• February 23, 1944 - July 16, 2014
• Johnny was born with albinism, a genetic condition characterized by lack of pigmentation in the skin and hair, and poor eyesight.
• He was the older brother of rock multi-instrumentalist Edgar Winter, who also was born with albinism. Throughout their careers, the siblings frequently worked together.
• In 1969, Johnny signed with Columbia Records for $600,000, purportedly the largest deal ever for a solo artist at that time.
• In August 1969, he performed at the historic Woodstock festival. His brother, Edgar, was playing keyboards in his band at the time, as was bassist Tommy Shannon. Shannon later became a member of Stevie Ray Vaughan's group Double Trouble.
• Around 1970, Johnny began playing with a new backing band featuring three former members of The McCoys - Rick Derringer on guitar, Rick's brother Randy Zehringer on drums and Randy Jo Hobbs on bass. The McCoys are famous for their 1965 chart-topping hit "Hang On Sloopy." The album Winter recorded with the group, Johnny Winter And, was released in 1970. It features the original version of "Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo," which became a solo hit for Derringer in 1973.
• Johnny produced three Grammy-winning albums for one of his musical heroes, blues legend Muddy Waters: Hard Again (1977), I'm Ready (1978) and Muddy "Mississippi" Waters - Live (1978).
• In a 2014 Songfacts interview, Winter said his favorite songwriter was Bob Dylan, and two of his favorite modern-day blues players were Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks.
• In 2015, Johnny won a posthumous Grammy in the Best Blues Album category for his 2014 album Step Back. The star-studded project includes guest appearances by Eric Clapton, Aerosmith's Joe Perry, ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and many other well-known musicians. It's Johnny's only Grammy.

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IrisThe Goo Goo Dolls

The Goo Goo Dolls got the title for their song "Iris" from a country singer named Iris DeMent. The word doesn't show up in the lyric; lead singer Johnny Rzeznik said he was "trying to be pretentious and arty by calling it that."

The ReflexDuran Duran

"The Reflex" became a #1 hit for Duran Duran when Nile Rodgers remixed it using a sampler. Simon Le Bon refuses to say what it's about, but says it's "kind of childish song."

SummertimeDJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

"Summertime" by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince is built on a sample of a Kool & The Gang instrumental from 1974 called "Summer Madness," which gets a shout in the line, "This is the Fresh Prince's new definition of summer madness."

Poker FaceLady Gaga

The "Mum-mum-mum-ma" hook on lady Gaga's "Poker Face" was sampled from Boney M's 1977 hit "Ma Baker."

My AllMariah Carey

Mariah Carey's "My All" is about her affair with New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter.

Rock And Roll All NiteKiss

Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of Kiss wrote "Rock And Roll All Nite" as a "rallying cry for all of our fans." In later years, members of Kiss wrote songs separately.

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