We present audio and video podcasts about life and culture in middle America. Our essays and life histories share the story of people in America's rust belt.This podcast is born of blue-collar, working-class values. Our podcast has its roots in the greater Flint area. We dedicate this podcast to the beleaguered town of Flint, Michigan, and communities like it across America.Our podcasts subjects include true crime, law, history, sports, arts & literature, and the Flint water crisis, and more. Our interviews focus on society and culture in middle America.
https://www.radiofreeflint.media
episode 33: George Winters and his Red Piano
Musician George Winters has performed for audiences for over 50 years across America. The Michigan native is well-known in music venues in southeastern Michigan for his fabulous keyboard skills, especially on a Hammond organ. George plays the keyboard, guitar, and harmonica and also sings.
This podcast includes a conversation with George Winters about his long career and several unreleased tracks that include his distinctive mellow jazz and upbeat popular music. Winters shares his story about how his music career started and grew in and around Flint and Detroit, Michigan. In this podcast interview, he talks about how the troubles of the automobile industry affected the life of local musicians in Michigan.
The son of a Hammond B3 organ salesman, George got his musical start very early in life in Flushing, Michigan. He entertained the audience during local theater intermission as a child by playing the organ.
George shares stories about his interactions with former Detroit Tiger star pitcher Dennis McClain, who also was an organist. Winters tells of his amusing experience delivering a Hammond B3 organ to the home of Mark Farner of the Rock Band Grand Funk Railroad.
In recent years he has toured the country in clubs that host dueling pianos.
George has produced five compact disc recordings. The first, entitled "The Seed" was completed in 1994 and was recorded in less than two hours. "The Seed" was picked up by major retailers in Michigan, including Harmony House, prompting some local success. George's second effort, "Rhythm," released in 1998, comprises mostly original music with instrumentation including the Hammond B3, drums, bass, guitar, and piano.
His love of the dueling pianos concept also began in 1998 at JD's Key Club in Pontiac, MI, and continues to this day. You can see George at select Dueling Pianos clubs - click on "show dates" on his web page for a complete schedule.
With the release of his fifth CD, "Back to the B3" George hopes to put his music into more hands than ever, using the internet medium to deliver his creations. "Back to the B3" will be available soon from online retailers such as iTunes, or you can order directly from this website.
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