Edgar Holland Winter (born December 28, 1946, in
Beaumont, TexasBeaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 113,866 at the 2000 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the Gulf...
) is an American musician. Edgar is a
multi-instrumentalistA multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:The European Piffari,...
, performing on the keyboards, and as a vocalist, saxophonist and percussionist, well-versed in
jazzJazz is a musical art form which originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States from a confluence of African and European music traditions....
,
bluesBlues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre created within the African-American communities in the Deep South of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and
rockRock music is a genre of popular music that entered the mainstream in the 1960s. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, rhythm and blues, country music and also drew on folk music, jazz and classical music....
. He was most successful in the 1970s with his band The Edgar Winter Group. He is easily recognized by his
albinismAlbinism is a form of hypopigmentary congenital disorder, characterized by a partial or total lack of melanin pigment in the eyes, skin and hair, or more rarely...
.
As teens Edgar and
JohnnyJohn Dawson "Johnny" Winter III is an American blues guitarist, singer and producer.Johnny and Edgar Winter were nurtured at an early age by their parents in their musical pursuits. Johnny Winter is known for his southern blues and rock and roll style, as well as his physical appearance...
(who is two years older than Edgar) began performing together at local
watering holesA public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises in countries and regions of British influence. Although the terms often have different connotations, there is little definitive difference between pubs, bars,...
such as Tom's Fish Camp.
Edgar Holland Winter (born December 28, 1946, in
Beaumont, TexasBeaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 113,866 at the 2000 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the Gulf...
) is an American musician. Edgar is a
multi-instrumentalistA multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:The European Piffari,...
, performing on the keyboards, and as a vocalist, saxophonist and percussionist, well-versed in
jazzJazz is a musical art form which originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States from a confluence of African and European music traditions....
,
bluesBlues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre created within the African-American communities in the Deep South of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and
rockRock music is a genre of popular music that entered the mainstream in the 1960s. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, rhythm and blues, country music and also drew on folk music, jazz and classical music....
. He was most successful in the 1970s with his band The Edgar Winter Group. He is easily recognized by his
albinismAlbinism is a form of hypopigmentary congenital disorder, characterized by a partial or total lack of melanin pigment in the eyes, skin and hair, or more rarely...
.
History
As teens Edgar and
JohnnyJohn Dawson "Johnny" Winter III is an American blues guitarist, singer and producer.Johnny and Edgar Winter were nurtured at an early age by their parents in their musical pursuits. Johnny Winter is known for his southern blues and rock and roll style, as well as his physical appearance...
(who is two years older than Edgar) began performing together at local
watering holesA public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises in countries and regions of British influence. Although the terms often have different connotations, there is little definitive difference between pubs, bars,...
such as Tom's Fish Camp. The two played in R&B and
bluesBlues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre created within the African-American communities in the Deep South of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
groups; Johnny and the Jammers, The Crystaliers, and The Black Plague. By the time he was of college age Edgar had become competent on keyboards, saxophone,
bassThe electric bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a plectrum....
,
guitarThe guitar is a musical instrument with ancient roots that adapts readily to a wide variety of musical styles. It typically has six strings, but four-, seven-, eight-, ten-, eleven-, twelve-, thirteen- and eighteen-string guitars also exist. The size and shape of the neck and the base of the guitar...
and
drumsA drum set is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person . The term "drum kit" first became used in the 1700s in Britain...
. In 1969, Winter appeared with Johnny for two songs ("
I Can't Stand It"I Can't Stand It" was the first single from Eric Clapton's 1981 album Another Ticket. Besides becoming a pop hit in its own right, reaching #10 on the Billboard Hot 100, it was also the first #1 song on Billboards newly-introduced Top Tracks chart. It stayed at the summit for two weeks. The song...
" and "
Tobacco RoadTobacco Road refers to the tobacco-producing area of North Carolina and is often used when referring to sports played among rival North Carolina universities...
") at the
Woodstock FestivalWoodstock Music & Art Fair was a music festival, billed as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music", held at Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm near the hamlet of White Lake in the town of Bethel, New York, from August 15 to August 18, 1969...
.
