Walter Egan
Encyclopedia
Walter Egan is an American
rock
musician, best known for his 1978 gold status hit single "Magnet and Steel" from his album Not Shy, produced by Lindsey Buckingham
and Richard Dashut
of Fleetwood Mac
fame. The song reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #32 on the Australian Singles Chart (Kent Music Report).
Buckingham also co-produced Egan's first album, Fundamental Roll, with Stevie Nicks
. "Magnet and Steel", inspired by Nicks, was featured in the 1997 film Boogie Nights
, as well as in 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
, which included such session musician
s as Nicky Hopkins
(who played piano with Egan on later albums) 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".
Egan later toured as a member of a latter-day version of Spirit
, as well as having been a full member of both The Brooklyn Cowboys and The Malibooz.
Egan once appeared as a contestant on the television game show Scrabble
.
During his introduction segment, Egan identified himself as a singer and songwriter. Chuck Woolery
asked him if we would know any of his songs, at which point he sang the main hook from "Magnet and Steel". Unfortunately, Egan was not the champion that day.
, where he is a substitute teacher at Centennial High School. He continues to write, record and tour into the new millennium. One notable show was in Hollywood, Florida
, in August 2009. Billed as a survivor, he debuted two new songs. Egan is listed as co-writer on the Eminem
hit "We Made You
". The song's producer, Dr. Dre
, believed he was inspired by the bassline from (and used samples of) Egan's "Hot Summer Nights". Egan headlined the 13th annual "Gram Parsons Guitar Pull and Tribute Festival" in Waycross, Georgia
, on September 16-18, 2010.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
musician, best known for his 1978 gold status hit single "Magnet and Steel" from his album Not Shy, produced by Lindsey Buckingham
Lindsey Buckingham
Lindsey Adams Buckingham is an American guitarist, singer, composer and producer, most notable for being the guitarist and male lead singer of the musical group Fleetwood Mac. Aside from his tenure with Fleetwood Mac, Buckingham has also released six solo albums and a live album...
and Richard Dashut
Richard Dashut
Richard Charles Dashut is a record producer who produced several Fleetwood Mac albums including their popular Rumours and Tusk, and later an album by Matthew Sweet, Altered Beast. Dashut also co-wrote several songs with Lindsey Buckingham during his time with Fleetwood Mac...
of Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
fame. The song reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #32 on the Australian Singles Chart (Kent Music Report).
Buckingham also co-produced Egan's first album, Fundamental Roll, with Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks
Stephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
. "Magnet and Steel", inspired by Nicks, was featured in the 1997 film Boogie Nights
Boogie Nights
Boogie Nights is a 1997 drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Set in Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley, the script focuses on a young nightclub dishwasher who becomes a popular star of pornographic films, and chronicles his rise and fall from the Golden Age of Porn of the 1970s...
, as well as in the 1998 film Overnight Delivery
Overnight Delivery
Overnight Delivery is a 1998 romantic comedy film directed by Jason Bloom and was rated PG-13 by the MPAA and released direct-to-video. It featured Reese Witherspoon and Paul Rudd, prior to both becoming considerably bigger film stars.-Plot:...
and the 1999 film Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo
Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo
Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo is a 1999 comedy film starring Rob Schneider. Other cast members include Eddie Griffin, Amy Poehler, Oded Fehr, Arija Bareikis, and William Forsythe....
. Egan also wrote "Hearts on Fire", which was covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by Gram Parsons
Gram Parsons
Gram Parsons was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist. Parsons is best known for his work within the country genre; he also mixed blues, folk, and rock to create what he called "Cosmic American Music"...
on his album Grievous Angel
Grievous Angel
Grievous Angel was the second solo album by Gram Parsons, compiled from 1973 sessions and released four months after his death. It received great critical acclaim upon release, but failed to find commercial success, a fate shared with his previous efforts solo and with The Flying Burrito Brothers....
, and "Hot Summer Nights", which was the first hit for the band Night
Night (band)
Night was a rock band formed in 1978 in Los Angeles whose personnel were veteran British-based session musicians.-History:Night's vocalists Stevie Vann and Chris Thompson had met when Vann had provided backing vocals for the 1978 album Watch by Manfred Mann's Earth Band then fronted by Thompson...
, which included such session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
s as Nicky Hopkins
Nicky Hopkins
Nicholas Christian "Nicky" Hopkins was an English pianist and organist.He recorded and performed on noted British and American popular music recordings of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s as a session musician....
(who played piano with Egan on later albums) and Robbie McIntosh
Robbie McIntosh
Robbie McIntosh is an English guitarist. McIntosh is well known as a session guitarist and member of The Pretenders from 1982 until 1987. In 1988 he began doing session guitar work for Paul McCartney joining his band full time until early 1994...
. Egan scored minor hits with his own version of "Hot Summer Nights", as well as "Only the Lucky" and "Fool Moon Fire".
Egan later toured as a member of a latter-day version of Spirit
Spirit (band)
Spirit was an American jazz/hard rock/progressive rock/psychedelic band founded in 1967, based in Los Angeles, California.- The original lineup :...
, as well as having been a full member of both The Brooklyn Cowboys and The Malibooz.
Egan once appeared as a contestant on the television game show Scrabble
Scrabble (game show)
Scrabble is an American television game show that was based on the Scrabble board game. The show was co-produced by Exposure Unlimited and Reg Grundy Productions. It ran from July 2, 1984 to March 23, 1990, and again from January 18 to June 11, 1993, both runs on NBC. A total of 1,335 episodes were...
.
During his introduction segment, Egan identified himself as a singer and songwriter. Chuck Woolery
Chuck Woolery
Charles Herbert "Chuck" Woolery is an American game show host. He has had long-running tenures hosting several different game shows. He was the original host of Wheel of Fortune from 1975–81, the original incarnation of Love Connection from 1983–94, and Scrabble from 1984–90...
asked him if we would know any of his songs, at which point he sang the main hook from "Magnet and Steel". Unfortunately, Egan was not the champion that day.
Current day
Egan currently resides in Franklin, TennesseeFranklin, Tennessee
Franklin is a city within and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 62,487 as of the 2010 census Franklin is located approximately south of downtown Nashville.-History:...
, where he is a substitute teacher at Centennial High School. He continues to write, record and tour into the new millennium. One notable show was in Hollywood, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
-Demographics:As of 2000, there were 59,673 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of...
, in August 2009. Billed as a survivor, he debuted two new songs. Egan is listed as co-writer on the Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
hit "We Made You
We Made You
"We Made You" is a song by American hip hop musician Eminem. It was released as the first single from his sixth studio album Relapse on April 7, 2009. Produced by Dr. Dre and co-produced by Doc Ish and Eminem himself, the song samples "Hot Summer Nights" by Walter Egan. Eminem performed this song...
". The song's producer, Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
, believed he was inspired by the bassline from (and used samples of) Egan's "Hot Summer Nights". Egan headlined the 13th annual "Gram Parsons Guitar Pull and Tribute Festival" in Waycross, Georgia
Waycross, Georgia
Waycross is the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Ware County in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 14,725 at the 2010 Census. A small portion of the city extends into Pierce County. According the U.S...
, on September 16-18, 2010.