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.
Walkin
Johnny Winter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I just walk to be your lovin' man
I love you, yes, I love you with all my heart and soul
I wouldn't mistreat you for my weight in gold
You know I love you, you know it's true
Give you all my lovin', what more can I do
I just walk to be your lovin' man
You know I love you, you know it's true
Give you all my, what more can I do
I'm walkin' by myself, I hope you'll understand
I just walk to be your lovin' man
Yeah, I just walk to be your lovin' man
Try again now
Johnny Winter's song "Walkin'" is a classic blues track that revolves around the theme of unrequited love. The song is a slow, mournful song with a bluesy melody that is perfect for expressing the emotions of a broken-hearted lover. The opening lines, "Walkin' by myself, I hope you'll understand, I just walk to be your lovin' man" conveys the message that the singer is alone and walking without anyone by his side, but he still wants to be loved.
As the song progresses, the lyrics reveal that the singer loves his significant other with all his heart and soul and would never mistreat her for all the wealth in the world. He sings, "I love you, yes, I love you with all my heart and soul, I wouldn't mistreat you for my weight in gold." These lines reflect how true love is priceless, and the singer values his relationship with the woman more than anything materialistic.
The chorus repeated twice in the song, "You know I love you, you know it's true, give you all my lovin', what more can I do," highlights how the singer has nothing else to offer but his love. He wants his lover to recognize it and appreciate it. The closing lines of the song repeat the opening lines, emphasizing the singer's desire to be loved and his willingness to walk alone until he finds someone who truly loves him back.
Overall, Johnny Winter's "Walkin'" is a song that beautifully captures the essence of love and heartbreak. The lyrics are simple yet profound, the melody is haunting, and the guitar riffs are breathtaking. It's no surprise that this song has become a classic blues standard that continues to resonate with people even today, many years after its initial release.
Line by Line Meaning
Walkin' by myself, I hope you'll understand
I am walking alone, but I hope you can empathize with and comprehend my need to do so.
I just walk to be your lovin' man
My solitary walks are motivated by my love for you and desire to be a faithful partner.
I love you, yes, I love you with all my heart and soul
My love for you is absolute and all-encompassing, emanating from the deepest parts of my being.
I wouldn't mistreat you for my weight in gold
I would never harm or disrespect you, even for a fortune beyond measure.
You know I love you, you know it's true
I hope you are aware that my affection for you is genuine and sincere.
Give you all my lovin', what more can I do
I will offer you all the love and devotion I possess, as there is nothing more I can offer than that.
Yeah, I just walk to be your lovin' man
My solitary walks are a way to demonstrate my commitment to being your devoted and loyal partner.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: J. A. A/K/A JIMMY ROGERS LANE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ilias Petrou
Big big respect to Jon Paris the bass man, a true musician!
bluesrocker79
Yes,indeed. What talent! I have no idea how he could play lead on the harp and rhythm on the bass at the same time. My brain would never be able to work that way.
Rick Mayhew
@bluesrocker79 Playing bass and harp at the same time is maybe one of the hardest human feats to accomplish.
Himothy
he can play guitar too, theres a video where he and johnny plays "dont take advantage of me" and they switch instruments mid way through the song. it honestly surprised me that he sounded that good on a a guitar
Bill Ridge
I've seen Jon Paris
Show up with a strat
On his back , his bass
Up front and his harp
Kit around his neck.
What a freak!
plsheaf
I first discovered Johnny in 1973, I remember watching this on the old grey whistle test in 79, It still thrills me as much today as it did then. Shame he doesn't come over to the UK very often, I've seen him live twice and I would love to see him again. He never disappoints!
Edward Goering
I saw him right before his Last Tour in Europe at Weinburg Center in Frederick Maryland in 2012 It surprised me he had to have help walking to His Chair saw him in 85 Seagull Inn Essex Md I liked it best when he worked with Muddy Waters 78-83
Chris Franke
My favorite bluesman of all time!
Rose Marie Rizzo
Not only talent but charisma, he has!
Steve Swamp
Man I love that sound