Frankenstein and Free Ride are his most successful songs. Both written in 1973, they can still be heard on classic rock stations and movie soundtracks, serving as Edgar Winter’s trademark.

Winter, whose music career has spanned three decades, will be the headline act for the Murphysboro Bluesfest this Saturday.

Born into a successful musical family big brother Johnny Winter has had the most success Winter said he is influenced from his childhood years growing up in Texas and New York

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The music reflects it to an extent, he said. A main influence was Southern blues-oriented rock and gospel, like Ray Charles and Little Richard.

Real authentic blues, hot rhythm Latin, Louisiana Cajun style and North Texas have the best blues and jazz.

Winter’s new album Not a Kid Anymore was recorded in his home studio after a 10-year absence from recording, and he believes it is his best work yet.

I think there are a lot of contributing factors (for the absence), he said. I’ve never been interested in putting out an album for the sake of just putting something out.

It was a perfect time to record with the studio at home. If an idea came into my head, I could create that without organizing the group for rehearsals.

Although it has been 22 years since he first sang Frankenstein in front of a live audience, Winter said it is still his favorite.

It’s probably the most enjoyable to play. There’s only five percent of it that remains the same the melody, he said. The rest is an opportunity to stretch out and jam.

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It is now 25 to 30 minutes long. We usually add something new to it on each tour to keep it fresh.

Touring all over the world including Australia, New Zealand, South America and now North America, Winter said, is one of the most enjoyable parts of the business.

It is one of the most rewarding things and at the same time it transcends cultural boundaries blues is a universal form. You can jam

see WINTER, page 6