Edgar Holland Winter was born today in Beaumont, Texas in 1946. Known for classic rock staples like “Frankenstein” and “Free Ride”, Winter was an innovative multi-instrumentalist that incorporated blues, jazz and rock into some of the best music of the 1970s. He also invented the keyboard strap so you can either thank or curse him, depending on your love for the keytar.
Winter released his first album, “Entrance”, in 1970. He put together a backing band called White Trash (a play off of Winter’s albinism) and released two albums with them, “Edgar Winter’s White Trash” in 1971 and “Roadwork” in 1972. Members of White Trash included Edgar’s brother Johnny as well as Ohio’s own Rick Derringer, of “Hang on Sloopy” fame. The “Roadwork” album was a live double-album and it reached #23 on the album charting, starting a very successful period for Edgar Winter.
Winter shuffled the lineup in his backing band a bit, brought on Ronnie Montrose and renamed the backing band the Edgar Winter Group. Montrose was a respected session guitarist who had played on Van Morrison’s “Tupelo Honey” album and also did work with the likes of Herbie Hancock and Boz Scaggs. After leaving the Edgar Winter Group, Ronnie Montrose formed the band Montrose with Sammy Hagar on lead vocals.
It was with the Edgar Winter Group that Edgar Winter saw his biggest success. In 1973 they released the album “They Only Come Out at Night”, which hit #3 on the album chart. The album contained Winter’s two biggest hits, “Frankenstein” which went to #1 on the single chart, and “Free Ride” which hit #14. His next album, “Shock Treatment” would reach #13 on the chart and the following three albums all made the Top 200.
Winter has released eleven more albums since his last charting record in 1976. His music has been featured in countless movies and television shows and he’s been covered by artists like Tupac Shakur, David Lee Roth, and Overkill.
“Tobacco Road” off the album “Entrance” 1970:
“Dying to Live” off the album “Edgar Winter’s White Trash” 1971:
“Free Ride” off the album “They Only Come Out at Night” 1973:
“Frankenstein” off the album “They Only Come Out at Night” 1973:
“Easy Street” off the album “Shock Treatment” 1974:
