LIHU‘E — Johnny Winter doesn’t mind being interviewed, he just prefers to let his fingers do the talking. Calling from his home in Connecticut, the legendary blues guitarist kept his answers short, sweet and to the point. When asked what
LIHU‘E — Johnny Winter doesn’t mind being interviewed, he just prefers to let his fingers do the talking. Calling from his home in Connecticut, the legendary blues guitarist kept his answers short, sweet and to the point.
When asked what Hawai‘i audiences have in store, Winter responded “I’ll play mostly the blues and two-or-three rock ‘n’ roll songs. I like to make the people happy.”
Born in 1944, Winter grew up in Beaumont, Texas. He latched on to music early on, playing the clarinet before switching to the ‘ukulele.
“I played the ‘ukulele until I was about 12,” Winter said.
When asked if island fans will get a ‘ukulele tune out him during the concert, Winter responded “You can’t play much blues on the ‘uke.”
At the age of 12, Winter was introduced to blues music through a local radio program and bought every blues album he came across — the first being B.B. King’s “Singin’ the Blues.”
“I taught myself blues guitar off those records,” Winter said. “At first it was a little hard, but after a year, it was became easy.”
At the age of 15, Winter and his band, “Johnny and the Jammers,” cut its first album.
His first big break came in 1968, when Rolling Stone magazine published an article about the Texas music scene.
Larry Sepulvado wrote: “If you can imagine a hundred and thirty pound cross-eyed albino with long fleecy hair playing some of the gutsiest fluid blues guitar you have ever heard, then enter Johnny Winter.”
Winter was quickly scooped up by CBS Records, and released his first major album in 1969.
This marked the beginning of a career that currently spans into six decades. With more than 30 major albums under his belt (Winter claims there’s “too many to count”), the blues musician has no plans to retire.
“When I die, I will retire,” Winter said. “Even then, I would keep on going if I could.”
Winter is putting the finishing touches on his first album in seven years, titled “Roots,” which is scheduled to be released this year.
Winter said the album will feature “old material that I grew up with.”
“I just picked the songs I love,” Winter said. “It was really easy.”
Even though the world of music has shifted into a digital age, Winter still holds onto his record collection, which is “in the thousands.”
His favorites include B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Ray Charles and “every blues record I can find.”
On his iPod, most of Winter’s playlists include artists up until the 1960s.
“I don’t like today’s music. It doesn’t have any feelings to it.”
For Winter, a legendary blues guitarist who has seen it all, there’s only one thing left to do.
“I would like to win a Grammy. We’re hoping that for the next record.”
See Johnny Winter with opener Swampdaddy’s Mardi Gras Soul Revue 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Kaua‘i Community College Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $45 in advance; $50 at the door; $55 for the first two rows. For more information call 337-9234 or 896-4845. Visit www.lazarbear.com to purchase tickets online.
• Andrea Frainier, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681, ext. 257 or afrainier@ thegardenisland.com.
