On This Day in 2014: Blues Guitar Legend Johnny Winter Found Dead in a Zurich Hotel Room at Age 70
via Errol Flâne / YouTube
Blues guitarist Johnny Winter, known for his slide-guitar solos and gritty vocals, passed away on July 16, 2014, in a hotel room near Zurich, Switzerland. He was 70. Born in Texas with albinism, Winter overcame poor eyesight and early hardship to become a major force in blues-rock. He rose to fame in 1968, earning a reputation as the hottest musician after Janis Joplin, according to Rolling Stone.
Career Highlights and Final Days
Winter’s career spanned five decades. He performed at Woodstock and Newport Jazz Festival alongside B.B. King. In the 1970s, he produced Grammy-winning albums for Muddy Waters, boosting both of their legacies. Rolling Stone ranked Winter among the top 100 guitarists of all time.
Winter was on tour in Europe when his health declined. He played a show in Austria just two days before his death in Zurich. His manager and police confirmed there were no signs of foul play, and the death seemed medically related. Though no official cause was given, his guitarist friend Paul Nelson and other sources cited emphysema combined with pneumonia.
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Legacy & Influence
Johnny continued performing until his final days. His final album, Step Back, featuring friends like Eric Clapton and Don Henley, was released posthumously in September 2014 and won a Grammy for Best Blues Album. His death left a huge gap in the music world, remembered fondly by fans and musicians who saw him as a bridge between traditional blues and rock.
Winter’s family, bandmates, and fans around the world expressed deep sorrow at his passing. Texas, the blues world, and beyond lost an icon—someone whose raw, high-energy style inspired a generation. He was laid to rest in Connecticut, and his legend lives on in his signature riffs and powerful slide work.
