Iconic Bluesman Johnny Winter Returns with New Album ‘Roots’ (September 27th / Megaforce)
Johnny Winter Returns with New Album 'Roots'
Special Guests include Vince Gill, Susan Tedeschi, Sonny Landreth, John Popper, Edgar Winter,
Warren Haynes, John Medeski & More
The legendary Johnny Winter will release his new studio album entitled ‘Roots’ on September 27, 2011 via Megaforce Records. This album returns Johnny to his roots by paying homage to the iconic blues heroes whose pioneering music influenced Winter’s own signature sound and style. ‘Roots’ is the follow up to his Grammy-nominated ‘I’m a Blues Man.’
A host of special guests join Winter trading licks in honoring his idols, including Sonny Landreth, Vince Gill, Warren Haynes, John Popper, Jimmy Vivino, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, John Medeski and Johnny’s brother Edgar Winter.
Among the 11 tracks that together represent a veritable history of the blues are songs by the genre’s elder statesmen including a version of Robert Johnson’s 1936 recording “Dust My Broom.” Winter pays respect to the greats who came to prominence in the late 1940s and ‘50s including Elmore James’ “Done Somebody Wrong,” Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “Further on up the Road” and Chuck Berry’s first hit single, “Maybellene.” Also featured is “Come Back Baby,” written by Walter Davis and made popular by Ray Charles, Jimmy Reed’s 1961 hit “Bright Lights, Big City,” and Muddy Waters’ version of “Got My Mojo Working.” Brother Edgar guests on “Honky Tonk,” the one instrumental featured on ‘Roots.’ Rounding out the collection are Little Walter’s “Last Night,” Larry Williams’ “Short Fat Fannie” and T-Bone Walker’s “T-Bone Shuffle.” This special project was directed by famed guitarist Paul Nelson, who’s role is as both producer and performer on this recording.
Track listing and special guests joining Mr. Winter on ‘Roots’:
1) “T-Bone Shuffle” (Sonny Landreth, slide guitar)
2) “Further on up the Road” (Jimmy Vivino, guitar)
3) “Done Somebody Wrong” (Warren Haynes, slide guitar)
4) “Got My Mojo Workin’”
5) “Last Night” (John Popper, harp)
6) “Maybellene” (Vince Gill, guitar)
7) “Bright Lights, Big City” (Susan Tedeschi, lead guitar and
vocals)
8) “Honky Tonk” (Edgar Winter, sax)
9) “Dust My Broom” (Derek Truckson, slide guitar)
10) “Short Fat Fannie” (Paul Nelson, guitar)
11) “Come Back Baby” (John Medeski, organ)
About Johnny: Johnny Winter has been a guitar hero without equal and walked with the originators of the art form. A Texas bluesman who played Woodstock and jammed with everyone from Muddy Waters, Jimi Hendrix and Willie Dixon to
Albert Collins, John Lee Hooker, Janis Joplin and Steve Ray Vaughan.
His signing to Columbia Records has been called largest solo artist deal of its time. Johnny immediately laid out the blueprint for his fresh take on classic blues – a prime combination for those discovering the blues through the likes of Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton. Constantly shifting between simple country blues in the vein of Robert Johnson to all-out electric slide guitar blues-rock, Johnny has always been one of the most respected singers and guitar players in rock; the clear link between British blues-rock and American Southern rock.
A torchbearer for the blues, Johnny has championed and helped revitalize the careers of his idols, Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker. Johnny had a special relationship with Muddy Waters and is often credited with revitalizing the legendary guitarist, producing and performing on Waters’ Grammy-winning comeback album ‘Hard Again,’ and Grammy-winning albums ‘I’m Ready’ (1978) and ‘Muddy Mississippi Waters Live’ (1979) and ‘King Bee’ (1980). Johnny was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1988.
Today, Johnny Winter continues to tour worldwide, performing more than 120 shows a year and selling-out performances with his with acclaimed band. Totally clean and sober, Winter has kicked all the demons that have been a part of his life since the ’60. In 2011, he performed in Japan for the first time in his career
Johnny Winter:
July 22 – Norwalk, CT Norwalk Concert Hall
July 23 – Alexandria, VA Birchmere
July 24 – Pittsburgh, PA Hartwood Acres
July 26 – Erie, PA Liberty Park Ampitheatre
July 27 – Cleveland, OH Beachland
July 28 – Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall
July 29 – Lexington, MI Lexington Music Theatre Company
July 30 – Chicago, IL Taste of Lincoln Avenue
July 31 – Minneapolis, MN Famous Dave’s BBQ & Blues
Aug 2 – Auburn Hills, MI Callahan’s Music Hall
Aug 3 – Oakville, ON Oakville Center for the Performing Arts
Aug 10 – Atlanta, GA Smith’s Olde Bar
Aug 11 – Asheville, NC The Orange Peel
Aug 12 – Knoxville, TN Bijou Theatre
Aug 13 – Greenville, SC Handlebar
Aug 20 – Niagara Falls, NY Bear’s Den
Sept 23 – New York, NY BB King’s
Scene and Heard 
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