In 1970, at the age of 26 and at the peak of his powers, the remarkable Texan guitarist Johnny Winter performed a legendary set at New York’s Fillmore East, accompanied by his bandmates – guitarist Rick Derringer and bass player Randy Jo Hobbs (both of “Hang On Sloopy” 60s teenage sensations The McCoys) plus drummer Bobby Caldwell. On September 26, Floating World Records will release ‘Live At The Fillmore East, 1970’ on CD- a double LP follows on October 31 – which contains five previously unreleased tracks from the same show and in-depth sleeve notes by respected music writer Alan Robinson, pre-order here. Writers can preview the album here (do not share). ‘Live At The Fillmore East, 1970’ contains two tracks from the 1971 concert album ‘Live Johnny Winter And’ – “Good Morning Little School Girl” and “It’s My Own Fault”- plus five previously unreleased tracks from the same show, including Derringer’s “Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo”, which Derringer himself would record on his 1973 solo debut album ‘All American Boy’. Derringer and Winter had contrasting guitar styles that sparked off one another, and the vitality of their playing on this album feels like a fitting tribute to Derringer, who passed away in May this year at the age of 77. By 1971 Winter’s growing heroin addiction meant he had to put his career on hiatus whilst he went into rehab, and he wouldn’t release anything new until his classic, Rick Derringer-produced ‘Still Alive and Well’ album of 1973. Born in Beaumont, Texas in 1944, with the rare condition Albinism, Johnny Winter was a guitarist, songwriter, and record producer best known for his high-energy blues rock albums and live performances. He also produced three Grammy Award-winning late career albums for blues singer and guitarist Muddy Waters. In 1988, Winter was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame, and in 2003 he was ranked 63rd in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the ‘100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time’. Johnny Winter died in Zurich, Switzerland, on July 16th, 2014, of a combination of emphysema and pneumonia. Writing in Rolling Stone magazine, after Winter’s death, David Marchese said, “Winter was one of the first blues rock guitar virtuosos, releasing a string of popular and fiery albums in the late Sixties and early Seventies, becoming an arena-level concert draw in the process” … [he] “made an iconic life for himself by playing the blues”. This album serves to remind the listener of what exactly the Johnny Winter reputation was founded upon; incredible guitar playing virtuosity matched by impassioned vocals and marbled through with an indelible love of and feeling for The Blues. His influence lives on. | 
