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YouTubeEarly Life in Wales: Discovering American Blues
Spencer Davis (1939–2020) was a Welsh musician and founder of The Spencer Davis Group, one of the most influential bands of the 1960s British Invasion. Davis, originally drawn to skiffle and American blues, moved to Birmingham, England, where he formed the band in 1963. The group quickly became a sensation, driven by Davis’s love for rhythm and blues and his knack for discovering talent. Most notably, he recruited a teenage Steve Winwood, whose soulful voice and keyboard skills were pivotal to the band’s sound.
Finding Steve Winwood: The Key to Success
Davis’s keen musical direction led to a series of hits, with songs like “Keep on Running” (1965), “Gimme Some Lovin’” (1966), and “I’m a Man” (1967) propelling the group to international fame. The Spencer Davis Group was celebrated for blending blues, rock, and soul in a way that resonated on both sides of the Atlantic.
Breakthrough Hits: "Keep on Running" to "Gimme Some Lovin"
The Spencer Davis Group was a defining force in ’60s rock, with a lineup that originally featured Spencer Davis on guitar, Steve Winwood on vocals and keyboards, his brother Muff Winwood on bass, and Pete York on drums. Known for their energetic, blues-infused rock, the group carved out a distinct place in the British music scene with their innovative sound.
Their first major hit came in 1965 with “Keep on Running,” which shot to No. 1 in the UK. This was followed by two more iconic tracks, “Gimme Some Lovin’” and “I’m a Man,” both of which became international hits and established the group’s presence in the U.S. Their music was a powerful mix of British rock and American soul, driven by Steve Winwood’s vocal power and instrumental prowess.
Post-Winwood Era: Navigating Lineup Changes
Steve Winwood left the band in 1967 to form Traffic,. Despite this, The Spencer Davis Group continued with various lineup changes, though they never quite recaptured the success of their earlier years.
Solo Career and A&R Work
Spencer briefly kept the band together following the departure of the Winwood siblings and recorded two minor hits, “Mr. Second Class” and “Time Seller.” After these, he disbanded the group and moved to California where he recorded a solo album. For much of the remainder of the ’70s and early ’80s, Davis worked behind the scenes where he helped guide the early careers of Robert Palmer and Bob Marley.
Reforrming the Band and taking the US by Storm
Forming a new version of the Spencer Davis Group in 1984, Davis toured throughout the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. By 1987, the group averaged more than 100 shows a year. Spencer then oined with ex-Iron Butterfly and Blues Image guitarist/vocalist Mike Pinera, ex- Rare Earth and ex Sugarloaf bassist/vocalist Jerry COrbetta to form the Classic Rock All Stars in 1993 and later with Randy Meisner and Denny Laine to form the World Classic Rockers – a band which still tours today.
Spencer's story told by friend and bandmate Ed Tree
Ed Tree is a guitarist, producer, and songwriter Tree has been a fixture in the Los Angeles music scene for decades, both as a session musician and as a producer. His career spans collaborations with a wide range of artists, including legends like Spencer Davis, Rita Coolidge, Juice Newton, and Al Stewart.
Spencer Davis' last album: So Far
Spencer recorded numerous advertising jingles in the mid-’90s and appeared as himself in an episode of the TV comedy Married with Children. The following decade saw him continuing to record new material, and writing a solo album with Ed Tree called So Far in 2008. Spencer Davis died in Los Angeles in 2020, at the age of 81. The cause of death was pneumonia.
