The representative for Johnny Winter has confirmed that the blues legend was found dead at a hotel room in Zurich on Thursday, 16 July, one day before he celebrated his 70th birthday.

Citing the statement released by Winter’s rep, Carla Parisi, CTV News Canada said that “his wife, family and bandmates were all saddened by the loss of one of the world's finest guitarists.”

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The cause of death was unclear but the authorities have already ordered an autopsy, said Zurich police spokeswoman Cornelia Schuoler. She emphasized however, that investigators are mainly looking at "medical causes" adding, there remains no indication that anyone else was involved.

It has been reported that he was on his European tour and was staying at a hotel in Zurich when the blues legend passed away.

Winter, whose real name, John Dawson Winter II, is “an American multi-instrumentalist known best as a blues guitarist,” as described in his online biography.  The singer-producer and actor has been recognized for his “high-energy blues-rock albums and live performances,” from the 1960s to 1970s. His had three Grammy-winning albums up in his sleeve in his collaboration with singer and guitarist Muddy Waters.

Ranking 63rd in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time,” Winter sure had proven that he was good at what he does as he had served as inspiration to many other top artists who followed his footsteps including, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Winter, according to music writer Fred Schruers has made a great impact introducing blues to the new generation.

"The real legacy of Johnny Winter is that he brought the blues to an audience in tie-dye that might otherwise have neglected the entire genre -- and his timely work producing Muddy Waters only deepened that contribution," Schruers was quoted as saying by CTV News Canada.

Country singer Tracy Nelson of Mother Earth band, described Winter as “Texas second generation,” added the web site.

 "He did not overplay, like a lot of white blues guitarists," CTV News Canada said, before adding, "His tone was a little more modern, more electric, but I could see the influences. He stayed faithful. People idolized him."
Winter

The report noted that his fans “were dazzled by the speed -- and volume -- of his guitar playing, which had its roots in urban blues but incorporated elements of rock 'n' roll.”

"Made my first record when I was 15, started playing clubs when I was 15. Started drinking and smoking when I was 15. Sex when I was 15. Fifteen was a big year for me," Winter said as he recalled his early days in a 2014 documentary film, "Johnny Winter: Down & Dirty."

"I love playing guitar. It's the only thing I've ever really been great at," Winter said.

See Johnny Winter’s discography below:
(Source: wikipedia.org)

Live albums

Live Johnny Winter And (Columbia 1971)
Captured Live! (Blue Sky 1976)
Together with Edgar Winter (Blue Sky 1976)
Live in NYC '97 (Virgin 1998)
Live Bootleg Series, Volumes 1–10 (Friday 2007–13)
The Woodstock Experience (Sony/Legacy 2009)
Live at the Fillmore East 10/3/70 (Collectors 2010)
Rockpalast: Blues Rock Legends Vol. 3 recorded in Essen April, 1979 (2011)

Compilation albums

The Johnny Winter Story aka Raised on Rock (Columbia 1980)
Scorchin' Blues (Columbia 1992)
A Rock N' Roll Collection (Columbia 1994)
Anthology (Columbia 1995)
Return of Johnny Guitar (The Best of Johnny Winter 1984–86) (Empire 1996)
White Hot Blues (Sony 1997)
Deluxe Edition (Alligator 2001)
The Best of Johnny Winter (Sony 2002)
The Johnny Winter Anthology (Shout 2009)
Bamfest 2007 (Sugar River 2008)
Essential Johnny Winter (Columbia 2013)
True To the Blues: The Johnny Winter Story (Legacy 2014)

As producer and guitarist

Thunderhead – Thunderhead (1975)
Hard Again – Muddy Waters (1977)
I'm Ready – Muddy Waters (1978)
Muddy "Mississippi" Waters – Live – Muddy Waters (1979)
King Bee – Muddy Waters (1980)
Whoopin' – Sonny Terry (1984)
Breakin' It Up, Breakin' It Down – Muddy Waters & James Cotton (2007)

Video: YouTube/The Rev. Bob Channel

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