After a seven-year wait, the legendary Johnny Winter is set to release his new studio album Roots on 27 September 2011 via Megaforce Records. With Roots, Johnny returns to the very foundation of his sound, paying homage to the iconic blues heroes who shaped his signature style. This album follows the success of his Grammy-nominated I'm a Bluesman, offering fans another dive into the music that made Winter the powerhouse he is.
On Roots, Winter teams up with an impressive roster of friends and special guests, including Sonny Landreth, Vince Gill, Warren Haynes, John Popper, Jimmy Vivino, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, John Medeski, and Edgar Winter. Each artist takes part in a musical journey through the history of the blues, trading riffs with Winter as they pay tribute to the genre’s founding fathers.
The album's 11 tracks serve as a testament to the genre’s rich legacy. One highlight is Winter's rendition of Robert Johnson's 1936 recording "Dust My Broom." Winter tips his hat to the blues giants who rose to prominence in the late 1940s and ‘50s, with covers like Elmore James' "Done Somebody Wrong," Bobby "Blue" Bland's "Further On Up the Road," and Chuck Berry's breakout hit "Maybellene." Winter also revives classics like "Come Back Baby" (written by Walter Davis, popularized by Ray Charles), Jimmy Reed's "Bright Lights, Big City," and Muddy Waters' "Got My Mojo Working." His brother, Edgar Winter, joins him for the instrumental "Honky Tonk." Rounding out the album are Little Walter’s "Last Night," Larry Williams' "Short Fat Fannie," and T-Bone Walker’s "T-Bone Shuffle." The project, driven by Winter’s long-time collaborator Paul Nelson, sees Nelson serving as both producer and performer.
Johnny Winter has long been an unofficial torchbearer for the blues, playing a pivotal role in championing and revitalizing the careers of his own idols, such as Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker. His special bond with Muddy Waters led to a series of Grammy-winning collaborations, including Hard Again (1977), I’m Ready (1978), Muddy “Mississippi” Waters Live (1979), and King Bee (1980). Winter’s contributions to the genre earned him a place in the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1988.
Today, Winter’s career is enjoying a resurgence. His performances continue to sell out worldwide, and his memorable appearance at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival—alongside Derek Trucks, Buddy Guy, and Clapton himself—has been immortalized in an Emmy Award-winning DVD. His influence was further cemented when Gibson Guitars released a signature Johnny Winter Firebird, his long-time instrument of choice. Recent releases such as the Live Through the ’70s DVD and the Live Bootleg Series CDs have also seen considerable success, entering the Top 10 on the Billboard Blues charts. For aspiring guitarists, Winter's instructional DVDs produced by Cherry Lane/Hal Leonard have become invaluable resources.
Despite a lifetime of challenges, Johnny Winter is stronger than ever. Having conquered his personal demons, he is in excellent health and continues to tour extensively, performing more than 120 shows a year. His April 2011 tour of Japan marked his first-ever performances in the country, a milestone in his career. Winter’s passion for live performance has seen him headline prestigious festivals like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Chicago Blues Festival, and Europe’s Rockpalast. Warner Bros. has also released a 40th anniversary edition of Woodstock: 3 Days of Love and Peace, which, for the first time, includes Johnny’s fiery performance of "Meantown Blues."
Johnny Winter remains the international ambassador for Texas blues, still rocking stages across the world with the same raw energy that has defined his career.
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