After recording with his brother, Edgar was signed to his own
Epic RecordsEpic Records is an American record label. It is owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment. The label was founded in 1953 as a jazz label, and was eventually expanded to several genres of music. The label manages several imprints as well.-History:...
contract in 1970 and recorded two R&B flavored albums,
Entrance and
Edgar Winter's White TrashEdgar Winter's White Trash is the second studio album by Edgar Winter, and his first with his group White Trash. The album reached 111 on the Billboard charts, and produced the single "Keep Playin' That Rock and Roll" that went to No.70 on Billboard's Top 100.-Track listing:#"Give It Everything You...
. In 1972 he formed The Edgar Winter Group which included
Dan HartmanDaniel Earl "Dan" Hartman was an American singer, songwriter and record producer best known for the songs "I Can Dream About You" and "Instant Replay".-Career:...
,
Ronnie MontroseRonnie Montrose, is an American guitarist.Montrose has worked with a variety of musicians over the years, including Herbie Hancock, Van Morrison, The Beau Brummels, Boz Scaggs, Beaver & Krause, Gary Wright, Tony Williams, The Neville Brothers, and Dan Hartman...
and
Chuck RuffChuck Ruff is an American rock drummer most prominently known for his drum duet with Edgar Winter and The Edgar Winter Group in the No. 1 hit instrumental "Frankenstein".-Biography:...
. It was with this band that he had his biggest successes: first with the
1972-January–April:*January 9 - Mick Jagger's request for a Japanese visa is rejected on account of a 1969 drug bust, putting an abrupt end to The Rolling Stones' plans to perform in Japan during their forthcoming tour of Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand....
album
They Only Come Out at Night which featured the #1 hit instrumental "
Frankenstein"Frankenstein" is a rock instrumental by The Edgar Winter Group from their album They Only Come Out At Night. In live performances of the song, Edgar Winter further pioneered the advancement of the synthesizer as a lead instrument by becoming the first person ever to strap a keyboard instrument...
" which pioneered the use of the synthesizer as a lead instrument and reached number one in the U.S. in May 1973 and the top 15 single
Free RideFree Ride is a song written by Dan Hartman and performed by the The Edgar Winter Group. The single was a top 20 U.S. hit in 1973. The song is featured in the movies Air America, Dazed and Confused, Jack Frost, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, Days of Thunder and in the video games Prey and...
; which reached number 14 that same year, then the album
Shock TreatmentShock Treatment is the fifth studio album by Edgar Winter. The album went to No. 13 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart, and had two charting singles: "Easy Street" and "River's Risin'" .-Track listing:...
which featured the song "Easy Street."
The preponderance of vocals and songwriting by Hartman on
Shock Treatment led to the release of
Jasmine Nightdreams with all vocals by Winter. It was nominally a solo album, but it used the same personnel as the Edgar Winter Group. A full band album followed, the Edgar Winter Group with
Rick DerringerRick Derringer™ is an American guitarist, vocalist, and entertainer. He is perhaps best known for the songs "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" and "Real American"...
, featuring songs and vocals by Derringer.
Success was waning, however, and Edgar teamed with brother Johnny for a live album of blues and early rock classics, including
Harlem ShuffleHarlem Shuffle can refer to:* "Harlem Shuffle" * Harlem Shuffle...
(later a revival hit for the Rolling Stones). This album too performed below expectations, so the White Trash was reformed. They recorded
Recycled, and toured as an opening act to support the album. The tour was cut short by a tragic plane crash, which killed some members of the tour's headliner,
Lynyrd SkynyrdLynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band, formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1964. The band became prominent in the Southern United States in 1973, and rose to worldwide recognition before three members and one road crew member died in an airplane crash in 1977, including lead vocalist and primary...
. This was followed by two solo albums, an attempt at literate disco on the
Edgar Winter Album and a return to 1970s rock on
Standing on Rock. Since then there have been more obscure solo albums and session work, namely with
David Lee RothDavid Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality, best known as the original and current lead singer of Van Halen. In addition to his work with Van Halen, Roth is a successful solo artist, having released several platinum and gold solo albums...
on
Crazy from the Heat in 1985, which included a cover version of the song
Easy Street.
With over 20 albums and many television and radio appearances both to promote his music and to give his opinion on everything politically incorrect, Edgar Winter's music is solidly in the popular vein. Winter's 1970s albums are bluesier than his later albums, but there are blues tunes like "Big City Woman" on his 1990 album
Not a Kid Anymore. In 2005, "Frankenstein" was featured in the
PlayStation 2The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony. The PS2 console is the sequel to the original PlayStation console. The successor to the PlayStation, and the predecessor to the PlayStation 3, the PlayStation 2 forms part of the PlayStation series of video game...
music video gameA music video game, also commonly known as a music game, is a video game where the gameplay is meaningfully and often almost entirely oriented around the player's interactions with a musical score or individual songs...
