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.
Rollin' Cross The Country
Johnny Winter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Headin' back home, got to see some friends of mine, hello there
Driftin' a long time, my world on a set of wheels
Ya just gotta do it, you know how it really feels
Tell me, how do you feel?
Oh yeah, we was rollin' 'cross the country
Oh yeah, we was feelin' mighty fine
All right
I'm back with the band
Try to make it through the next night, it sure is hard
Back on the stage, come on y'all
Hit me with that spot light ?
Electric blues got you in a head spin
A sinister haze, y'all looks like I'm back again
Yeah, I come now
Oh yeah, I was rockin' 'cross the country
Oh yeah, we was feelin' mighty fine
Oh yeah, we was rockin' 'cross the country
Keep on rockin', keep on, keep on
Now the circle starts again
Take me back where I have been
Get on the road, yeah, it seems like a great time
Headin' back home, try to see some friends of mine
Driftin' a long time, my world on a set of wheels
Ya just gotta do it, really you know how it really feels
Come on, feel it, feel it
Oh yeah, we was rollin' 'cross the country
Oh yeah, we was feelin' mighty fine
Oh yeah, we was rollin' 'cross the country
Oh yeah, we was rollin' 'cross the country
Oh yeah, we was feelin' mighty fine
Oh yeah, we was rollin' 'cross the country
The lyrics to Johnny Winter's "Rollin' 'Cross the Country" are all about the feeling of hitting the road and embarking on a journey across America. The song talks about the freedom and joy that comes with traveling and the excitement of seeing old friends and performing in front of new audiences. The lyrics also touch on the ups and downs of life on the road, including the exhaustion and struggles of touring.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "Rollin' 'cross the country" over and over, emphasizing the sense of motion and adventure that comes with traveling. The verses describe the experience of being a musician on tour, including the highs of performing on stage and the lows of being tired and far from home.
Overall, the lyrics to "Rollin' 'Cross the Country" capture the spirit of adventure and freedom that comes with hitting the open road and exploring new places.
Line by Line Meaning
Get on the road, seems like a good time
Starting a new journey in life with positive energy
Headin' back home, got to see some friends of mine, hello there
Going back to the comfort of your roots and the people who know you best
Driftin' a long time, my world on a set of wheels
Living life freely and without restraint
Ya just gotta do it, you know how it really feels
Giving in to one's true desires and passions
Tell me, how do you feel?
Reflecting on your emotions and thoughts during moments of change
Oh yeah, we was rollin' 'cross the country
Enjoying the thrill of a new journey and the freedom it brings
Oh yeah, we was feelin' mighty fine
Feeling content and satisfied with the progress and direction of life
I'm back with the band
Returning to a group of people who share a common passion and purpose
Try to make it through the next night, it sure is hard
Struggling to persevere through challenges and obstacles
Back on the stage, come on y'all
Returning to one's true passion and purpose in life
Hit me with that spot light ?
Craving the attention and adoration of an audience
Electric blues got you in a head spin
Immersed in the intensity and emotion of one's passion
A sinister haze, y'all looks like I'm back again
Returning to a familiar and comfortable lifestyle after a period of change
Yeah, I come now
Asserting one's presence and readiness to take on new challenges
Keep on rockin', keep on, keep on
Encouraging others to continue pursuing their passions and desires
Now the circle starts again
Recognizing the cyclical nature of life and the opportunity for new beginnings
Take me back where I have been
Nostalgic for familiar past experiences and memories
Come on, feel it, feel it
Encouraging oneself to embrace and embrace the fullness of life experiences
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAN HARTMAN, EDGAR WINTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Richard Falzano
RIP Johnny Winter You were one of the all time greats. Will be in my heart forever.
ΔΗΜΗΤΡΗΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ
Saints and Sinners is one of Johnny's best debut albums.
Eltamir
Actually, this was his sixth album for Columbia.
Go Gan
Great song.
Reminds me of being in Alberta on a sunny day in winter time!
Dennis ODocharty
Favorite Johnny tune ...
skydogduane
Killer Johnny Winter tune !
Martin Stephenson
Class
michael argenti
The greatest american guitarist ever!
skydogduane
Duane Allman could give Johnny a run for his money
Eltamir
Written by brother Edgar & Dan Hartman.