The very definition of a musical prodigy, Steve Winwood first took the stage before he was 10, playing in his brother Muff's jazz band. Already an astute musician having backed artists including Sonny Boy Williamson and John Lee Hooker, Winwood joined the Spencer Davis Group at 15. His world-wise vocals and keyboards added soul and depth to the group, which scored with several pop hits ("Gimme Some Lovin'," "I'm A Man") before Winwood left to explore more wide-open pastures. While transitioning out of SDG, he formed Traffic with Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason. The quartet produced a handful of expansive recordings (most notably Traffic in 1968 and The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys in 1971). Over the years, Winwood found constant work as a session man with artists such as Joe Cocker, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, the latter with whom he eventually formed Blind Faith (along with Ginger Baker and Rick Grech).
By the time Winwood went solo in 1977, his broad-minded blend of jazz, R&B and blue-eyed soul was lost amidst the era's infatuation with punk. But the early '80s welcomed his sleek Arc Of A Diver, which encapsulated both a penchant for pop and a respect for the roots of R&B. An intermittent string of records — all of which mingled contemporary chic with retro musings — followed, including Talking Back To The Night, Back In The High Life and Roll With It.
In 1998, Winwood returned to his first love, jazz, by touring behind his Latin Crossings project with Tito Puente and Arturo Sandoval. His most recent effort, Nine Lives, features his longtime collaborator Eric Clapton, and is his first solo outing since 2003's About Time.
Provenance: Birmingham, England
Latest Release: Nine Lives (2008)
© 2008 Nigel Music Media LLC. Used by permission.
Steve Winwood