Guitar Hero. It has also been covered by
Gary HoeyGary Hoey is a surfer-rock musician.-Biography:Hoey often lingered outside Boston's renowned Berklee College of Music when he was fourteen years old, making friends and offering to pay for lessons...
on the 2003 album "Wake Up Call," as well as by
Derek SherinianDerek Sherinian is an American rock, Progressive metal and fusion keyboardist based in Los Angeles, California. After studying at the Berklee College of Music, Sherinian became a keyboardist and sideman for a number of artists, including Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kiss, and Zakk...
on his album
InertiaInertia is the resistance of any physical object, to a change in its state of motion. It is represented numerically by an object's mass. The principle of inertia is one of the fundamental principles of classical physics which are used to describe the motion of matter and how it is affected by...
. "Free Ride" is the main song used in the Disney/Pixar video game "Cars" which is the video game spin off of the animated film of the same name, the initial guitar riff is used on the menu screens and the full song features during game play.
In 2006, Winter joined Hamish Stuart,
Rod ArgentRod Argent was a founding member of the 1959 English pop group The Zombies and the 1970s band Argent.While at St Albans School, he met Paul Atkinson and Hugh Grundy...
,
Richard MarxRichard Noel Marx is an American adult contemporary and pop/rock singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He had a string of hit singles in the late 1980s and 1990s, including "Endless Summer Nights", "Right Here Waiting", "Now and Forever", and "Hazard"...
,
Billy SquierWilliam Haislip "Billy" Squier is an American rock musician. Squier had a string of arena rock hits in the 1980s. He is probably best known for the song "The Stroke" on his 1981 album release Don't Say No...
, and Sheila E touring with
Ringo StarrRichard Starkey, MBE , better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer-songwriter, and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for the rock group The Beatles. When The Beatles formed in 1960, Starr belonged to another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes....
& His All Starr Band. In 2008, he appeared in the 10th All-Starr Band with
Colin HayColin James Hay is a Scottish-Australian musician, who made his mark during the 1980s as lead vocalist of the Australian band Men at Work, and later as a solo artist...
,
Billy SquierWilliam Haislip "Billy" Squier is an American rock musician. Squier had a string of arena rock hits in the 1980s. He is probably best known for the song "The Stroke" on his 1981 album release Don't Say No...
,
Hamish StuartHamish Stuart is a guitarist, bassist, singer, composer and record producer.- Biography :Stuart had recorded a couple of singles with his first band, the Dream Police, before he was invited to join the recently formed Average White Band in June 1972.A member of AWB from 1972 to 1982, he went on to...
, first timer
Gary WrightGary Wright , Cresskill, New Jersey, U.S.) is an American musician, probably best known for his song, "Dream Weaver". He was the piano player on Harry Nilsson's version of "Without You". He currently resides in Palos Verdes Estates, California with wife Rose. He has two adult sons, Dorian and...
and, on drums,
Gregg BissonetteGregg Bissonette, is an American drummer. Gregg was born in a family of musicians. His father Bud Bissonette plays drums, his mother Phyllis plays piano and vibraphone, and brother Matt Bissonette plays bass guitar. Gregg started learning to play the drums at age 5 from his father...
.
Relationship with the Church of Scientology
Edgar is a
ScientologistScientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics. Hubbard characterized Scientology as a religion, and in 1953 incorporated the Church of Scientology in New Jersey.Scientology teaches that...
. He has appeared in at least seven issues of the
Church of ScientologyThe Church of Scientology is the largest organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. The Church of Scientology International is the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for the overall ecclesiastical management, dissemination...
magazine
Celebrity between 1995 and 2005, which list the Scientology courses that he has completed.
Edgar also produced, arranged, and performed on the album
Mission EarthMission Earth is an album with words and music written by Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. The album was produced and arranged by Edgar Winter, who also performed on it....
(1986). This album's words and music were written by Scientology founder
L. Ron HubbardLafayette Ronald Hubbard was an American science fiction author who developed a self-help system called Dianetics, which was first published in 1950. Over the next three decades, Hubbard developed his self-help ideas into a wide-ranging set of doctrines and rituals as part of a new religion he...
