Walter Egan

Walter Egan
Born (1948-07-12) July 12, 1948
Queens, New York, United States
Genres Soft rock, folk rock, rock
Occupation(s) Singer, guitarist, songwriter
Instruments Guitar, vocals
Years active 1969–present
Labels Culture Factory, Razor & Tie, Columbia, Renaissance, Red Steel, Spectra

Walter Egan (born July 12, 1948) is an American rock musician, best known for his 1978 gold status hit single "Magnet and Steel" from his second album release, Not Shy, produced by Lindsey Buckingham and Richard Dashut.[1] The song reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #18 on the Easy Listening chart.[2] Overseas, it peaked at #32 on the Australian Singles Chart, Kent Music Report.[3]

Early years and education

Egan was born in Queens, New York, United States. In 1970, as a sculpture major, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. as one of Georgetown's first art majors. Egan started his career in the arts, concentrating on printmaking and painting, and the music business. As early as 1969, Egan was playing guitar and composing songs with surf-rock group the Malibooz. While an undergraduate, he was a lead guitarist and backup vocalist for the college-formed group Sageworth and Drums, also known as Sageworth.[4] The group evolved from a group of Georgetown University undergraduate students playing weekend mixers and parties to a tight, professional headlining act with a reputation as one of the best and most original bands in the greater Washington, D.C. area.[5] Other members included Peter Barry Chowka, lead vocal and guitar; John Zambetti, guitar and backing vocals; Tom Guidera, bass and backing vocals; and Matthew Sheppard, drums, with Annie McLoone added later as a lead singer.[6][5]

In late 1971, Sageworth relocated to Boston and spent the next two years performing around the Northeast before finally breaking up, at which point Walter moved to Los Angeles and began his career as a solo artist.

Career

Music

In 1977, Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac co-produced Walter Egan's first album, Fundamental Roll, with Stevie Nicks, also of Fleetwood Mac.[1] The hit song, "Magnet and Steel", inspired by Nicks and from his second album "Not Shy",[7] was featured in the 1997 film Boogie Nights, the 1998 film Overnight Delivery, and the 1999 film Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo. Egan also wrote "Hearts on Fire", which was covered by Gram Parsons on his album Grievous Angel, and "Hot Summer Nights", which was the first hit for the band Night, and included such session musicians as Nicky Hopkins and Robbie McIntosh. Egan scored minor hits with his own version of "Hot Summer Nights", as well as "Only the Lucky" and "Fool Moon Fire".[8]

Egan later toured as a member of a latter-day version of Spirit.[9]

Egan is listed as co-writer on the Eminem hit "We Made You".[10] The song's producer, Dr. Dre, believed he was inspired by the bass line from (and used samples of)[11] Egan's "Hot Summer Nights".

In 2008, he participated in a music industry seminar (with Bill Danoff) at Georgetown University.[5]

In 2011, from his home in Franklin, he produced a new album entitled Raw Elegant that was released on Spectra Records.

Game show appearances

In 1985, Egan was a four-time champion on the game show Catchphrase. In 1986, Egan appeared as a contestant on the television game show Scrabble. During his introduction segment, Egan identified himself as a singer and songwriter. Host Chuck Woolery asked Egan to sing a bit from one of his songs, and he sang the main hook from "Magnet and Steel".

Substitute Teacher

Walter Egan is currently employed as a substitute teacher in Williamson County, Tennessee, near Franklin.

Discography

Albums
  • Fundamental Roll (Culture Factory, 1977)
  • Not Shy (#44) (Columbia, 1978)
  • HiFi (#201) (Columbia, 1979)
  • The Last Stroll (Columbia, 1980)
  • Wild Exhibitions (Renaissance, 1983)
  • Walternative (We, 1999)
  • The Lost Album (Renaissance, 2000)
  • Maddog (Red Steel, 2001)
  • Apocalypso Now (Gaff, 2002)
  • The Meaning of Live (Red Steel, 2004)
  • Raw Elegant (Spectra, 2011)
  • Myth America (Classic Music Vault, 2014)
  • True Songs (WE Music, 2017)
Singles
  • "Only The Lucky"/"I'd Rather Have Fun" (#82) (Columbia 10531, 1977)
  • "When I Get My Wheels"/"Waitin'" (Columbia 10591, 1977)
  • "Magnet And Steel"/"Tunnel O' Love" (#8) (Columbia 10719, 1978)
  • "Hot Summer Nights"/"She's So Tough" (#55) (Columbia 10824, 1978)
  • "Magnet And Steel"/"Only The Lucky" (Columbia Hall of Fame 33353, 1979)
  • "Unloved"/"Make It Alone" (Columbia 10916, 1979)
  • "You're The One"/"Like You Do" (Columbia 11046, 1979)
  • "That's That"/"Hi Fi Love" (Columbia 11116, 1979)
  • "Baby Let's Runaway"/"Johnny Z (Is A Real Cool Guy)" (Columbia 11297, 1980)
  • "Fool Moon Fire"/"Tammy Ann" (#46) (Backstreet 52200, 1983)
  • "Star Of My Heart"/"Joyce" (Backstreet 52249, 1983)
  • "Magnet And Steel"/"Only The Lucky" (Collectables 33353)

References

  1. 1 2 "Not Shy - Walter Egan - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  2. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 85.
  3. ↑ "One Hit Wonders". Australian-charts.com. October 22, 2008. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
  4. ↑ "Walter Egan - Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 Reger, Jeff (March 13, 2008). "Take Me Home". The Georgetown Voice. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  6. ↑ "WalterEgan.com - Official Web Site of Walter Egan". Walteregan.com. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  7. ↑ "The Penguin Q&A Sessions: Walter Egan". FleetwoodMac.net. October 13–26, 1999. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
  8. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2000). Top Pop Singles 1955-1999. Menomonee Falls, WI: Record Research. pp. 201, 466. ISBN 978-0-89820-139-0.
  9. ↑ Adelson, Martin E. "Walter Egan Question and Answer Session". Fleetwoodmac.net. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  10. ↑ "Eminem - Relapse". Discogs.com. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  11. ↑ "Eminem - Relapse (CD, Album)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-03-14.
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