Spencer Davis Group biography

 

The Spencer Davis Group was formed in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s as The Rhythm and Blues Quartet. It featured Spencer Davis on guitar and vocals, Steve Winwood on guitar, organ and vocals, his older brother Muff Winwood on bass and Pete York on drums. Davis, Muff Winwood and Pete York already had a background in playing skiffle, jazz and blues. Spencer Davis's background was in jazz and the Delta and Chicago blues of artists like Muddy Waters and Leadbelly. Steve, Muff's younger brother, was only 15 when the band played its first gigs at the Golden Eagle pub, a Birmingham r 'n' b venue, since demolished. Soon thereafter, the band was offered a residency at the pub. Also known as The Shoop, the Golden Eagle was at the top of Hill Street in the centre of Birmingham. The residency was followed by regular Tuesday night gigs at the Marquee Club in London.

Following a deal with Fontana , a cover version of John Lee Hooker's Dimples was chosen as their first single. The second single, I Can't Stand It, which has been sung by The Soul Sisters , made the charts.

Their first major chart hit was Keep on Running which made number one in the UK as did their second hit Somebody Help Me. It was soon clear that Steve Winwood had an exceptional talent and Keep on Running showcased his vocals excellently. Other hits were Gimme Some Loving, I'm a Man and When I Come Home. The band also began to make the US charts. They appeared in a film called The Ghost Goes Gear . The first three albums, all released in 1965-1966 were strong sellers. The first one contained r 'n' b standards as well as a few Steve Winwood originals which showed his emerging songwriting talents.

 

The second album showed that the group was following a pattern of releasing commercial songs as singles while limiting the r 'n' b songs to albums. Autumn 1966 was a further step forward with exceptional vocal performances by Steve Winwood including When a Man Loves a Woman, Dust My Blues and Nobody Know You When You're Down and Out.

Steve Winwood left in 1967 to form Traffic and this marked a downturn in the band's fortunes. Muff Winwood left to join Island Records as head of A & R . The band continued with Phil Sawyer who himself was replaced by Ray Fenwick on guitar and Eddie Hardin on keyboards. Two minor hits, Mr Second Class and Time Seller, followed.

After a number of additional personnel changes the band split. Spencer Davis went to America where he worked in A & R for a number of record companies. The line-up of Davis/York/Hardin and Fenwick reformed in 1973 with Charlie McCracken on bass and made two more albums. Catch me on the Rebop was a minor hit single.

Today, Pete York is playing with a number of jazz bands, Spencer Davis is based on the West Coast of America where he records the occasional album; and Muff Winwood is head of artist development at CBS Records, having been a successful record producer.

Steve Winwood joined Blind Faith after leaving Traffic and became a has been a highly successful solo artist to this day.

A Spencer Davis Group still tours occasionally, but with few of the original members.