The bonds binding Edgar and Johnny Winter have always been stronger than any differences that have arisen between the two brothers.

They grew up in Beaumont, Texas, albinos who were set apart from the rest of the population from the moment they were born.

Instead of shunning attention, they rushed toward it, embracing the spotlight as they pursued careers in music.

And both succeeded, becoming superstars in the 1960s and 1970s.

"Johnny was really my musical hero," says Edgar, who is two years younger than his 67-year-old brother. "I wasn't as serious about it as he was. He used to read all the fan magazines.

"He was Johnny 'Cool Daddy' Winter, with the shades and the guitar. He watched "Bandstand." I wanted to watch cowboy movies. He was very driven and ambitious. I just loved the music in and of itself. I love the harmony and rhythm. I was the weird kid who played all the instruments."

Johnny, a blues guitarist of exceptional speed and skill, got the call first and moved to New York after getting signed by Columbia Records.

Edgar, right out of high school, followed and played in his brother's band and on his first two albums for Columbia.

"I did a lot of the work and Johnny got a lot of the glory," says Edgar, who will perform Thursday at York's Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center. "That was fine with me."

The brothers, however, went their separate ways after Clive Davis, then the head of Columbia Records, offered Edgar his own recording contract.

Winter, first with a band he called White Trash and later with the Edgar Winter Group, soon became even a bigger star than his brother, thanks to hits such as "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride," songs still frequently played on classic rock radio.

Winter, a multi-instrumentalist who plays keyboards, drums, guitar and saxophone, says he always plays those songs and his version of "Tobacco Road" when he performs.

Other songs that frequently crop up on his set list are "Save the Planet," "Turn On Your Lovelight," "Easy Street" and "Keep Playin' That Rock 'n' Roll."

He says he also will play selections from his most recent album, "Rebel Road," which was released in 2008.

Also on the bill for the York show is guitarist Rick Derringer, who has a history with both Winter brothers, having first played in Johnny's band and later in White Trash and the Edgar Winter Group.

Winter and Derringer, the writer of the hits "Hang on Sloopy" and "Rock & Roll, Hoochie Koo," will plays separate sets with their own bands.

"Usually when we play shows together," Winter says, "I invite Rick to come up at the end of our set and jam. Sometimes he does and sometimes not. It depends on our respective schedules. If he has to be up early, he may not stick around through the entire show.

"But he has a standing invitation to come out and jam and does so most of the time."

Though he hasn't had a hit in years, Winter has maintained a relatively high profile.

He's a comic figure in a TV commercial for AT&T and he performed in Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band the last three times the former Beatles' drummer has toured. In fact, both Winter and Derringer shared the stage with Starr when he performed in 2010 at the American Music Theatre.

"Ringo had his birthday party at Radio City Music Hall in 2010," Winter says. "At the end of the show, Paul McCartney came out and played "Birthday," so I got to play with both Paul and Ringo. It just blew my mind."

Winter, the first rocker to strap a keyboard over his shoulder, says he has no plans to retire and still plays a physical show, including his multi-instrumental tour de force during "Frankenstein."

"I can still pretty much do the same music, just as high energy, and it rocks just as hard as ever," he says. "If I got to a point where I had to change and play softer stuff, I would do that.

"As long as it's musical, I'm going to be enjoying myself."

Edgar Winter Band

and Rick Derringer

Thurs. 7:30 p.m. $29-$39

Strand-Capitol

Performing Arts Center

50 N. George St., York, 846-1111
www.strandcapitol.org