Johnny Winter (left) and Edgar Winter (right)

Born and raised in Beaumont, Texas in the 1940s and surrounded by the blues, country, and Cajun music, Johnny Winter and his younger brother Edgar began their careers as kids, performing songs together and winning talent shows and spots on local TV. Before they were even teens, the two brothers traveled to New York to explore their options, and gained exposure to the rock 'n' roll and rhythm & blues of the period which also influenced them profoundly.

During their early teens, the Winter brothers released their first singles, "School Day Blues" and "You Know I Love You" back in Beaumont. By the late '60s, Johnny and Edgar had each forged independent musical identities and developed unique followings, though they continued to collaborate occasionally, releasing albums such as "Together: Edgar Winter and Johnny Winter Live" (1975), whose cover is pictured at right.

One of the most significant aspects of both men's work, however, was the fact that it revealed a deep respect for the African-American blues tradition, incorporating many of its elements, despite significant racial barriers that existed at the time. Also, rather than trying to downplay their unusual looks, the Winter brothers embraced them, using them to fuel their flashy rock-star image.

The Winter brothers each managed to reach a high level of commercial success around the world, releasing several very popular solo albums and playing sold-out concerts. Johnny received multiple Grammy Award nominations for his work, and Edgar became a pioneer of electronic rock, one of the very first musicians to use the synthesizer as a lead instrument in studio recordings and in live performances. The careers of both brothers have spanned almost five decades.