Steve Winwood

While still a pupil at Great Barr School, Winwood was a part of the Birmingham blues rock scene, playing the Hammond C-3 organ and guitar, backing blues and rock legends such as Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, B.B. King, Chuck Berry, and Bo Diddley on their United Kingdom tours, the custom at that time being for US singers to travel solo and be backed by pick-up bands. At this time, Winwood was living on Atlantic Road in Great Barr, close to the Birmingham music halls where he played. Winwood modelled his singing after Ray Charles.[4]

Winwood on organ with Spencer Davis Group (Amsterdam, 1966)

At age 14, Winwood (then known as "Stevie" Winwood) became singer and keyboardist of the Spencer Davis Group,[9] with his older brother Muff on bass, Spencer Davis on guitar and Pete York on drums. Davis had been impressed by the Winwood brothers after he saw them performing as the Muffy Wood Jazz Band at the Golden Eagle in Birmingham.[10] The Spencer Davis Group made their debut at the Eagle and subsequently had a Monday-night residency there.[11] Winwood's distinctive high tenor singing voice and vocal style drew comparisons to Ray Charles.[12]

In 1964, the Spencer Davis Group signed their first recording contract with Island Records. Producer and founder Chris Blackwell later said of Winwood, "He was really the cornerstone of Island Records. He's a musical genius and because he was with Island all the other talent really wanted to be with Island."[13] The group's first single "Dimples" was released 10 days after Winwood's 16th birthday.[14] The group had two UK No. 1 singles in late 1965 and early 1966 with "Keep on Running" and "Somebody Help Me";[15] the money from this success allowed Winwood to buy his own Hammond organ.[4] Winwood co-wrote the band's breakthrough hits in America, "Gimme Some Lovin'" and "I'm a Man", both of which went Top 10 in the US and UK in late 1966 and early 1967.[16][17][18] Winwood left the Spencer Davis Group in April 1967.

Winwood met drummer Jim Capaldi, guitarist Dave Mason, and multi-instrumentalist Chris Wood when they jammed together at The Elbow Room, a club in Aston, Birmingham.[19][20] After Winwood left the Spencer Davis Group in April 1967, the quartet formed Traffic.[21] Soon thereafter, they rented a cottage near the rural village of Aston Tirrold, Berkshire (now Oxfordshire), to write and rehearse new music.[19][22][23] This allowed them to escape the city and develop their music.[24][25]

Early in Traffic's formation, Winwood and Capaldi formed a songwriting partnership, with Winwood writing music to match Capaldi's lyrics. This partnership was the source of most of Traffic's material, including popular songs such as "Paper Sun", "No Face, No Name, No Number", "Dear Mr. Fantasy" and "The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys", and outlived the band, producing several songs for Winwood and Capaldi's solo albums. Over the band's history, Winwood performed the majority of their lead vocals, keyboard instruments, and guitars (the latter more so after Mason's departure in 1968). Traffic disbanded in early 1969 after two albums, Mr. Fantasy (1967) and Traffic (1968), with a third album, Last Exit, being issued later that year.

Winwood with Blind Faith (1969)

Following Traffic's split, Winwood formed the supergroup Blind Faith, along with former Cream members Eric Clapton (guitar) and Ginger Baker (drums), and former Family member Ric Grech (bass).[26] The band was short-lived, producing only one album (which reached No. 1 in both the UK and US), owing to Clapton's greater interest in Blind Faith's opening act, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends; Clapton left the band at the tour's completion, bringing Blind Faith to an end.

Winwood on stage with Traffic (1973)

In 1970, Winwood went into the studio to begin work on a solo album, tentatively titled Mad Shadows. However, Winwood ended up calling in his former Traffic bandmates Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood to help, with the recording resulting in a Traffic reunion album John Barleycorn Must Die.[27] Traffic would continue for another five albums, Welcome to the Canteen (1971), The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (1971), Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory (1973), On the Road (1973) and When the Eagle Flies (1974). Weariness with the grind of touring and recording prompted Winwood to break up Traffic in 1974 and retire to session work for several years.[28][29]

In 1966, three years before Blind Faith, Winwood guested with Eric Clapton as part of the temporary group Eric Clapton and the Powerhouse. Three tracks were recorded and released on the 1966 various artists compilation album, What's Shakin'.[30] In 1968, Winwood was recruited by Jimi Hendrix to play organ for "Voodoo Chile" on the Electric Ladyland album.[31][32]

Following the end of Blind Faith, Winwood and Ric Grech continued working with Ginger Baker, as part of Ginger Baker's Air Force, who also featured Winwood's Traffic bandmate Chris Wood.[27] Winwood played on their self-titled first album, released in 1970.