. Hubbard supposedly left detailed instructions and audio tapes for the musicians and producers to follow when making the album. Edgar described
Mission Earth as "both a return to rock’s primal roots and yet highly experimental." Winter had glowing words for Hubbard when he wrote, "Ron's technical insight of the recording process was outstanding." Winter also described Hubbard's delineation of counter-rhythm in rock as something "which was nothing short of phenomenal, particularly inasmuch as it had then been entirely unexplored and only later heard in the African-based rhythms of
Paul SimonPaul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter. He entered the public consciousness in 1965 as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, along with longtime artistic partner Art Garfunkel. Simon solely wrote most of duo's songs, including such memorable songs as "The Sound of Silence", "The Boxer",...
's work, some five years after Ron’s analysis."
Discography
- Entrance (1970)
- Edgar Winter's White Trash
Edgar Winter's White Trash is the second studio album by Edgar Winter, and his first with his group White Trash. The album reached 111 on the Billboard charts, and produced the single "Keep Playin' That Rock and Roll" that went to No.70 on Billboard's Top 100.-Track listing:#"Give It Everything You...
(1971)
- Roadwork
Roadwork is a live album by vocalist/keyboardist/saxophonist Edgar Winter and his band White Trash, a powerful revue famous for their fusion of Funk, Gospel, R&B and Energetic Rock & Roll. It was released as a double LP in 1972...
(1972)
- They Only Come Out at Night
They Only Come Out at Night is the fourth studio album by the Edgar Winter Group. It went to No. 3 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart, eventually sold two million copies, and features two of the band's biggest hits, "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride"...
(1972)
- Shock Treatment
Shock Treatment is the fifth studio album by Edgar Winter. The album went to No. 13 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart, and had two charting singles: "Easy Street" and "River's Risin'" .-Track listing:...
(1974)
- Jasmine Nightdreams
-Track listing:#"One Day Tomorrow" – 3:10 #"Little Brother" – 4:08 #"Hello Mellow Feelin'" – 2:47 #"Tell Me In A Whisper" – 3:25 #"Shuffle-Low" – 4:20...
(1975)
- The Edgar Winter Group With Rick Derringer (1975)
- Together
Together: Edgar Winter and Johnny Winter Live is a 1976 album by brothers Johnny Winter and Edgar Winter.- Track listing :#Harlem Shuffle#Soul Man#You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'#Rock & Roll Medley:#Let the Good Times Roll#Mercy, Mercy...
(1976)
- Recycled (1977)
- Edgar Winter Album (1979)
- Standing on Rock (1981)
- Crazy from the Heat
This article is about the David Lee Roth EP, for Roth's autobiography of the same name see Crazy from the Heat Crazy from the Heat is a 1985 EP by David Lee Roth, his debut solo release.It was released while Roth was still a member of Van Halen...
(1985) (David Lee RothDavid Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality, best known as the original and current lead singer of Van Halen. In addition to his work with Van Halen, Roth is a successful solo artist, having released several platinum and gold solo albums...
Session Work)
- Mission Earth
Mission Earth is an album with words and music written by Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. The album was produced and arranged by Edgar Winter, who also performed on it....
(1986)
- Not a Kid Anymore (1994)
- The Real Deal (1996)
- Live in Japan (1998) (With Rick Derringer)
- Winter Blues (1999)
- Edgar Winter (2002)
- Jazzin' the Blues (2004)
- They Only Come Out at Night
They Only Come Out at Night is the fourth studio album by the Edgar Winter Group. It went to No. 3 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart, eventually sold two million copies, and features two of the band's biggest hits, "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride"...
(2006 - Reissue)
- Rebel Road
Rebel Road is an album by vocalist/saxophonist Edgar Winter. It was released on July 8, 2008 by Airline Records. The album features lead and solo guitar work by Slash on the single "Rebel Road", vocals and harmonica by Clint Black on "The Power of Positive Drinking" and "On the Horns of a Dilemma",...
(2008)
Soundtracks
Edgar Winter's songs have been featured in the soundtracks of these films:
- Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009)
- Tropic Thunder
Tropic Thunder is a 2008 American action satire comedy film directed and produced by Ben Stiller. The film stars Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey, Jr. as a group of prima donna actors making a Vietnam War film. When their fed-up writer and director decide to drop them in the middle of a...
