“The Kid with the White Hair”: How Johnny Winter First Met B.B. King
Johnny Winter’s journey into the blues wasn’t just musical — it was cultural and personal. Born in Beaumont, Texas, Winter was deeply fascinated by blues music from an early age, even though most young white musicians in his hometown focused on rock-and-roll. From his teens, he regularly ventured into Black clubs to hear the music that moved him the most, and he quickly developed deep respect for the artists and traditions of the blues community.
One pivotal night in 1962 changed the course of his life.
At about 17 years old, Winter and his band went to see B.B. King play at a predominantly Black club called The Raven in Beaumont. Winter and his brother Edgar, striking figures with pale skin and white hair, were the only white people in the audience — which understandably made King wary. At first, King even joked with the idea that they might be from the IRS, since he was dealing with tax issues and was unaccustomed to white teenagers in his club.
Undeterred, Johnny repeatedly sent bandmates up to King to ask if he could sit in. At first reluctant — even checking for a union card to test his legitimacy — King eventually relented after the crowd urged him on. To King’s surprise, Winter played with confidence and fluency, channeling the blues with authenticity. He even earned a standing ovation from the crowd — a rare honor for any performer, let alone a teenager sitting in on a blues legend’s stage.
King reportedly remarked with amazement that sometimes a young player came up and played a great blues number, and the audience loved it — even more than my own set, a humorous but sincere nod to Winter’s ability.
This moment wasn’t just a fleeting thrill; it laid the foundation for a mutual respect that lasted the rest of B.B. King’s life. In later years, King spoke fondly of that night and of the unusual but undeniable talent of the young Texan.
Shared Stages and Shared Blues: How Friendship Grew
Although they didn’t tour as a duo regularly, Winter and King’s careers intersected numerous times over the decades. Both men were devoted to keeping the blues alive through changing musical eras — and both recognized in the other a dedication to the heart of the music.
Winter was part of the late ’60s blues revival that brought Black blues to predominantly white rock audiences, a period in which he covered King’s own song “Be Careful with a Fool” on his 1969 Johnny Winter LP.
Their careers also crossed on festival and concert bills through the 1970s and ’80s. Accounts from fans and archival photos show them sharing stages and backstage moments at events where blues greats — including Muddy Waters — were present.
Winter’s commitment to the roots of blues also aligned with King’s mission: to bridge racial and cultural divides through music. Their friendship — rooted in the respect born that night in Beaumont — stood as a quiet testament to how the blues transcended social barriers.
When Legends Talk: The Famous TV Interview and Jam
Perhaps the most memorable public moment of their later life friendship came through television — specifically on the CBS news program Nightwatch in the early 1980s. This interview and jam session captured not just two giants of guitar playing, but two storytellers and ambassadors of blues culture.
In this segment, Winter and King sit together, swapping insights about blues music with an easy rapport. The conversation wasn’t just a standard interview — it was an intergenerational dialogue about what the blues meant to each musician. Winter spoke about how the blues felt deeply emotional and human, a source of strength and expression regardless of one’s background. King, ever gracious, shared his own perspectives and even playfully echoed Winter’s stories about that first night in Beaumont when Winter asked to sit in.
The highlight of the segment, however, was when they played together live on camera. Sitting side by side, their guitars conversed: King’s lyrical bends and vibrato on Lucille answering Winter’s fiery leads and raw phrasing. It wasn’t just performance — it was affirmation of their deep connection to the blues and to each other.
Legacy: A Friendship Etched in the Blues
Both Johnny Winter and B.B. King have since passed on, but the story of their first encounter and the warmth of their later interactions continues to inspire blues fans worldwide.
That night at The Raven in Beaumont stands as a formative moment — not only for Winter’s career, but as a symbolic bridge between generations and races in American blues. By living what he loved with sincerity, Winter earned the respect of one of the music’s greatest masters. King’s willingness to embrace that sincerity — and later sit with Winter, in conversation and song — shows how music can forge friendships that last a lifetime.
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