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.
Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo
Johnny Winter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was a warm spring night in the ol' town hall
There was a group called The Jokers, they were layin' it down
Don't ya know I'm never gonna lose that funky sound
Rock and roll, Hoochie Koo
Lawdy mama light my fuse
Rock and roll, Hoochie Koo
The skeeters start buzzing 'bout this time o' year
I'm goin' round back, she said she'd meet me there
We were rollin' in the grass that grows behind the barn
When my ears started ringin' like a fire alarm
Rock and roll, Hoochie Koo
Lawdy mama light my fuse
Rock and roll, Hoochie Koo
Truck on out and spread the news
Hope y'all know what I'm talkin' about
The way they wiggle that thing, it really knocks me out
I'm gettin' high all the time, hope ya'll are too
Well come-on a little closer, gonna do it to you
Rock and roll, Hoochie Koo
Lawdy mama light my fuse
Rock and roll, Hoochie Koo
Truck on out and spread the news
That I'm tired of payin' dues
Done said goodbye to all my blues
Lawdy mama light my fuse
The song Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo by Johnny Winter is a classic rock and roll anthem that captures the energy and excitement of the genre. The lyrics describe the writer's experiences with rock and roll music and how it has affected his life. The song begins by describing how the writer was immediately drawn to the music when he first heard it. He was unable to stop moving his body as the music took hold of him. The scene described is a warm spring night in the town hall where a band called The Jokers was playing. The writer is captivated by the music and is determined to never lose that funky sound.
The song then goes on to describe the writer's experiences with a woman behind a barn. The scene is set in the summer months when the skeeters start buzzing. He meets the woman behind the barn and they proceed to roll in the grass. However, the experience is cut short by a ringing in his ears, like a fire alarm. The writer then goes on to describe how the music has affected him, how he gets high all the time, and how he wants to share this experience with others. The song ends with him declaring that he is tired of paying dues and saying goodbye to his blues.
Overall, the song describes how rock and roll music has affected the writer's life in a positive way. It has given him the ability to let go, have fun and experience life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
I couldn't stop moving when it first took hold
The person was overcome by the sensation of rock and roll and couldn't stop dancing once it began.
It was a warm spring night in the ol' town hall
The environment was perfect for a rock and roll concert: a warm spring night at a local venue.
There was a group called The Jokers, they were layin' it down
The Jokers were performing a great rock and roll set.
Don't ya know I'm never gonna lose that funky sound
The person loves the funky sound of rock and roll and will never tire of it.
The skeeters start buzzing 'bout this time o' year
The mosquitoes start buzzing around this time of year.
I'm goin' round back, she said she'd meet me there
The person is meeting someone in the back and is excited to do so.
We were rollin' in the grass that grows behind the barn
The two people are enjoying each other's company in a natural setting.
When my ears started ringin' like a fire alarm
The person's eardrums were ringing from the loud rock and roll music.
Hope y'all know what I'm talkin' about
The person hopes the listeners understand and appreciate the rock and roll lifestyle and music.
The way they wiggle that thing, it really knocks me out
The person is greatly attracted to the way people move to rock and roll music.
I'm gettin' high all the time, hope ya'll are too
The person loves the feeling of energy and euphoria that rock and roll gives them and hopes others do too.
Well come-on a little closer, gonna do it to you
The person is so enamored with rock and roll that they want to share the experience with others.
That I'm tired of payin' dues
The person is tired of working hard and struggling, and wants to find happiness in rock and roll.
Done said goodbye to all my blues
The person has found a way to overcome their troubles and find joy through rock and roll.
Lawdy mama light my fuse
The person is so excited about rock and roll that they feel like a fuse has been lit within them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Rick Derringer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
billsav57
I've said this elsewhere: I know this is Rick's song, and I've seen him do it live, and it's great. But there's just something about the raw power when Johnny does it live.
Fongolitus
Rick wrote it for Johnny when it was 'Johnny Winter And' basically Johnny was fronting the McCoys
Mr25thfret
Yeah man, Johnny's voice rocked any song to the max.
Rick Barker
Raw power for sure....pure kinetic energy...took every song to another level
@AngryInBrooklyn
and that BASS PLAYER!
Charles Perry
@Donny Sarian thanks for telling me that and also with with the Bobby Caldwell
STEWART GAVIN
If you grew up during the '70's and never saw a Johnny Winter concert. You never saw rock n roll.🎩🎸
Billy Shane
Johnny Winter was sheer dynamite. Brilliant musician and one hell of a great guy.
John Dawson Winter III RIP
Foldisfitch
His whole thing put together (looks, movement, guitar playing, voice etc.) … the phenomena of Johnny Winters was totally freaking uniquely awesome!
Roger Wolfe
Dude it is freaky I mean he doesn’t open his eyes ! Fantastic huh no doubt 😊