(2008 film)
- The Windsurfing Movie (2007)
- Invincible
Invincible is a 2006 family film directed by Ericson Core set in 1976. It is based on the true story of Vince Papale, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1976-78. Mark Wahlberg portrays Papale and Greg Kinnear plays Dick Vermeil, Papale's coach...
(2006)
- Tupac: Resurrection
Tupac: Resurrection is a 2003 Academy Award-nominated documentary about the life and untimely death of rapper Tupac Shakur. The film, directed by Lauren Lazin and released by Paramount Pictures, is narrated by Tupac Shakur himself. The film was in theaters from November 16, 2003 to December 21, 2003...
(2003)
- Knockaround Guys
Knockaround Guys is a 2002 gangster movie starring Barry Pepper, Vin Diesel, John Malkovich and Dennis Hopper- Plot :Matty Demaret is the son of a mob boss, but he is used as little more than an errand boy...
(2001)
- Duets
Duets is a American road trip film co-produced and directed by Bruce Paltrow and written by John Byrum. The motion picture features an ensemble cast co-starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Giamatti, Maria Bello, Andre Braugher, Huey Lewis and Angie Dickinson, among others...
(2000)
- You're Dead... (1999)
- The Secret Life of Girls (1999)
- Detroit Rock City
Detroit Rock City is a 1999 cult film about four teenagers in a Kiss cover band who try to see their idols in Detroit in 1978. It takes its title from the Kiss song of the same name. The movie bombed at the box office, grossing fewer than five million dollars domestically, and it disappeared from...
(1999)
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie is a movie based on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers on Fox Kids, the first series in the Power Rangers franchise...
(1997)
- Star Kid
Star Kid is a 1998 sci-fi/family film directed and written by Manny Coto.-Synopsis:The film is about a shy seventh grade boy whose life changes when a meteor falls into a junkyard near him. Inside this junkyard he finds a "Cybersuit" - an exo-suit with AI from another galaxy. Spencer decides to...
(1997)
- Wag the Dog
Wag the Dog is a 1997 film starring Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman about a Washington spin doctor who, mere days before a presidential election, distracts the electorate from a sex scandal by hiring a Hollywood film producer to construct a fake war with Albania...
(1997)
- My Girl 2
My Girl 2 is a 1994 comedy-drama movie starring Anna Chlumsky, Dan Aykroyd, Christine Ebersole, Jamie Lee Curtis, Richard Masur, Austin O'Brien, and Roland Thomson...
(1994)
- Wayne's World 2
Wayne's World 2 is a 1993 comedy film starring Mike Myers and Dana Carvey as hosts of a cable access television show from Aurora, Illinois. The movie was adapted from a sketch on NBC's Saturday Night Live and is the sequel to Wayne's World....
(1993)
- Dazed and Confused
Dazed and Confused is a 1993 coming of age film written and directed by Richard Linklater. The movie's large ensemble cast featured a number of future stars, including Matthew McConaughey, Jason London, Ben Affleck, Milla Jovovich, Cole Hauser, Parker Posey, Anthony Rapp, Adam Goldberg, Joey Lauren...
(1993)
- Netherworld (1992)
- Encino Man
Encino Man, released in Europe as California Man, is a 1992 comedy film directed by Les Mayfield and starring Brendan Fraser, Sean Astin and Pauly Shore. The plot revolves around two geeky teenagers from Encino, Los Angeles, California played by Astin and Shore, who discover a caveman in their...
(1992)
- My Cousin Vinny
My Cousin Vinny is a 1992 comedy film written by Dale Launer, and directed by Jonathan Lynn, starring Joe Pesci, Ralph Macchio and Marisa Tomei, and featuring Fred Gwynne in his final role...
(1992)
- Air America
Air America is a 1990 film starring Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr. as Air America pilots, during the Vietnam War, flying missions in Laos. The protagonists discover their planes are used by other government agents to smuggle heroin; and then, they must avoid being made patsies in a frame-up...
(1990)
- Spirit of '76 (1990)
- Maniac Mansion
Maniac Mansion is a graphical adventure game originally released in 1987 by Lucasfilm Games . Maniac Mansion has become known among gamers and programmers for its highly-acclaimed gameplay and its introduction of new ideas into gaming, including multiple possible endings, multiple user-selectable...
(Video Game) (1987)
- Power Rangers the Movie
External links