![]() ![]() “I was able to practice the piano at the hall of the hospital, thanks to the help of hospital staff.” “It was spring (in 2013) when I was recovering from the surgery,” he recalled. In “Spring Carousel (2017),” he included a special season. Winston explained that season was his major source of inspiration, particularly when the landscape and scenery of the countryside and the city changes. “I was inspired by the scenery of Miles City in Montana where I grew up.” “It came to me in the middle of 1982,” he talked of “Thanksgiving,” which has almost become a classic. Each of his albums has been sold by millions, which was unprecedented for a piano solo number. The 70-year-old musician paved the way for new age music in the early 1980s through his albums “Autumn” and “December.” He was known for his outstanding performance skills and lyrical melody. Listening to the clear notes cascading like waterfalls feels like being repeatedly tapped by a crystal stick by the maestro. His powerful touch, like a gust of wind, lasts for five minutes. The first piece titled “Autumn Wind (Pixie #11) evidences that Winston remains undiminished. I feel sorry that I cannot perform in Korea right now.” “I am now completely recovered, “ the celebrated pianist said. Winston, who lives in Santa Cruz of California, was interviewed via e-mail by the Dong-A Ilbo. The title of his new album called “Restless Wind” appears to be a metaphor of his life. Winston has returned to the piano after a major surgery that involved a marrow transplant in 2013. Winston overcame cancer twice, and he later suffered from myelodysplastic syndrome. It’s not because of his lyricism music style. The family will hold a private memorial service.George Winston returns after recovering from cancer. Winston is survived by his sister, Nancy Winston Kahumoku, and a niece and nephew. His last album, Night, was released in spring 2022, but worsening health forced him to cancel most of his performances in support of the album. He subsequently underwent treatment for thyroid and skin cancer. Winston's battle with cancer began in 2013, when he was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome and underwent a successful bone marrow transplant to combat the disease. It issued albums by Keola Beamer, Ledward Kaapana and Cyril Pahinui and is credited with introducing the style to listeners outside Hawaii. Dancing Cat Records, the label Winston founded in 1983, became a key forum for the slack-key guitarists of the Hawaiian Cultural Renaissance. On the latter instrument, he identified with the Hawaiian "slack-key" guitar tradition. Winston also played harmonica and guitar, recording an album of solos on the former in 2012 and incorporating the guitar into his benefit records. He recorded two benefit albums of what he called "Gulf Coast Blues and Impressions." "The vast majority of songs, about 90% I play, are in this style," he wrote. While his more pastoral and melodic music made him a star on records, he would often insert those pianists' songs, and his own originals inspired by them, into his albums and live performances. Winston spent much of the '70s studying New Orleans pianists Henry Butler, James Booker and Professor Longhair. He would record 13 more solo piano albums, with 1994's Forest winning a Grammy Award for best new age album. Together, the three recordings helped to launch the commercial success of what became known as new age - and made Windham Hill the genre's flagship label. It was a surprise hit, which Winston replicated with a sequel season-themed album Winter into Spring and the holiday record December. By the time Winston signed with Windham Hill and released Autumn in 1980, he had a glossier style that eliminated the folksy twang and incorporated the stride piano technique of left-hand bass patterns against right-hand melody. His 1973 debut album, Piano Solos (later re-released as Ballads and Blues), was recorded by folk guitarist John Fahey and had a more identifiable folk sound. His investigation of Doors organist Ray Manzarek's roots led him to jazz player Jimmy Smith, and in turn to the stride piano of Fats Waller - who inspired Winston to switch to piano in 1971. Born in Hart, Mich., in 1949 and raised in Montana, Winston was drawn to the organ after hearing the rock band The Doors in 1967. ![]() While many listeners heard classical foundations in his playing, Winston had neither training nor interest in classical music. ![]()
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