blend of blues and hard rock like no one else can.
The release of
Winter of '88
, his debut LP for the MCA-distributed Voyager label, proves that his guitar skills have only improved with time. The album showcases Winter in a fresh musical setting that enhances his sound while retaining the grit and sweat essential to his style. Produced by Terry Manning, renowned for his work with ZZ Top, Winter of '88 delivers raw power, virtuosity, and widespread appeal. Winter delivers both new material and blues classics with lean, ferocious simplicity. Long-time collaborators Jon Paris (bass) and Tom Compton (drums) provide support, allowing the sparse, direct, and contemporary tracks to shine.
"It was really important to find a producer who thought the same way I did," Winter says. "Terry had done a lot of blues work as well as rock 'n roll, which attracted me initially. I felt he knew how to get a modern sound while understanding my direction. The idea wasn’t to change my music, just to reach a bigger audience."
Standout tracks include “Rain,” a moody song of romantic longing; “Lightning,” a steamy rocker with killer slide work; and “Anything for Your Love,” a slow-churning love plea. These tracks will undoubtedly satisfy Winter’s loyal fans while attracting new ones. Winter of '88 reaches a wide segment of rock listeners without strain or compromise. Johnny Winter testifies as both guitarist and vocalist with the integrity and deep emotion that have characterized his decades-long music career.
Winter’s journey began when he became a professional musician at the age of 14, forming Johnny and the Jammers with his keyboard-wizard brother Edgar in their hometown of Beaumont, Texas. Johnny’s rock ‘n’ roll was deeply rooted in the blues from years of listening to Beaumont’s black radio stations and spending time with Clarence Garlow, a local DJ and blues guitarist. Johnny and the Jammers became a local phenomenon, winning talent shows and earning a recording contract with Dart Records. Their first single, "Schoolday Blues," was released when Johnny was just 15.
From then on, Johnny became a regular in Houston and Beaumont recording studios, cutting dozens of tracks as both leader and sideman. When not in the studio, he was barnstorming the Deep South club circuit, playing everything from hard blues to cocktail jazz and Top 40 hits. His singles, cut for numerous small labels, were often leased to major labels like MGM and Atlantic, earning local radio play but never quite breaking nationally. Finally, in 1968, Johnny committed fully to playing the blues, forming a trio with Tommy Shannon (bass) and Uncle John Turner (drums). His career took off after a cover story in Rolling Stone magazine made him a celebrity overnight, sparking a bidding war that resulted in him signing with Columbia Records.
Winter then released a series of classic blues-rock LPs, including Johnny Winter And and Second Winter , with his original blues trio and brother Edgar. He later collaborated with Rick Derringer on guitar for Johnny Winter And Live , his best-selling LP to date. In 1973, he returned to a more direct blues sound with Still Alive and Well , followed by Saints and Sinners in 1974.
In 1977, Winter fulfilled a lifelong dream by producing Muddy Waters for his new label, Blue Sky Records. Hard Again marked a comeback for Waters, returning him to his Chicago blues roots. Both Hard Again and its follow-up, I’m Ready , earned Grammy Awards. “Working with Muddy made me feel like people finally realized I wasn’t faking it—I could really play the blues,” says Winter. “I felt like I’d finally established myself.”
Winter continued exploring blues’ nuances with Alligator Records, releasing critically acclaimed LPs like Guitar Slinger (1984), Serious Business (1985), and Third Degree (1986).
In addition to recording and producing, Winter has maintained a grueling touring schedule, performing in arenas, roadhouses, and everything in between. "For the past two or three years, I’ve been on the road at least eight to nine months a year," he reports. "We’ve played all over the States, Europe, Australia, and Canada—anywhere people want to see us, from festivals to college gigs."
"A lot of new people have been showing up," he continues. "I meet kids who are 15 or 16, loyal fans who first heard our records through their older siblings—or even their parents. And, of course, I still see the old fans who have never stopped loving the blues."
What Johnny Winter brings to fans, both old and new, is his unrelenting passion for music. "The older I get, the more I love it," he says. "It’s like eating and sleeping—it’s a necessity for me. The blues may come in and out of fashion, but I just keep playing what I love, and hope others love it too."
