George Winston

George Winston, born on January first, nineteen forty-nine, is a celebrated American pianist, composer, guitarist, and recording artist known for his contemporary instrumental music. He first graced the music scene with his debut album in nineteen seventy-two, but it was his iconic album, Autumn, released in nineteen eighty, that catapulted him to fame. This was followed by the equally successful albums Winter into Spring and December in nineteen eighty-two, both of which achieved platinum status, with December reaching triple-platinum sales.

Over the course of his career, Winston has released a remarkable total of sixteen solo albums, selling over fifteen million records worldwide. His album Forest, released in nineteen ninety-four, earned him a Grammy award for Best New Age Album, while he received four additional Grammy nominations, including one for Best Children's Music Album. Notably, he collaborated with actress Meryl Streep and was nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for his interpretations of works by the legendary rock band, the Doors.

Winston's musical style is diverse, encompassing three distinct approaches: the melodic style he coined as 'rural folk piano', stride piano influenced by the likes of Fats Waller and Teddy Wilson, and his primary passion, New Orleans rhythm and blues piano, inspired by artists such as James Booker, Professor Longhair, and Henry Butler. While his recordings predominantly feature the folk piano style, Winston finds the most joy in performing R&B piano.

In addition to his piano prowess, Winston is also skilled in playing the guitar and harmonica. His fascination with the Hawaiian slack-key guitar led him to establish his own record label, Dancing Cat Records, further showcasing his dedication to his craft and the music he loves.