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Edgar Winter

About this Artist

By the time EDGAR WINTER left his hometown of Beaumont, Texas, in the 1960s, he was already technically proficient in every aspect of music. A child prodigy who achieved international success early on, Winter has found an audience in every major entertainment medium - music, film, and television. A prolific writer, Edgar's music encompasses many different genres, including rock, jazz, blues, and pop. Beginning with his critically acclaimed 1970 debut release, Entrance, he has demonstrated his unique style and ability to cross genre lines and do the unexpected. Winter followed Entrance with two hit albums backed by his group White Trash, originally comprised of musicians from Texas and Louisiana. White Trash enjoyed huge success, both with the 1971 release of the studio album, Edgar Winter's White Trash, and with 1972's follow-up live gold album, Roadwork.

In late 1972 Winter brought together Dan Hartman, Ronnie Montrose, and Chuck Ruff to form The Edgar Winter Group, which created such hits as the No. 1 "Frankenstein" and the ever-popular "Free Ride." Released in 1973, They Only Come Out at Night peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 200 and stayed on the charts for 80 weeks. It was certified gold in April 1973 and double platinum in November 1986.

Winter invented the keyboard body strap early in his career, an innovation that allows him the freedom to move around on stage during his multi-instrument high-energy performances. He was also the first artist to feature a synthesizer as the main instrument in a song. "Frankenstein" revolutionized rock and roll and opened up a whole new world of possibilities with experimentation and sound.

After They Only Come Out at Night, Winter released Shock Treatment, featuring guitarist Rick Derringer in place of Ronnie Montrose. Later albums included Jasmine Nightdreams, The Edgar Winter Group with Rick Derringer, Together Live with Johnny Winter, Recycled, a reunion with White Trash, Standing on Rock, Mission Earth, Live in Japan, Not a Kid Anymore, The Real Deal, and Winter Blues.

Winter's music can be heard in numerous film and television projects; his song, "Dying to Live," is featured as "Runnin' (Dying To Live)" in the film Tupac Resurrection, the biography on the life of rapper Tupac Shakur. Produced by Eminem, the song peaked at Number Five on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles chart, and the soundtrack CD was Number One for eight consecutive weeks.

Winter's CD and DVD entitled, Live at the Galaxy was recorded at the Galaxy Theatre in 2003. It also includes the documentary Edgar Winter: The Man and His Music.