• George Winston Video

Celebrated pianist George Winston brings his unique performance, featuring melodic folk, New Orleans R&B, and stride piano stylings, to Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre at 8 p.m. On Tuesday, January 24.Tickets, starting at $22 for the public and $10 for full-time Pepperdine students, are available now by calling or visiting. More information about George Winston:Inspired by the seasons and topographies, George Winston's concerts feature a variety of styles including melodic folk piano, New Orleans R&B piano, and stride piano.

He performs songs from his seasonal favorites Autumn, December, Winter Into Spring, and Summer, as well as Peanuts pieces from his Vince Guaraldi tribute albums Linus & Lucy-The Music of Vince Guaraldi, and Love Will Come-Music of Vince Guaraldi, Vol. 2, and more.George Winston 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, the Ventures, Booker T & The MG's, 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. In addition to working on stride piano, he also at this time came up with his own style of melodic instrumental music on solo piano, called folk piano.Since 1972 George has released thirteen solo piano albums: Autumn (1980); Winter Into Spring (1982); December (1982); Summer (1991); Forest (1994); Linus & Lucy-The Music of Vince Guaraldi (1996); Plains (1999), which was inspired by his Eastern Montana upbringing; Night Divides The Day-The Music of the Doors (2002); Montana-A Love Story (2004); and Gold Coast Blues & Impressions-A Hurriance Relief Benefit (2006).

George Winston Video

His most recent recording are Love Will Come-Music of Vince Guaraldi, Vol. 2 (2010), and Gold Coast Blues & Impressions 2-A Louisiana Wetlands Benefit (2012).In 2001 George released Rememberance-A Memorial Benefit, a seven song EP of piano, guitar and harmonica solos, to benefit those affected by 9/11. He has also worked with the late George Levenson of Informed Democracy on three projects: a solo guitar soundtrack for Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, and soundtracks of piano, guitar and, harmonica solos for Pumpkin Circle, and Bread Comes To Life.