Stories Behind the Music -- Steve Winwood

This "story behind the music" tells of a member of a successful band, bands actually, who went on to have his most success as a solo artist. The Spencer Davis Group, where this man first gained fame, was formed in 1963. The rock band played clubs in the UK, much like the early gigs of the Beatles, the Stones, the Animals, the Yardbirds, etc. The Spencer Davis Group was named after their guitarist -- Spencer Davis. Despite that fact, the band has historically been more associated with the famous keyboardist and lead singer, Stevie Winwood. Here in North America, the band's top charting single was released in 1967. Gimme Some Lovin'was a hit and it is now considered to be a classic. The tune is often featured in movies, television shows and radio and TV commercials that are designed to appeal to those who grew up in that era. The husky, hoarse voice is that of Steve Winwood. 

The Spencer Davis Group did not last very long, they had only three U.S. hits -- they did better in the UK. After the Spencer Davis Group broke-up, Steve Winwood led a psychedelic rock group known as Traffic. Traffic is best-known for a kind of sappy song called Hole In My Shoe. Winwood also, at one point, joined up with his famous pal, Eric Clapton, to put together the band Blind Faith.

Despite having been in successful groups, Steve's greatest success came as a solo artist. Winwood blended a jazzy sound with his rock music and achieved two #1 singles on his own. That is something he had never achieved as a member of a band. Winwood's first #1 hit was Higher Love, which topped the charts in 1986. 

Winwood's next #1 song, his biggest hit ever, was Roll With It. That track spent more time at #1, four weeks in 1988, than any other #1 of that year. Winwood said that he had never dreamed that the biggest hit of his career would come along when he was 40 years of age. After that major success, chart hits have eluded Winwood. Last year, he performed a concert with Eric Clapton and a CD of that performance is due for release this year. Winwood is presently touring the country and he has a website, with lots of interesting information. You can visit it here.

For more "Stories Behind the Music" click on the guitar

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspections