George Winston

George Otis Winston III was an American pianist whose solo recordings brought contemporary instrumental piano to a wide audience. He came to prominence with Autumn in 1980, followed by Winter into Spring in 1982 and December. Each became a platinum-selling album, while December went triple platinum. Across 16 solo albums, Winston sold more than 15 million records.

Born February 11, 1949, Winston released his first album in 1972. His 1994 album Forest won the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album, and he received four further Grammy nominations. Those included a Best Children’s Music Album nomination connected with a performance alongside actress Meryl Streep, as well as a Best Contemporary Instrumental Album nomination for his interpretations of music by the Doors.

Winston worked in three principal piano styles. He called his melodic solo approach “rural folk piano,” and most of his recordings drew from that manner. He also played stride piano in the tradition of Fats Waller and Teddy Wilson, while his preferred style was New Orleans rhythm-and-blues piano, informed by James Booker, Professor Longhair and Henry Butler. His music was often classified as new age and sometimes as classical, labels he rejected.

Beyond piano, Winston played guitar and harmonica. His interest in Hawaiian slack-key guitar led him to establish Dancing Cat Records. Winston died on June 4, 2023.