George Winston seated at piano. Photo credit: Joedel Tufo.
Celebrated American rural folk pianist George Winston will be playing in Claremore at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 7., at the Robson Performing Arts Center, 101 E. Stuart Roosa.
An acclaimed multi-platinum selling musician, Winston is currently touring the United States in support of his recently released 14th solo piano album, “Spring Carousel.” His music shares his life of musical study and inspiration with his own rural folk style as well as stride, R&B and slow dance songs from his favorite masters and composers. Each live performance is unique and may incorporate solo seven-string guitar and solo harmonica
Advance tickets for the upcoming Claremore show are $50 for premium seating and $30 for general seating. Day-of-show box office tickets premium seating will be $60 and general admission will be $40.
Attendees are asked to bring canned food to the show in support of the Food Pantry at First United Methodist Church in Claremore. As Winston travels the U.S., he supports local food banks through donated items and raises money by donating 100% of proceeds from the sale of his merchandise at each concert as well as to service organizations through charitable albums benefiting cancer research, endangered wetlands and hurricane relief.
Winston’s acclaimed career has spanned more than 40 years during which he has sold 15 million albums. Seven of his albums have been certified platinum, including three that are multi-platinum.
He grew up mainly in Montana, and also spent his later formative years in Mississippi and Florida. During this time, his favorite music was instrumental rock and instrumental R&B, including Floyd Cramer, the Ventures, Booker T & The MG’s, Jimmy Smith, and many more. Inspired by R&B, jazz, Blues and rock (especially the Doors), George began playing organ in 1967. In 1971 he switched to the acoustic piano after hearing recordings from the 1920s and the 1930s by the legendary stride pianists Thomas “Fats” Waller and the late Teddy Wilson. In addition to working on stride piano, he also at this time came up with this own style of melodic instrumental music on solo piano, called folk piano. In 1972, he recorded his first solo piano album, “Ballads and Blues 1972.”
Since 1980 Winston has released ten other solo piano albums, including “Autumn,” “Winter into Spring,” “December,” “Summer,” Forest,” “Linus & Lucy: The Music of Vince Guarldi” featuring compositions by the late jazz pianist and pieces from the Peanuts’ TV specials. “Plains,” “Night Divides the Day: The Music of The Doors,” “Montana: A Love Story,” and “Guld Coast Blues and Impressions: A Hurricane Relief Benefit.” In 2001, Winston released “Remembrance: A Memorial Benefit,” a six-song CD of piano, guitar and harmonica solos, to benefit those affected by 9/11.
The local concert is organized by Atmospheric LLC and Walter Kelly, director of bands for Rogers State University, in conjunction with the Robson Performing Arts Center and David Mudd, director of bands for Claremore High School.