Steve Winwood
Steve Winwood | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Stephen Lawrence Winwood |
Born | Handsworth, Birmingham, England | 12 May 1948
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
|
Instrument(s) |
|
Years active | 1961–present |
Labels | |
Website | stevewinwood |
Stephen Lawrence Winwood (born 12 May 1948) is an English musician and songwriter whose genres include blue-eyed soul, rhythm and blues, blues rock and pop rock. Though primarily a guitarist, keyboard player and vocalist, prominent for his distinctive soulful high tenor voice, Winwood plays other instruments proficiently, including drums, mandolin, bass and saxophone.
Winwood achieved fame during the 1960s and 1970s as an integral member of three major bands: the Spencer Davis Group (1964–1967), Traffic (1967–1969 and 1970–1974) and Blind Faith (1969). During the 1980s, his solo career flourished and he had a number of hit singles, including "While You See a Chance" (1980) from the album Arc of a Diver and "Valerie" (1982) from Talking Back to the Night ("Valerie" became a hit when it was re-released with a remix from Winwood's 1987 compilation album Chronicles). His 1986 album Back in the High Life marked his career zenith, with hit singles including "Back in the High Life Again", "The Finer Things", and the US Billboard Hot 100 number one hit "Higher Love". He found the top of the Hot 100 again with "Roll with It" (1988) from the album of the same name, with "Holding On" also charting highly the same year. Although his hit singles ceased after the 1980s, he continued to release new albums up to 2008, when Nine Lives, his latest album, was released.
In 2004, Winwood was inducted into the
Early life
Winwood was born on 12 May 1948
At eight years of age, Winwood first performed with his father and elder brother Muff in the Ron Atkinson band.[7] Muff Winwood later recalled that when Steve began playing regularly with him and his father in licensed pubs and clubs, the piano had to be turned with its back to the audience to try to hide him because he was so obviously underage.[8]
Career
Early years
While still a pupil at Great Barr School, Winwood was a part of the Birmingham
The Spencer Davis Group
At age 14, Winwood (then known as "Stevie" Winwood) became singer and keyboardist of the Spencer Davis Group,[9] with his older brother Muff Winwood 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
Traffic and Blind Faith
Winwood met drummer
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 "
Following Traffic's split, Winwood formed the
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]
Other 1960s and 1970s work
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
Under pressure from Island Records, Winwood released his self-titled first solo album in 1977. In 1979 he played keyboards on the Marianne Faithfull album Broken English, including synthesizer on the tracks "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" and "Broken English" which were taken as singles from the album.[36]
Solo career success
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,[37] 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
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).[40] Roll with It and its title track hit No. 1 on the US album and singles charts in the summer of 1988.
Traffic reunion and subsequent work
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.[41][42] 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".[43]
In 1995, Winwood released "Reach for the Light" for the
In 1998, Winwood joined
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.[47]
In 2005, Winwood's Soundstage Performances DVD was released. That same year, he appeared on Grammy Award winner
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.[49] 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.[50]
In 2008, Winwood was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music to add to his honorary degree from Aston University, Birmingham.[citation needed] 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.[55]
In 2013, Winwood toured North America with Rod Stewart as part of the "Live the Life" tour.[citation needed] In 2014, Winwood toured North America with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.[56]
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.[57]
On 7 May 2023, Winwood performed as part of the
Legacy
Winwood was inducted into the
Personal life
Between 1978 and 1986, Winwood was married to Nicole Weir (d. 2005), who had contributed background vocals to some of his early solo work. The two married at Cheltenham Register Office.[70]
Winwood's primary residence is a 300-year-old manor house in the Cotswolds, England, where he also has a recording studio. Winwood also has a home in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Eugenia Crafton, a Trenton, Tennessee, native whom he married in 1987. They have four children.[71][72][73]
In 2011, Winwood's eldest daughter, Mary Clare, wedded businessman Ben Elliot, who later was Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party between July 2019 and September 2022.[74] The couple have two sons.[75] Winwood's daughter Lilly is a singer; she was featured with him performing a duet of his song "Higher Love" in a Hershey commercial.[76] She was the opening act and was backing singer on multiple songs during her father's 2018 Greatest Hits Live tour.[77]
Discography
This section of a poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous. )Find sources: "Steve Winwood" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2023) |
Solo
- 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)
Spencer Davis Group
- Their First LP (1965)
- The Second Album (1966)
- Autumn '66 (1966)
Traffic
- 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
- Blind Faith (1969)
Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood
Ginger Baker's Air Force
- Ginger Baker's Air Force (1970)
Third World
- Aiye-Keta (1973)
Go
- Go (1976)
- Go Live from Paris (1976)
Session work
- 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
- 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[78]
- 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
References
- ^ DeCurtis, Anthony (1 December 1988). "Steve Winwood: From Mr. Fantasy to Mr. Entertainment". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
- ^ "Spencer Davis Group". Brumbeat.net. Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ "The 15 famous faces from Handsworth, Birmingham | BirminghamWorld".
