Pianist George Winston Dead at 73: What Was Grammy Winner's Cause of Death?

Pianist George Winston, who won a Grammy for his 1995 "Forest," has died at the age of 73, his spokesman revealed.

An announcement on Winston's website, which was later confirmed by his spokesman, revealed that he passed away Sunday.

Pianist George Winston's Cause of Death

The statement on the website divulged that the Grammy-winning pianist died after his 10-year battle with cancer, Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS).

Despite Winston's health issue, he continued writing and recording new music to share with his fans.

His official website applauded his efforts in using his greatest passion to raise funds for Feeding America to assist the organization in eradicating the national hunger crisis. Winston also used the funds from each of his concerts for local food banks to support his philanthropy.

He underwent several treatments, including a bone marrow transplant, at the City of Hope in Duarte, California, in 2013 which extended his life by 10 years.

The National Cancer Institute describes the disease as a group of cancers in which the bone marrows' immature blood cells fail to mature or grow healthy. Among the symptoms include easy bruising, shortness of breath, paler skin, and weakness.

Winston is survived by his parents George and Mary Winston, his sister, niece, and nephew. The website confirmed that his bereaved family would hold a private memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, fans are asked to donate in memory of the pianist to Feeding America, City of Hope Cancer Center, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

George Winston's Legacy

George Winston spent his childhood years in Mississippi and Florida, during which he already showed his love for music. He began playing the organ in 1967 before switching to the acoustic piano after hearing the music by Teddy Wilson and Thomas Waller.

The Montana native officially marked the beginning of his career in 1972 when he recorded and released his first-ever solo piano album, "Ballads and Blues 1972."

From there, he continuously dropped solo albums, totaling 15 music projects since 1980: "Autumn," "Winter Into Spring," "December," "Summer," "Linus & Lucy - The Music of Vince Guaraldi," and "Gulf Coast Blues & Impressions 2 - A Louisiana Wetlands Benefit," to name a few.

He dropped his 16^th and last solo piano album, "Night," on May 6, 2022, via RCA Records. Before his death, he revealed that the album was two decades in the making, and it celebrated his decades of career in the industry.

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