The world has lost another rock legend: Johnny Winter, the iconic blues guitarist, has died at age 70, the Associated Press reports. Winter was on tour in Europe with his band when he died in a Zurich hotel room, a rep confirmed to the AP. No cause of death has been given.
Winter was known for his high-energy blues riffs and collaborations with the likes of Muddy Waters and Jimi Hendrix. He rose to fame in the late 1960s after he was spotted by a Columbia Records executive and signed a contract with a $600,000 advance — a sum that was, at the time, one of the biggest record deals ever. Winter went on to perform at Woodstock and release several Grammy-nominated albums. He was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1988.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appealSpeed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
-
Kris Kristofferson, singer-songwriter, is dead at 88Speed Read The musician wrote hit songs for Janis Joplin and Johnny Cash before starring in Hollywood movies
-
Shannen Doherty, star of '90210,' dies at 53Speed Read The 'Charmed' actress was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproarSpeed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain PrizeSpeed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
