Flashback To When Johnny Winter And His Brother, Edgar, Took Us To Church With “Fast Life Rider”

The Winter Brothers Take Denmark, 1970

Long before the Vaughan brothers were dominating the Texas blues circuit, there was another set of Texas born siblings paving the way – Texas blues legend Johnny Winter and his equally talented brother, Edgar. With Johnny’s fast and furious approach to the blues guitar that forced everyone to sit up and pay attention combined with Edgar’s supernatural gift for singing, songwriting, and absolutely tearing up the saxophone and any keyed instrument, the Winter brothers were a rare breed. Performances like this, featuring the boys in Denmark in 1970 are a testament to the magic created when they set foot onstage together, creating a sound that was equal parts Texas blues and Southern Baptist church on Sunday morning.

‘Fast Life Rider’ showcases the best parts of both Johnny and Edgar; the performance begins with one of Edgar’s signature saxophone solos before making way for Johnny’s snappy guitar riff and bluesy vocals telling the tale of a man leaving a woman (for good, this time!).

Fun Fact: Johnny jammed with B.B. King at age 17.

“He didn’t know if I could play or not and I showed him,” Winter recalled to Jam Magazine. “I got a standing ovation for it.”

There will never be another duo quite like the Winter brothers. Others may have come after them, but it’s Johnny and Edgar that created the blueprint!