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.
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Johnny Winter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't want no woman telling me what to do
Well, I'm grown now, darling, just as grown as you
I don't want no woman telling me this and that
I don't want no woman telling me this and that
Well it makes me mad, darling, and I don't go for that
You tend to your business and I'll tend to mine
I don't want no woman, telling me how to live my life
Well I'm gonna leave you darling, 'cause I don't want no wife
Well you used to boss your man, that I can't deny
Before I let you boss me, I lay down and die
I don't want no woman telling me how to live my life
Well I'm gonna leave you darling, 'cause I don't want no wife, oh yeah
The song "Don't Want No Woman" by Johnny Winter & Eric Clapton is a tale of a man who is determined to live life on his own terms, without any interference from a woman. The song is presented as a conversation between the man and his lover, where he repeatedly tells her that he doesn't want her to tell him what to do or how to live his life. He emphasizes his independence and ability to make his own decisions. The man acknowledges that he and his lover are both grown adults, but that doesn't mean he wants her to try and control him. He is willing to go his own way and leave the relationship if necessary.
This song can be interpreted as a commentary on gender roles and power dynamics within relationships. The man is pushing back against the traditional gender roles that dictate men should be the dominant figure in a relationship, and that women should be subservient and obedient. He asserts his right to live his life as he sees fit, without anyone telling him what to do. The repetition of the refrain "I don't want no woman" reinforces this message and highlights his determination to maintain his independence.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want no woman telling me what to do
I do not desire any woman to dictate the actions I take
Well, I'm grown now, darling, just as grown as you
I am an adult as much as you are, my dear
I don't want no woman telling me this and that
I dislike when any woman attempts to instruct me on various matters
Well it makes me mad, darling, and I don't go for that
It provokes anger inside me, and I will not tolerate such behavior
You drink your whiskey, I'll drink my wine
You consume your preferred drink, and I shall drink mine
You tend to your business and I'll tend to mine
You should attend to your affairs, and I will manage my own
I don't want no woman, telling me how to live my life
I am averse to any woman instructing me on how to lead my life
Well I'm gonna leave you darling, 'cause I don't want no wife
I intend to depart from you, my dear, because I have no interest in having a wife
Well you used to boss your man, that I can't deny
I cannot deny that you once commanded your former partner
Before I let you boss me, I lay down and die
I would rather submit to death than permit you to dominate me
Well I'm gonna leave you darling, 'cause I don't want no wife, oh yeah
I will depart from you, my dear, since I truly do not want to have a spouse
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DanielRamirez-li6zc
@Jordan Dickerson
I saw Iron Butterfly, pre-fame Go-Go's , a smoking kickass
ax-handler named Lita Ford,
A Boston reggae/ rock band called
The Rings.. that was the time when reggae was becoming popular in America.. The Wumbleys, Peter Rabbit from Dallas Visitor from Minnesota ,WOLFGANG ( I'm not positive but I think they were from globe-miami area) I later saw' from the band Wolfgang, Steve Plunkett and Randy Rand on MTV in a band called Autograph.. They played
" Turn Up the Radio"(?)
Plus MANY MANY more bands I don't (can't) recall..
Choo choos was definitely one of the premiere rock and roll clubs in the Southwest.. It was small but it fucking rocked.. Good memories!
✌&💞 to you and yours
( it's going to be 4 p.m. in Tucson currently..Dammit, now I have to go to the store and get a 30 pack of Bud Light and crank up my YouTube Tunes)
@peterjons3954
I am in my 70's now and I have been listening to Johnny Winter since the 1960's.
I am still amazed at how damn good everything sounds that he played. He can jam for a 10 minute tune and never sound boring or repetitious. His phrasing is so good. He was and always will be one of the very best and my overall personal favorite. He was at his best playing live, as he is here. And don't get me going on that bad joke called the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And calling it a bad joke is just me being polite!
@joelwelch5762
I love my wife She threw this Album multimull times.
@steveabdelkoui5663
Johnny Winters and Edgar Winter were blessed by God. A gift to all of us.
@joelwelch5762
I don't remember when or why I first heard this in Okinawa late 80's. I needed some cash and got rid of 300 albums. Guitar Slinger was the one I miss the most.
@rongore4337
Saw Johnny in 1975 at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, I remember J.Geils opened the show. I think Muddy might have played a set in the middle. Johnny was absolutely bigger than life. I remember at one point he sent the rest of the band offstage and whipped out his National Steel and played an acoustic blues set under the spotlight sitting on a stool. Then the band rejoined him onstage and he closed with something that just brought the house down. I've never seen anything close since.
@TheEdie1958
Greatest Steel Guitarist played from his heart and soul his versatility and virtuosity. Gritty and robust intonations puting your life experiences in songwriting prowness.
@msaintpc
Now we see why no guitar player ever wanted to follow him onstage.
@markfink1273
Saw Johnny @ Woodstock and @Fla. Theatre in '84 & '94 he's one of the best Ever! Miss him more than ever always in my heart...I'll see you soon in heaven...play on!
@tobinharris8107
ABSOLUTELY LOVE Johnny (and Edgar) so much! His version of "Boot Hill" is also killer. Such a genuine and inspiring talent and individual. We really miss you dude. Thanks for everything.
@bobb9319
I am soul loving my high guitar jammin Johnny to be perfectly tight crazy as it is thee highest fast riffs that capture the lovin groove of my high, OH my , Yea for sure soul High