In 1972, Winwood recorded the part of Captain Walker in the highly successful orchestral version of The Who's Tommy. He recorded a 1973 album with Remi Kabaka and Abdul Lasisi Amao, as Third World, Aiye-Keta. Later, after the unrelated reggae group Third World had formed, the album was re-released and identified by the band members' names. In 1976, Winwood provided vocals and keyboards on Go, a concept album by Japanese composer Stomu Yamashta.[33] That same year, Winwood also played guitar on the Fania All Stars' Delicate and Jumpy record and performed as a guest with the band in their only UK appearance, a sold-out concert at the Lyceum Theatre, London.[34][35]

Under pressure from Island Records, Winwood released his self-titled first solo album in 1977.

In 1980, Winwood released his second solo album Arc of a Diver, which included his first solo hit, "While You See a Chance". This was followed by Talking Back to the Night in 1982,[36] which featured the song "Valerie", which would eventually become a hit single upon re-release in 1987. Both Arc of a Diver and Talking Back to the Night were recorded at his home in Gloucestershire with Winwood playing all instruments.

In 1986, Winwood travelled to New York City for his next album project. There, he enlisted the help of a coterie of stars to record Back in the High Life. The album went triple platinum in the US, with its first single "Higher Love" reaching number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning Winwood Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. He embarked on an extensive tour of North America in support of the album,[37] and at the end of the tour, he divorced Nicole Weir in England then settled in the Nashville area with his new American wife, Eugenia Crafton.[38]

With the exception of 1969's Blind Faith, Winwood had been with Island Records since the Spencer Davies Group's first single in 1964. However, at the peak of his commercial success, Winwood moved to Virgin Records and released the albums Roll with It (1988) and Refugees of the Heart (1990).[39] Roll with It and its title track hit No. 1 on the US album and singles charts in the summer of 1988.

Winwood in Knoxville, Tennessee (2005)

In 1994, Winwood and Jim Capaldi reformed as Traffic for the album Far from Home. Despite lacking a significant hit, it broke the top 40 in both the UK and US.[40][41] The band toured that year, which included a performance at the Woodstock '94 Festival. That same year, Winwood appeared on the A Tribute To Curtis Mayfield CD, recording Mayfield's "It's All Right".[42]

In 1995, Winwood released "Reach for the Light" for the animated film Balto. Winwood's final Virgin album, Junction Seven, was released in 1997, reaching the UK top 40.[43] Later that year, he toured the US, and sang with Chaka Khan at the VH-1 Honors.[44]

In 1998, Winwood joined Tito Puente, Arturo Sandoval, Ed Calle, and other musicians to form the band "Latin Crossings" for a European tour, after which they split without making any recordings. Winwood also appeared in the film Blues Brothers 2000, as a member of the Louisiana Gator Boys, appearing on stage with Isaac Hayes, Eric Clapton, and KoKo Taylor at the battle of the bands competition.[45]

In 2003, Winwood released a new studio album, About Time, on his new record label, Wincraft Music. In 2004, Eric Prydz sampled Winwood's 1982 song "Valerie" for the song "Call on Me". After hearing an early version, Winwood not only gave permission to use his song, he re-recorded the samples for Prydz to use. The remix spent five weeks at No. 1 on the UK singles chart.[46]

In 2005, Winwood's Soundstage Performances DVD was released. That same year, he appeared on Grammy Award winner Ashley Cleveland's album Men and Angels Say, a mix of rock, blues, and country arrangements of well-known hymns, including "I Need Thee Every Hour", which featured a vocal duet and organ performance. On her 2006 record Back to Basics, Christina Aguilera featured Winwood (using the piano and organ instrumentation from the John Barleycorn Must Die track "Glad") on her song "Makes Me Wanna Pray".[47]

In May 2007, Winwood performed in support of the Countryside Alliance, an organisation opposed to the Hunting Act 2004, in a concert at Highclere Castle, joining fellow rock artists Eric Clapton, Bryan Ferry, Steve Harley, and Kenney Jones.[48] In July 2007, Winwood performed with Clapton in the latter's Crossroads Guitar Festival. Among the songs they played were "Presence of the Lord" and "Can't Find My Way Home" from their Blind Faith days, with Winwood playing several guitar leads during a six-song set. The two continued their collaboration with three sold-out nights at Madison Square Garden in New York City in February 2008.[49]

The Steve Winwood Band in 2009 on tour

Winwood's next studio album Nine Lives was released in 2008.[50][51] Nine Lives opened at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 album chart,[52] his highest US debut ever. On 19 February 2008, Winwood and Clapton released a collaborative EP through iTunes titled Dirty City. Clapton and Winwood released a CD and DVD of their Madison Square Garden shows and then toured together in the summer of 2009.[53] On 19 February 2008, Winwood and Clapton released a collaborative EP through iTunes titled Dirty City. Clapton and Winwood released an album and DVD of their Madison Square Garden shows and then toured together in the summer of 2009.[53]

In 2008, Winwood was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music to add to his honorary degree from Aston University, Birmingham. On 28 March 2012 Winwood was one of Roger Daltrey's special guest stars for "An Evening with Roger Daltrey and Friends" gig, in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall.[54]

