Edgar Winter was born and grew up in Beaumont, Texas. He shared with his brother, Johnny, an interest in music, especially rhythm and blues, and jazz. Edgar left Beaumont High School during his senior year to tour with Johnny, and the two played in a local band called Black Plague before Edgar went to college. He is known for being a multi-instrumentalist—keyboardist, guitarist, saxophonist, and percussionist—as well as a singer.

 

Edgar dropped out of college to play jazz professionally and joined his brother when Columbia Records offered Johnny a major contract. Following the release of Johnny’s first two albums, Edgar formed his own rock band, White Trash, whose members included locals Jerry LaCroix and Bobby Ramirez.

 

The band’s first album appeared in 1971, followed in 1972 by “Roadwork,” which went gold. The band broke up in ’72, and Winter formed The Edgar Winter Group. “They Only Come Out at Night” hit number one on the charts, went gold, and launched the singles “Frankenstein” and “Free Ride." When the band’s guitarist quit, Winter asked producer Rick Derringer to sit in. The combination proved excellent, and the result was another gold record in 1974 for “Shock Treatment." Following that album, Winter released another solo jazz album, continuing to work with The Edgar Winter Group, reunited with White Trash, and recorded a live LP with his brother.

 

Edgar Winter and his bandmates were the only group from the U.S. performing at the Music Summit in Moscow in 1989. They performed songs including “Cry Out” from Winter’s album “Mission Earth." In 1990, Edgar rejoined Rick Derringer in the White Lightning Tour, recording a live album, and releasing a studio album.

 

Winter currently lives in Beverly Hills, CA, performing, writing songs, and composing soundtracks for films. He wrote “Way Down South," the song featured in the film My Cousin Vinny.