Like a true bluesman, Johnny Winter went out still doing what he loved.

Sad to say that we heard today great Texas guitar slinger Johnny Winter died at the age of 70 while on tour in Zurich Switzerland, the blues music world will take moment to pause and surely celebrate the life and music of this man dedicated to the blues for decades.

As many blues acts do, Johnny was on a European summer tour following the highly successful 2011 release “Roots”. Another album was in the works “Step Back”, that will unfortunately be a posthumous release in the Fall.

Johnny stood out, both physically as an albino with his brother Edgar Winter, but more because of his high energy, fast, Texas-styled blues guitar sound. Honing his chops with the likes of Muddy Waters (having produced albums for Muddy later in Muddy’s life), he also came into his own during the blues renaissance in Austin led by WC Clark, the Vaughan Brothers and a veritable who’s who in the blues guitar world attracted by clubs that included Antone’s.

Johnny had battled personal demons and health issues for many years, but was at his most creative in the last few years as he experienced some renewal in his career as he seemed to have gotten his life together and had leveled out his health issues.

I will recall fondly the times I was able to catch Johnny’s powerful, raw and emotional playing…rest in peace Johnny – join Freddie, Muddy, the Albert’s…thanks for the great times and music.  More news on this topic