The Music of Steve Winwood

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Steve Winwood is an English musician who has been playing music professionally since 1963, and continues to rock on. Primarily a vocalist and keyboardist, he also plays guitar, bass guitar, drums, mandolin, and other string instruments. His interest in music began when he was a child, and by the time he was 14 he had joined the Spencer Davis Group. In 1965, they had a number one hit single with “Keep on Running.” Winwood cowrote “Gimme Some Lovin” and “I’m a Man” while he was still with the Spencer Davis Group. He went on to be a member of the group, Traffic, along with drummer Jim Capaldi, guitarist Dave Mason, and multi-instrumentalist Chris Wood. Winwood and Capaldi were songwriting partners. Winwood wrote music and Capaldi supplied the lyrics. They created most of Traffic's material, including "Paper Sun" and "The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys." Winwood went on to join the “supergroup,” Blind Faith. That group included Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Ric Grech. The band had two hits with their only album, "Can't Find My Way Home," written by Winwood, and Clapton's "Presence of the Lord," sung by Winwood, because he could hit the high notes. After being a session musician for a number of years, Winwood also had a successful solo career, with songs that included Back in the High Life and "Higher Love. Here is Steve Winwood with the Spencer Davis Group, performing their hit, “Keep on Running,” when he was only 17 years old.