However, his career began many years before CGC in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the age of eleven when he toured with his own gospel group called The Sunset Travelers.  His fancy footwork on Bourbon Street also earned him the name, The Dancing Machine From New Orleans.

Edwin is also responsible for the twirling French Horns we became so familiar with at the half-time shows of the New Orleans Saints when he performed with the George Washington Carver Senior High School Marching One Hundred.

At the age of 16, Edwin won his first talent contest with his group, The Pro-Fascinations. Anxious to pursue a career in show business, he tried unsuccessfully to get the group to join him in moving to Las Vegas; subsequently, he moved without them.

The Monarchs was the next group Edwin made his performance home with.  He worked approximately one year with the group while working in room service for Caesar's Palace Hotel & Casino.

Edwin heard about an audition for The Buck Ram Platters.  He called, auditioned right away, and within two weeks he was on his way to Atlanta, Georgia, for his first performance with them.    From there they toured South Africa with Dobie Gray and Pipp Friedman, performing in Cape Town, Johannesburg, East London, Port Elizabeth, and Durban, at the height of Apartheid.