- ^ a b c ""Steve Winwood: English Soul," BBC4, broadcast 25 February 2011". BBC. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- ISBN 0-283-99640-4.
- ^ "Conversation with Stevie Nicks". YouTube.
- ISBN 9781440803406. Archivedfrom the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
- ^ John Reed, liner notes for 'Eight Gigs A Week: The Spencer Davis Group – The Steve Winwood Years' (Island Records, 1996)
- ^ "It's 'About Time' for Steve Winwood". BBC. Archived from the original on 29 December 2007. Retrieved 19 August 2007.
- ^ Lockley, Mike (17 July 2016). "Will legendary Spencer Davis Group reunite for one last gig in Birmingham?". Birmingham Mail. Archived from the original on 16 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
- ^ "Spencer Davis Group / 1965 / Smallbrook Queensway". Havill & Travis. Archived from the original on 16 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
- ^ "100 Greatest Singers of All Time". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 23 July 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
(Winwood exploded onto the London music scene as a teenager with his powerful, soulful tenor). "I thought he had the greatest voice," said Billy Joel, "this skinny little English kid singing like Ray Charles."
- ^ "Bono Inducts Chris Blackwell into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". YouTube. Archived from the original on 23 May 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "The Spencer Davis Group Discography - UK". 45cat.com. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ Steve Winwood interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1970)
- ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ISBN 0-89820-089-X.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Results Matching: I'm a Man". Official Charts Company.
- ^ a b "Traffic". Brumbeat.net. Archived from the original on 19 March 2008. Retrieved 4 March 2008.
- ^ Traffic Mr. Fantasy 1999 CD liner notes (Media notes).
- ^ Traffic Biography AllMusic
- ^ Traffic Mr. Fantasy 1999 CD liner notes (Media notes).
- ^ ""Steve Winwood: English Soul", BBC4, broadcast 25 February 2011". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
- ^ "The Traffic Cottage at Aston-Tirrold at winwoodfans.com". Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- ^ ""Steve Winwood: English Soul", BBC4, broadcast 25 February 2011". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
- ^ "Steve's still winning nine lives later". Herald.ie. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- ^ a b Perciaccante, Mike (20 April 2017). "Steve Winwood". Madhouse Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
- ^ Black, Johnny (May 1997). Feature: Steve Winwood Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Mojo.
- ^ ""Steve Winwood: English Soul", BBC4, broadcast 25 February 2011". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
- ^ Unterberger, Richie. "The Powerhouse – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
- ISBN 0826415717. Archivedfrom the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- ISBN 978-0313375927. Archivedfrom the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- ISBN 978-1442240087. Archivedfrom the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
- ^ "Fania Allstars: Delicate and Jumpy". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
- ISBN 0399515585. Archivedfrom the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
- ^ "MOJO Time Machine: Marianne Faithfull Releases Broken English". Mojo. 24 April 2023.
- ^ Puterbaugh, Parke (2011). "Steve Winwood: Talking Back To The Night : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2 October 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ^ Pareles, Jon (23 July 1986). "The Pop Life; Steve Winwood Returns To Make The Juices Flow". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- ^ "Winwood's Comeback Has a Tennessee Bent". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Associated Press. 15 July 1988.
- ^ "Steve Winwood - interview 1987". YouTube.
- ^ "Traffic". Theofficialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 20 November 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- ^ "Traffic – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2 February 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
- ^ "Steve Winwood profile". Theofficialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- ^ "Steve Winwood Fans' Site: Smiling Phases Compendium". Winwoodfans.com. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- ISBN 978-1-5107-4508-7.
