Johnny Winter, along with his brother Edgar Winter, were nurtured at an early age by their parents in musical pursuits. Both he and his brother, who were born with albinism, began performing at an early age. When he was ten-years old, Winter appeared on a local children's show, playing ukelele and singing Everly Brothers songs with his brother.
His recording career began at the age of fifteen, when his band Johnny and the Jammers released "School Day Blues" on a Houston record label. During this same period, he was able to see performances by classic blues artists such as Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and Bobby Bland. In the early days Winter would sometimes sit in with Roy Head and The Traits when they performed in the Beaumont, Texas area, and in 1967, Winter recorded a single with The Traits: "Tramp" backed with "Parchman Farm" (Universal Records 30496). In 1968, he released his first album The Progressive Blues Experiment, on Austin's Sonobeat Records.
Winter caught his biggest break in December 1968, when Mike Bloomfield, whom he met and jammed with in Chicago, invited him to sing and play a song during a Bloomfield and Al Kooper concert at the Fillmore East in New York. As it happened, representatives of Columbia Records (which had released the Top Ten Bloomfield/Kooper Super Session album) were at the concert. Winter played and sang B.B. King's "It's My Own Fault" to loud applause and, within a few days, was signed to reportedly what was then the largest advance in the history of the recording industry–$600,000.
Winter's first Columbia album, Johnny Winter was recorded and released in 1969. It featured the same backing musicians with whom he recorded The Progressive Blues Experiment, bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Uncle John Turner, plus Edgar Winter on keyboards and saxophone, and (for his "Mean Mistreater") blues legends Willie Dixon on upright bass and Big Walter Horton on harmonica. The album featured a few selections that became Winter signature songs, including his composition "Dallas" (an acoustic blues, on which Winter played a steel-bodied, resonator guitar), John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson's "Good Morning Little School Girl", and B.B. King's "Be Careful With A Fool".
The album's success coincided with Imperial Records picking up The Progressive Blues Experiment for wider release. The same year, the Winter trio toured and performed at several rock festivals, including Woodstock. With brother Edgar added as a full member of the group, Winter also recorded his second album, Second Winter in Nashville in 1969. The two-record album, which only had three recorded sides (the fourth was blank), introduced a couple more staples of Winter's concerts, including Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" and Bob Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited".
In 1984, Winter began recording for several labels, including Alligator Records and Point Blank Records, where he has focused on blues-oriented material. He continues to perform live, including festivals throughout North America and Europe. Winter has headlined such prestigious events as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Chicago Blues Festival, Swedish Rock Fest, Warren Haynes X-mas jam, and Europe’s Rockpalast. He also performed with the Allman Brothers at the Beacon Theater in Manhattan on the 40th anniversary of their debut. In 2007 and 2010, Winter performed at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festivals. Two guitar instructional DVDs have been produced by Cherry Lane Music and the Hal Leonard Corporation. The Gibson Guitar Company released the signature Johnny Winter Firebird guitar in a ceremony in Nashville with Slash presenting.
In 2004, Winter received a Grammy nomination for his I’m a Bluesman album. Backing him are guitarist Paul Nelson, bassist Scott Spray, and drummer Vito Liuzzi. Beginning in 2007, a series of live Winter albums titled the Live Bootleg Series and a live DVD have all entered the Top 10 Billboard Blues charts. In 2009, The Woodstock Experience album was released, which includes eight songs that Winter performed at the 1969 festival. Johnny Winter is signed to Megaforce Records, who will release a new studio album titled Roots on September 27, 2011. It will include Winter's interpretation of eleven early blues and rock 'n' roll classics and feature several guest artists.
Winter produced three Grammy Award-winning albums by Muddy Waters, Hard Again (1977), I'm Ready (1978), and Muddy "Mississippi" Waters – Live (1979). Several Winter albums were also nominated for Grammy Awards. In 1980, Winter was on the cover of the first issue of Guitar World and in 1988, he was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame.
Blue Suede Shoes
Johnny Winter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Three to get ready, now go, cat, go
But don't you step on my blue suede shoes
You can do anything but lay off my blue suede shoes
You can knock me down, step in my face
Slander my name all over the place
Lay off of my shoes
Don't you step on my blue suede shoes
You can do anything but lay off of my blue suede shoes, baby
Blue, blue, blue suede shoes, baby
Blue, blue, blue suede woo
I'd do anything but lay off of my blue suede
I'd do anything but lay off, yeah
Ah, knock me down, step in my face
Slander my name all over the place
I'd do anything you wanna do
Lay off of them shoes
Don't you step on my blue suede shoes
You can do anything lay off of them blue suede shoes
Johnny Winter's song Blue Suede Shoes is a cover of the 1956 hit by Carl Perkins. The opening lyrics reflect the energy and excitement surrounding a live performance, as the singer counts down to the start of the show with the traditional phrase "one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, now go, cat, go." The song warns others not to step on the singer's blue suede shoes, as they are important to him and he does not want them to be damaged. The shoes are a symbol of the singer's style and individuality. He is willing to let people insult him, but he cares deeply about his shoes and does not want them to be damaged.
The lyrics suggest a sense of defiance and pride in one's appearance, especially when it comes to fashion. The line "you can do anything but lay off my blue suede shoes" can be seen as a form of protection for one's individuality and style, as the shoes represent a personal identity that should not be subject to criticism or disrespect. The line "I'd do anything that you wanna do" suggests a willingness to compromise on many issues, but not on this one, as the shoes are too important to give up.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, it's one for the money, two for the show
This performance is for money, but there is also a show for entertainment value.
Three to get ready, now go, cat, go
Prepare yourself for the performance and then get going with energy.
But don't you step on my blue suede shoes
Please avoid stepping on my iconic blue suede shoes.
You can do anything but lay off my blue suede shoes
You have permission to do anything except damage or bother my blue suede shoes.
You can knock me down, step in my face
You can physically harm me, insult me, or disrespect me.
Slander my name all over the place
You can spread false and negative comments about me.
I'd do anything that you wanna do
I am willing to comply with your requests or demands.
Lay off of my shoes
Please stop bothering, criticizing, or mishandling my shoes.
Blue, blue, blue suede shoes, baby
These are my prized blue suede shoes, dear.
Blue, blue, blue suede woo
The shoes are blue suede material and are desirable.
I'd do anything but lay off of my blue suede
I will comply with many things except for those involving my blue suede shoes.
I'd do anything but lay off, yeah
I am open to many possibilities, but not when it comes to my shoes.
Ah, knock me down, step in my face
Again, you can hurt me or insult me physically.
Slander my name all over the place
Once more, you can spread lies or disrepute me to others.
Don't you step on my blue suede shoes
I really do not want you to step on my blue suede shoes.
You can do anything lay off of them blue suede shoes
You are capable of various acts except for those directed at my blue suede shoes.
Contributed by Jayden E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@xkecoupe
never heard this before from Johnny.Could imagine this live w.the white Erlewine Lazer.Everybody could die for it.
@PedroLima-ip5zb
Crap