Johnny Winter, blues guitarist, dies aged 70
The legendary musician who collaborated with Hendrix and Muddy Waters has died in Zurich
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Legendary blues guitarist Johnny Winter has died aged 70.
The famed musician died in a hotel room in Zurich, Switzerland on Wednesday. The news was reported by Jenda Derringer, wife of former bandmate Rick Derringer, and confirmed by Winter's representative, Carla Parisi, on Thursday.
Parisi's statement added that Winter's wife, family and bandmates were all saddened by the loss of one of the world's finest guitarists.
As well as releasing 18 albums, Winter was picked out by Jimi Hendrix as a collaborator. He was brought on board to work with Muddy Waters, and his work as a producer for Waters earned three Grammy nominations, for 1977′s Hard Again, 1978′s I’m Ready, and 1981′s King Bee.
Born in 1944 in Beaumont, Texas, Winter's first break into the music world came while opening a show for Mike Bloomfield in 1968, a performance that caught the attention of Rolling Stone writers Larry Sepulvado and John Burks, who went on to sign him to Columbia Records. A performer at Woodstock in 1969, Winter continued to release music for the best part of five decades and was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1988.
Brother of fellow music icon Edgar Winter, he was named by Rolling Stone as the 63rd best guitarist ever.
Winter continued to create music up until his death. He was due to embark on a tour to coincide with the release of his album Step Back, featuring Eric Clapton, Ben Harper, Billy Gibbons, Dr John, Brian Setzer, Joe Perry and Leslie West.
Speaking to JournalStar.com in June, Winter said of his legacy: "When I was about 12, I knew I wanted to be a musician. The blues had so much emotion and so much feeling; if you don't have that, you're not going to be good at it.
"I just hope I’m remembered as a good blues musician."
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