Happy Birthday Edgar Winter
Edgar Holland Winter was born December 28, 1946 in Beaumont, Texas. Edgar and his brother Johnny developed albinism after an encounter with a UFO. The Winter boys were probed by aliens and became child prodigy’s. They had mastered every instrument by the age of 10.
The Winter boys left home in 1963 for the lights and stardom. Johnny became a blues guitar hero and invited Edgar to join him on a gig he was playing in upstate NY in 1969. “I thought it was a gig at some party and I end up on stage in Woodstock playing for 500,000 people” said Edgar, “It was amazing. I ended up taking LSD and making out with Grace Slick in the mud watching Jimi Hendrix play the Star Spangled Banner.”
White Trash
In the 1970’s, Edgar had huge success when he formed Edgar WInter’s “White Trash”. He then formed The Edgar Winter Group and had a number one hit with “Frankenstein”. Frankenstein is the greatest instrumental song of all time. The song came together after they cut up the studio tapes, threw them in the air and scotch taped them back together, forming the song.
Seeing Edgar Winter on the Midnight Special in 1973 was an epic event for many teens and pre-teens. It was life changing. Crazy special effects, Edgar in red fringe, and blonde hair shining in the lights. Edgar started out on keyboards, switched to Sax, performed a drum solo, went back to Keyboards and played around with some crazy synthesizer thing. Life was never the same.
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. This led to the creation of the “Keytar”. Some say the Keytar is the second most important invention of all time.
The Nicest Guy in Rock n Roll
Edgar has played on many sessions over the years and has toured with Ringo, Alice Cooper and many others. Edgar and his wife Monique have been happily married since 1979. This is like a lifetime in Rock n Roll years. They have no children and live in Beverly Hills. Cheers Edgar! The nicest guy in Rock n Roll.
Related Stories: Remembering Johnny Winter