Steve Winwood

Steve Winwood (born May 12, 1948) is an English vocalist, keyboardist, and songwriter from Birmingham who emerged as the voice of the Spencer Davis Group, which he joined in 1963 at age 15. After four years, three proper albums, and assorted singles with the band — including the soul-rock evergreens “Gimme Some Lovin'” and “I’m a Man” — Winwood left to form Traffic, which cut two albums on Island during 1967 and 1968.

In 1969, Winwood teamed with Cream and Family alumni for the one-album project Blind Faith. Traffic reformed in 1970, releasing four studio albums and a live disc during the ensuing four-year period. Between 1973 and 1976, he partook in the Osibisa-spinoff Third World, appeared on the Jade Warrior album Waves, and collaborated with Stomu Yamash’ta and Michael Shrieve on the project Go.

In 1977, Winwood debuted as a solo artist with a self-titled album on Island. Between 1980 and 1986, he released three further albums on the label and courted newfound fame with a modernized sound. He consolidated these successes with the 1988 multi-platinum Virgin release Roll With It.

Discography:

• Go (1976 • Stomu Yamashta, Steve Winwood, Michael Shrieve)
• 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)