- ^ "Eric Prydz". The Argus. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
- ^ "Back to Basics". EW.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
- ^ Cheal, David (22 May 2007). "Rock's aristocrats show their class". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
- ^ (7 May 2008). Steve Winwood Enjoys his Highest Chart Debut & Best First Week's Sales of the SoundScan era Archived 25 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine, PR Newswire.
- ^ "Legendary superstar Steve Winwood to release Nine Lives". Starpulse.com. Archived from the original on 19 March 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
- ^ "Columbia UK". Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- ^ "Madonna Leads Busy Billboard 200 With 7th No. 1". Billboard. Archived from the original on 17 March 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
- ^ a b "Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood at the Bowl". Los Angeles Times. 1 July 2009. Archived from the original on 4 July 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
The stairway to classic-rock heaven extended straight into Hollywood Bowl Tuesday night as '60s British rock heroes Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood closed their all-too-quick 14-city, three-week U.S. tour with a nearly 2½-hour excursion through the music they created, individually and collectively, three and four decades ago.
- ^ "Roger Daltrey and friends kick off the 2012 TCT concerts – Royal Albert Hall". Royal Albert Hall. Archived from the original on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ^ "Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers Bring 'Hypnotic Eye' Tour to Tulsa". Antiquiet. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ "Eric Clapton, Roger Waters, Steve Winwood & More Honor Ginger Baker In London". Jambase.com. 18 February 2020. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ Live, On Location. "Official Site". Steve Winwood. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ "Details of staging released ahead of Coronation Concert". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ Walker, Donna Isbell (2 May 2017). "Seven facts about Steve Winwood". The Greenville News.
- ^ "Traffic". Rockhall.com. Archived from the original on 2 August 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- ^ "BMI Honors Top European Writers, Publishers at 2005 London Awards; Steve Winwood Named a BMI Icon". Bmi.com. 28 November 2005. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
- ^ Brandle, Lars (29 November 2005). "Hollis' 'Life' Honored At BMI London Awards". Billboard.com.
- ^ "The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 23 July 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
Steve Winwood exploded onto the London music scene as a teenager with his powerful, soulful tenor—notably on "Gimme Some Lovin'" and "I'm a Man" with the Spencer Davis Group.
- ^ "Steve Winwood". grammy.com.
- ^ "Steve Winwood's 10 greatest songs, ranked". Smooth.com. 5 May 2023.
- ^ Mogle, Danny (24 May 2020). "May 24: Grammy Awards give Steve Winwood, Tyler's Will Jennings some 'Love' in 1987". TylerPaper.com.
- ^ Topping, Alexandra (19 May 2011). "Plan B aka Ben Drew takes top honours at Ivor Novello awards". The Guardian.
- ^ "Ivors 2011: Steve Winwood" Archived 7 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine. The Ivors. Retrieved 28 December 2017
- ^ ""No Hiding Place", Mojo Magazine, May 1997". Winwoodfans.com. 24 October 1998. Archived from the original on 25 June 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ Ayers, Tia. "Steve Winwood & Eugenia Crafton". proposalmagazine. Archived from the original on 25 June 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2012. Archived version [1]
- ^ ""True Brit", In Style, October 1997". 22 October 1997. Archived from the original on 18 April 2009. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ Benjamin, Scott (11 February 2009). "A Rock Legend Living The High Life". CBS News. Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ "My perfect weekend: Ben Elliot". 19 October 2011. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- ^ "Don't be such a waster: London's food waste czar". 14 May 2019. Archived from the original on 6 November 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- ^ "Hershey's TV Commercial, 'My Dad' Song by Steve Winwood, Lilly Winwood". Ispot.tv. Archived from the original on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
- ^ "Lilly Winwood at the Fox, 5 Things To Know". Theoaklandpress.com. 26 February 2018. Archived from the original on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ^ "The Rightful Heir?". Q Magazine No. 48. September 1990. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
External links
- Official website
- Albums that Winwood guested on and/or produced
- Steve Winwood & Eric Clapton live@ Bucharest (review) Archived 19 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- Steve Winwood at AllMusic
- Steve Winwood at IMDb