In 2013, Winwood toured North America with Rod Stewart as part of the "Live the Life" tour. In 2014, Winwood toured North America with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.[55]

On 17 February 2020, Winwood participated in "A Tribute to Ginger Baker", which took place at Eventim Apollo Hammersmith in London. Other participants were Ron Wood, Roger Waters, and Eric Clapton. The concert was held in honour of Ginger Baker, his former band member in Blind Faith, who had died the previous year.[56]

On 7 May 2023, Winwood performed as part of the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle, where he sang "Higher Love" backed by virtual choirs from the Commonwealth realms.[57][58]

Winwood was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Traffic in 2004.[59][60] In 2005, Winwood was honoured as a BMI Icon at the annual BMI London Awards for his "enduring influence on generations of music makers."[61][62] In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked Winwood No. 33 on its list of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.[63] Winwood has won two Grammy Awards.[64][65][66] He was nominated twice for a Brit Award for Best British Male Artist: 1988 and 1989. In 2011, he received the Ivor Novello Award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors for Outstanding Song Collection.[67][68]

Winwood at the Hangout Music Festival, May 2012

• Steve Winwood (1977)
• Arc of a Diver (1980)
• Talking Back to the Night (1982)
• Back in the High Life (1986)
• Roll with It (1988)
• Refugees of the Heart (1990)
• Junction Seven (1997)
• About Time (2003)
• Nine Lives (2008)
• Greatest Hits Live (2017)

• Their First LP (1965)
• The Second Album (1966)
• Autumn '66 (1966)

• Mr. Fantasy (1967)
• Traffic (1968)
• Last Exit (1969)
• John Barleycorn Must Die (1970)
• Welcome to the Canteen (1971)
• The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (1971)
• Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory (1973)
• On the Road (1973)
• When the Eagle Flies (1974)
• Far from Home (1994)

• Blind Faith (1969)

• Live from Madison Square Garden (2009)

• Ginger Baker's Air Force (1970)

• Aiye-Keta (1973)

• Go (1976)
• Go Live from Paris (1976)

• The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Electric Ladyland, 1968
• Joe Cocker – "With a Little Help from My Friends", 1968
• BB King – B.B. King in London, 1971
• McDonald and Giles – McDonald and Giles, 1971 - organ, and piano solo on "Turnham Green"
• Jimi Hendrix – The Cry of Love, 1971
• Howlin' Wolf – The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions, 1971 - organ and piano
• Shawn Phillips – Faces, 1972 – Organ on Parisien Plight II
• London Symphony Orchestra – Tommy – As Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra & Chamber Choir, 1972
• Jim Capaldi – Oh How We Danced, 1972
• Eddie Harris – E.H. in the U.K. (Atlantic), 1973 With Chris Squire, Alan White and Tony Kaye
• Lou Reed – Berlin, 1973
• John Martyn – Inside Out, 1973
• Jim Capaldi – Whale Meat Again, 1974
• Robert Palmer – Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley, 1974
• Vivian Stanshall – Men Opening Umbrellas Ahead, 1974
• Jim Capaldi – Short Cut Draw Blood, 1975
• Jade Warrior – Waves, 1975
• Toots & the Maytals – Reggae Got Soul, 1976
• Sandy Denny – Rendezvous, 1977
• John Martyn – One World, 1977
• Pierre Moerlen's Gong – Downwind, 1978
• Vivian Stanshall – Sir Henry at Rawlinson End, 1978
• Jim Capaldi – Daughter of the Night, 1978
• George Harrison – George Harrison, 1979
• Marianne Faithfull – Broken English, 1979
• Jim Capaldi – The Sweet Smell of... Success, 1980
• Jim Capaldi – Let the Thunder Cry, 1981
• Marianne Faithfull – Dangerous Acquaintances, 1981
• Jim Capaldi – Fierce Heart, 1983
• David Gilmour – About Face, 1984[77]
• Christine McVie – Christine McVie, 1984
• Billy Joel – The Bridge, 1986
• Dave Mason – Two Hearts, 1987
• Talk Talk – The Colour of Spring, 1986
• Jim Capaldi – Some Come Running, 1988
• Jimmy Buffett – "My Barracuda", 1988
• Phil Collins – ...But Seriously, 1989
• Soulsister – Heat, 1990
• Davy Spillane – A Place Among The Stones, 1994
• Paul Weller – Stanley Road, 1995
• Kathy Troccoli – Corner of Eden, 1998
• Eric Clapton – Back Home, 2005
• Eric Clapton – Clapton, 2010
• Slash – Hey Joe Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame, 2010
• Miranda Lambert – Four the Record, 2011
• Eric Clapton – Old Sock, 2013
• Gov't Mule – Shout!, 2013
• Bettye LaVette – LaVette!, 2023