The Spencer Davis Group · (Active: 1960's —1980's)

Styles:	Blue-Eyed Soul
	Soul
	Rock & Roll
	British Invasion
Formed:	1963 Birmingham, England
Disbanded:	1986
Active:	1960's—1980's

Biography by Bill Dahl, All Music Guide

His ferocious soul-drenched vocals belying his tender teenage years, Stevie Winwood powered the Spencer Davis Group's three biggest U.S. hits during their brief life span as one of the British Invasion's most convincing R&B-based combos.

Guitarist Davis formed the band with Winwood on organ, his brother Muff Winwood on bass, and drummer Peter York. Signing on with producer Chris Blackwell, the quartet got their first hit (the blistering "Keep on Running") from another of Blackwell's acts, West Indian performer Jackie Edwards. After topping the British charts in 1965, the song struggled on the lower reaches of the US Hot 100.

The group's two hottest sellers were self-penned projects. "Gimme Some Lovin'" and "I'm a Man" were searing showcases for the adolescent Winwood's gritty vocals and blazing keyboards and the band's pounding rhythms. Although they burned up the charts even on the other side of the ocean in 1967, the quartet never capitalized on their fame with an American tour. At the height of their power, Winwood left to form Traffic, leaving Davis without his dynamic frontman. The bandleader focused on producing other acts, including a Canadian ensemble called the Downchild Blues Band during the early '80s.

Back to the topMembers of The Spencer Davis Group

Artist	Instrument	Born
Charlie McCracken
Eddie Hardin	Keyboards, Vocals	February 19, 1949
John Gustafson	Bass	April 16, 1944 Liverpool, England
Muff Winwood	Bass	August 15, 1943 Birmingham, England
Pete York	Drums	August 15, 1942 Middlesbrough, England
Ray Fenwick	Guitar, Vocals