United States 
Vanessa Nakate to Open Giving Black Conference 2026 With Climate Justice Keynote
2 weeks ago
George Winston was an American pianist known for his contemporary instrumental music, particularly his solo piano recordings, achieving significant commercial success.
George Winston had endorsement deals with Steinway & Sons pianos, using their nine-foot New York Steinways as his piano of choice for performances.
George Winston had endorsement deals with Kawai pianos.
The independent record label group Valley Entertainment and Dancing Cat Records announced a marketing and label partnership for the distribution of George Winston's catalog.
George Winston founded Dancing Cat Records in 1983. The label released his albums and prominently featured Hawaiian slack-key guitar artists, helping to introduce the style to wider audiences.
George Winston signed with Windham Hill, an pioneering new age label, in 1979. His albums 'Autumn', 'Winter into Spring', and 'December' were released by Windham Hill, establishing the label as a flagship for the genre. Dancing Cat Records albums were distributed by Windham Hill until the mid-2000s.
After collaborating with Windham Hill, RCA handled distribution for Dancing Cat Records albums and released several of George Winston's later works, including 'Love Will Come: The Music of Vince Guaraldi, Volume 2' and 'Spring Carousel: A Cancer Research Benefit'.
His debut album, 'Piano Solos', was first released on John Fahey's Takoma Records in 1972.
George Otis Winston III (1949-2023) was an American pianist, born in Hart, Michigan. He was raised primarily in Montana, alongside formative years in Mississippi and Florida. His early musical interests included R&B, rock, pop, and jazz instrumentals. In 1965, at age 16, he became interested in Vince Guaraldi’s music after watching “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” This interest expanded to include all of Guaraldi’s releases. After discovering The Doors in 1967, he was inspired to play the organ. In 1971, he transitioned to solo piano, influenced by stride pianists such as Fats Waller and Teddy Wilson, and later by Earl Hines, Donald Lambert, and Cleo Brown. Winston attended Stetson University, majoring in sociology, and was later awarded an honorary doctor of arts degree by the institution.
Winston’s career began with his debut album, “Piano Solos,” released in 1972 on Takoma Records. This album was later reissued as “Ballads and Blues 1972.” In 1979, after sending a demo tape to William Ackerman, Winston signed with Windham Hill Records. His 1980 album, “Autumn,” became a best-seller for the label, followed by the platinum-selling albums “Winter into Spring” (1982) and the triple-platinum “December” (1982). These albums established his signature “rural folk piano” style. In 1983, Winston founded his own label, Dancing Cat Records, initially to record Hawaiian slack-key guitar artists he admired. Over his career, he released 16 solo albums, selling over 15 million records worldwide.
Key achievements include a Grammy Award for Best New Age Album for “Forest” in 1994, and other Grammy nominations for his work, including “The Velveteen Rabbit” (1984) with Meryl Streep for Best Children’s Music Album, and “Night Divides the Day – The Music of the Doors” (2002) for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. He also composed music for the TV miniseries “This Is America, Charlie Brown” in 1988, a career highlight for him. Winston continued to release critically acclaimed albums throughout his career, with his final album, “Night,” released in 2022. He frequently performed benefit concerts for various charitable causes, notably releasing “Spring Carousel: A Cancer Research Benefit” in 2017, with proceeds supporting City of Hope Hospital, where he received treatment.
Curious about our offerings or have inquiries? We're eager to assist!
Just complete the form, and we'll respond promptly.
