(Newton, NJ) -- The Newton Theatre presents An Evening with George Winston on Thursday, December 3rd at 8:00 pm.  Experience the inspirational music of George Winston during this Winter Show concert featuring his melodic fall and winter songs, selections from Vince Guaraldi’s Peanuts, pieces inspired by New Orleans & stride piano traditions, and much more. George would like to support a local food bank by asking that donations of canned food be brought to the concert. Collection baskets will be in the lobby.

George Winston grew up mainly in Montana, and 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 came up with this own style of melodic instrumental music on solo piano, called folk piano. 

His latest solo piano release is LOVE WILL COME – THE MUSIC OF VINCE GUARALDI, VOL. 2 (2010), which features compositions by the late jazz pianist, including selections from the Peanuts® TV specials. His next album SPRING CAROUSEL-A CANCER RESEARCH BENEFIT will be released this year.

He recorded his first solo piano album, BALLADS AND BLUES 1972, for the late guitarist John Fahey’s Takoma label. George went on to release ten other solo piano albums, including standouts like AUTUMN (1980), WINTER INTO SPRING (1982), DECEMBER (1982), SUMMER (1991), LINUS & LUCY-THE MUSIC OF VINCE GUARALDI (1996), PLAINS (1999), inspired by his Eastern Montana upbringing, NIGHT DIVIDES THE DAY - THE MUSIC OF THE DOORS (2002), and GULF COAST BLUES & IMPRESSIONS – A HURRICANE RELIEF BENEFIT (2006). In 1984 he also did the solo piano soundtrack for the children’s story THE VELVETEEN RABBIT for Rabbit Ears Productions.

Additionally, in 2001 George released REMEMBRANCE - A MEMORIAL BENEFIT, a six song CD of piano, guitar and harmonica solos, to benefit those affected by 9/11.

George is currently working on solo guitar and recording the masters of the Hawaiian Slack Key guitar for an extensive series of albums for Dancing Cat Records. Slack Key is the name for the beautiful solo fingerstyle guitar tradition, unique to Hawaii, which began in the early 1800s and predated the steel guitar by over half a century. He is also recording his main inspirations for his harmonica playing, Sam Hinton, Rick Epping, and Curt Bouterse. 

Tickets for George Winston range from $24.00 to $49.00. Purchase tickets by visiting www.thenewtontheatre.com or contact the Box Office at 973-383-3700. 

The historic Newton Theatre, located at 234 Spring Street in Newton, NJ, was founded in 1924. Revitalized and fully renovated, Sussex County’s premier entertainment venue reopened in 2011 as a 605 seat capacity live performing arts center. With it’s rich history and diverse programming The Newton Theatre is essential to the buoyancy of New Jersey’s Skylands region.