Edgar Holland Winter was born on December 28, 1946. He is an American musician who sings and plays keyboards, saxophone, and percussion. His greatest success came in the 1970s when he was part of the band the Edgar Winter Group. Their songs "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride" became frequently played songs on classic rock radio stations. Edgar Winter is the brother of Johnny Winter, a blues singer and guitarist who passed away in 2014.

Early life

Winter was born on December 28, 1946, in Beaumont, Texas, to John Winter II and Edwina Winter. He and his older brother, Johnny, were both born with albinism. Before leaving home, Winter learned to play many musical instruments and became skilled at reading and writing music.

Career

Edgar Winter composed and performed songs in many music styles, such as rock, jazz, blues, and pop. His first album, Entrance, released in 1970, showed his unique way of mixing different music genres. An early song called "Tobacco Road" received attention. After Entrance, Edgar released two successful albums with his band White Trash, which included musicians from Texas and Louisiana. White Trash, with Edgar and Jerry Lacroix both singing and playing saxophone, released the album Edgar Winter's White Trash in 1971. It reached No. 111 on the charts, and the 1972 album Roadwork (partially recorded at New York's Apollo Theater) earned gold status.

In late 1972, Edgar formed The Edgar Winter Group with Dan Hartman, Ronnie Montrose, and Chuck Ruff. The group created popular songs like "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride," with Dan Hartman singing. The album They Only Come Out at Night, released in November 1972, reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 200 and stayed on the charts for 80 weeks. It was certified gold in 1973 and double platinum in 1986.

Edgar invented the keyboard body strap early in his career. This invention allows him to move freely during his high-energy performances on stage.

After They Only Come Out at Night, Edgar released Shock Treatment, which included guitarist Rick Derringer instead of Ronnie Montrose. The album featured "River's Risin'," his third Top 40 single, also sung by Hartman. Later albums included Jasmine Nightdreams, The Edgar Winter Group with Rick Derringer, Together, Recycled (a reunion with White Trash), Standing on Rock, Mission Earth, Live in Japan, Not a Kid Anymore, The Real Deal, Winter Blues, and Rebel Road.

Edgar also played saxophone on songs by Meat Loaf ("All Revved Up with No Place to Go"), Dan Hartman ("Instant Replay"), Tina Turner ("Simply the Best"), and David Lee Roth's version of "Just a Gigolo." He also appeared on recordings by Rick Derringer, Johnny Winter, Ronnie Montrose, Todd Rundgren, Michael McDonald, and others.

Edgar's music has been used in many advertisements and television shows. He appeared on programs like Politically Incorrect and in a commercial for Miller Lite beer with George Hamilton. He also acted in the film Netherworld and TV shows such as The Cape, Mysterious Ways, Late Show with David Letterman, and Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

Edgar's music has been featured in films and TV shows, including Netherworld, Air America, Dazed and Confused, My Cousin Vinny, Encino Man, Son in Law, What's Love Got to Do with It, Wayne's World 2, Starkid, Wag the Dog, Knockabout Guys, Duets, Radio, The Simpsons, Queer as Folk, and Tupac: Resurrection. In Tupac: Resurrection, a biography of rapper Tupac Shakur, Edgar's song "Dying to Live" was sampled as "Runnin' (Dying to Live)," with vocals by the Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, and Edgar. The song reached No. 5 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles Sales chart, and the soundtrack was No. 1 for eight weeks. Blues musician Jonny Lang also performed a version of "Dying to Live" around this time. Edgar played the song solo on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

In 2003, Edgar released a live CD and DVD titled Live at the Galaxy, recorded at the Galaxy Theatre. It includes songs like "Keep Playing That Rock and Roll," "Free Ride," "Frankenstein," and "Tobacco Road." The DVD also has a 30-minute documentary about Edgar's life and music.

Edgar played with Ringo Starr in the ninth (2006), tenth (2008), eleventh (2010–2011), and fifteenth (2022–) iterations of Starr's All-Starr Band. The 2010–11 tour included a reunion with Rick Derringer. In 2017, The Edgar Winter Band toured as the opening act for Deep Purple and Alice Cooper on The Long Goodbye Tour.

In 2017, Cherry Red released a remastered four-CD collection of Edgar's solo albums from 1970 to 1980, titled Tell Me in a Whisper: The Solo Albums 1970–1980. In 2018, Cherry Red also released a six-CD collection of White Trash and The Edgar Winter Group albums, titled I've Got News for You: Featuring the Edgar Winter Group & Edgar Winter's White Trash 1971–1977.

Edgar produced, arranged, and performed on the 1986 album Mission Earth. The lyrics and music were written by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology. Hubbard provided detailed instructions and audio tapes for the album's creation. Edgar described Mission Earth as "both a return to rock's primal roots and yet highly experimental." He praised Hubbard's understanding of the recording process and noted that Hubbard's ideas about rhythm in rock were "nothing short of phenomenal," later influencing artists like Paul Simon.

Personal life

Winter and his wife, Monique, live in Beverly Hills, California. The couple does not have any children. Winter said in an interview, "I understand why having children could be a good experience, but I think there are enough people in the world." He also said, "It might have been difficult if I had children while working and traveling so much. I tour frequently. If I had children, I would want to stay home most of the time."

Discography

• Open Fire – (1978) Produced by Ronnie Montrose. Ronnie played piano and harpsichord on this album.
• Crazy from the Heat – (1985) Performed by David Lee Roth.
• Brother Johnny – (2023) Won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.