Johnny Winters Gig In Heaven, Jamming Forever.

 

Again it is with great sadness that another great gigantic talent of the Woodstock era has left us. More than that Johnny was among the Blue’s best guitarists.

The song playing just has some great memories attached to it. It was on the juke box of my tribe of freak friends favorite coney island hangout in the early 70s. It seemed every single group that walked in played it thus we got to hear it over & over. We never got sick of hearing that ripping intro Johnny was famous for…Rock and Roll!!!

Over the years he never slowed down, he just kept turning one generation after the next on to the blues. A passionate flame that would never go out. Not even now or until the end of time, the blues that blistered out of him like lightning from Woodstock on will burn bright.

Got to know brother Edgar is hurting real bad right now but he has plenty of company. My heart goes out to him and the rest of his family, friends and fans. He was a very instrumental part of one of the best era’s for R&R and a blues revival ever witnessed & heard.

Johnny Winters has left the earth but not our minds, ears or hearts. He will be remembered forever.

God Speed

 

Thursday Throw Down ~ “Rip This Joint” ~ The Rolling Stones

Detroit Weather Winter Storm Watch from Thu, 9pm until Fri, 12pm EST

Wednesday “Wizard” Passing Through The Night ~ Uriah Heep

A song I learned quickly on my acoustic upon its release. Heep was a band that doesn’t ever seem to get the recognition these days as being one of the really great Rock and Roll bands from an era of many. Yet they had one of the most phenomenal lead singers in David Byron.

Way too many short memories for my liking.

Anyway this one tonight made me forget my cold I’m battling. Mystical how music can heal. Must be the Wizard…

 

Thursday Throwdown ~ The Beatles….1966 Tokyo, Japan

God I needed this…..
and they saved the best song for last.

Motown Monday ~ “Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go” ~ Hank Ballard and The Midnighters

Written by Hank Ballard
Released 1960
#1 on US R&B & #6 US Pop

John Henry Kendricks was born in Detroit in 1927 and returned here in his mid-teens after his Dad died. Song writer/guitarist Alonzo Tucker founded the group and after a long string of hits both as The Royals (1952) then The Midnighters, in 1961 they had two songs in the top 10, Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go & Finger Poppin Time which was nominated for a Grammy.

Dick Clark… So Long Friend 1927-2012

That is what this Iconic Legend was to all of us. Not only to my baby boomer generation but the ones that followed. So many entertainers owe their careers to Dick Clark and what he did for Rock and Roll and its image, forever changing my parents generation minds on the artists who played it and their kids who fell in love with it.

I’ve got to admit there are not a lot of entertainers I’ve actually shed tears hearing upon their deaths. I have felt deeply saddened but just a few had me literally crying. Dean Martin who I adored was one on them, Johnny Carson was another and Wednesday hearing that Dick Clark had died and watching the footage from the earliest shows of American Bandstand made many of tears flow throughout the day and night.

Monday Move ~ The Poor Side Of Town ~ Johnny Rivers

Written by Johnny Rivers and Lou Adler.
Released in 1966 off “The Changes” Album.

Background Vocals by The Blossoms: Darlene Love, Fanita James, and Jean King.
Marty Paich – string arrangement

When you hear Johnny Rivers as with any Burt Bacharach & Hal David song you hear the 1960s.