Johnny Winter on Mudder Waters . . . .

Johnny Winter and his girlfriend Christine.

"Johnny loved Muddy and was thrilled to play on and produce Muddy’s four Blue Sky albums. He didn’t like the way Muddy had been treated by Chess Records, especially in his later albums, and was determined to recreate Muddy’s early sound. He chose Dan Hartman’s Schoolhouse Studio in Westport, CT, a one room schoolhouse built in 1760, for the sessions. Johnny used close miking for the instruments, but also set two microphones near the ceiling, which created a room echo and captured the raw sounds of Muddy’s 1950s recordings. Johnny was amazed how quickly Muddy worked in the studio, and learned a lot from him.

Johnny revived Muddy’s career when three of the four Muddy Waters Blue Sky Records won Grammys. Johnny’s passion for Muddy brought his music to an entirely new audience and cemented his legacy. Johnny also produced and played on “Whoopin”” with harp player Sonny Terry. “Whoopin” was Terry’s only recording with electric guitar, and brought Terry’s music to a difference audience than his work with Brownie McGhee. Johnny has also been very supportive of Clarence Garlow, a Creole guitar player that befriended him in Beaumont. Johnny considers Garlow an early mentor.

Mary Lou Sullivan / Interview by By Matt Marshall

Photo: Eric Gaillard/AFP/Getty Images

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