Johnny Winter was my favorite performer and recording artist. I saw him over 75 times. In 2009 I was lucky enough to win a signed guitar and my wife and I got to go backstage to meet him, (at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, New Jersey). I saw him perform with blues men Muddy Waters, Sonny Terry, Willie Dixon, Mighty Joe Young, Son Seals, James Cotton, Junior Wells, and Buddy Guy; (among many others).
I was able to see him at Foghat's Blues Tribute, (for the NYPL); and the John Lee Hooker Tribute at Madison Square Garden. He showed up for the Muddy Waters Tribute at Radio City Music Hall. I was also present for the first Muddy Waters tour, (James Cotton, Muddy Waters, Bob Margolin, Pinetop Perkins, etc.), at the Palladium.
But most of the gigs were just Johnny and his band. He was the greatest guitar player of them all. I am still amazed by the recordings to this day. I was in awe at his shows.
I bought my first Johnny Winter album in 1973, (Still Alive and Well). I saw him for the first time in 1975, (on a bill with Leslie West and Alice Cooper at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City).
His election into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is now past due. (But they should get it done anyway.)
I will miss Johnny Winter. The world is an emptier place without him.