Steve Winwood
Steve Winwood |
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Stephen Lawrence "Steve" Winwood (born 12 May 1948) is an English singer-songwriter who performs and writes rock, blues-rock, and jazz. He sings with a tenor voice and a multi-instrumentalist who plays Hammond organ, guitar, bass, and other string instruments. In addition to his solo career, he was a member of the bands the Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith, and Go. He has won multiple Grammy Awards. In 2008, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Winwood #33 in its 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.[1]
In his teens, Winwood played Hammond B-3 Organ and guitar in 'pick-up' bands that backed up well-known US blues performers. He formed Blind Faith in 1969 with Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Ric Grech. His first solo album was in 1977. In 1986, he topped the Billboard Hot 100 with "Higher Love", and with this earned two Grammy Awards: for Record of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. In 1994, Capaldi and Winwood reunited Traffic for a new album, Far From Home.
Early life
He was born in Handsworth, a suburb of the British city of Birmingham. He first became interested in swing and Dixieland jazz. He began playing drums, guitar, and piano as a child, and first performed with his father and older brother Muff in the Ron Atkinson Band at the age of eight.[2]
Career
Early years: 1960s
While still a pupil at Great Barr School[3] (which actor Martin Shaw also attended), Winwood was a part of the Birmingham rhythm and blues scene, playing the Hammond B-3 Organ and guitar, backing blues singers such as Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, T-Bone Walker, Howlin' Wolf, B. B. King, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Eddie Boyd, Otis Spann, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley on their United Kingdom tours (the custom at that time being for US singers to travel solo and be backed by 'pick-up' bands). At this time Steve was living on Atlantic Road in Great Barr, close to all the Birmingham music halls where he played.
At the age of 15 Winwood became a member of the Spencer Davis Group[4] along with his older brother Muff who later had success as a record producer. As a relatively unknown teenager singing with the Spencer Davis Group, Steve's distinctive high tenor singing voice drew comparisons to Ray Charles.[5]. Steve co-wrote and recorded "Gimme Some Loving" and "I'm a Man" before leaving to form Traffic with Chris Wood, Jim Capaldi, and Dave Mason. During this time, Winwood joined forces with guitarist Eric Clapton as part of the one-off group Eric Clapton's Powerhouse. Songs were recorded for the Elektra label, but only three tracks were released on the compilation album, What's Shakin'.
During the late 1960s, Winwood and Mason became close friends of Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix first heard "All Along the Watchtower" at a party to which he was invited by Mason; they recorded the Hendrix version later that night in a London recording studio. Winwood actually only appeared on one track of Electric Ladyland, "Voodoo Chile".
In 1969, Winwood performed on organ for Joe Cocker's "With a Little Help from My Friends". The song was originally written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney for The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper album. Winwood later played keyboards on albums as diverse as Toots & the Maytals' Reggae Got Soul and Howlin' Wolf's The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions.
Blind Faith and Traffic: 1970s
He formed Blind Faith in 1969 with Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Ric Grech.[6] The band was short-lived, because of Clapton's greater interest in Blind Faith's opening act Delaney & Bonnie & Friends; Clapton left the band after the tour had ended. However, Baker, Winwood, and Grech stayed together to form Ginger Baker's Air Force. The lineup consisted of 3/4 of Blind Faith (without Clapton, who was replaced by Denny Laine), 2/3 of Traffic (Winwood and Chris Wood, minus Jim Capaldi), plus musicians who interacted with Baker in his early days, including Phil Seamen, Harold McNair and Graham Bond. But this supergroup turned out to be just another short-lived project. Winwood soon went into the studio to begin work on a new solo album, tentatively titled Mad Shadows. However, Winwood ended up calling Chris Wood and Jim Capaldi in to help with session work, which instead prompted Traffic's comeback album John Barleycorn Must Die. In 1976, Winwood played guitar on the Fania All Stars’ Delicate and Jumpy record and performed as a guest with the band in their only UK appearance, with a memorable sell-out concert at London’s Lyceum Ballroom.
Solo career: 1977 onwards
Constant artistic differences and personnel changes led to Traffic's final break-up and Winwood's release of his self-titled first solo album in 1977. This was followed by his 1980 hit Arc Of A Diver (lyrics by Vivian Stanshall), and Talking Back to the Night in 1982. Both albums recorded at his home in Gloucestershire with Winwood playing all instruments.
He enlisted the help of a coterie of stars to record Back in the High Life (1986) in the US, and the album was a hit. In 1986, he topped the Billboard Hot 100 with "Higher Love", and with this earned two Grammy Awards: for Record of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. In his hit song "While You See a Chance", in a stanza where he sings "And that old grey wind is blowing and there’s nothing left worth knowing," Winwood accidentally overdubs "nothing left..." with "no one left..." The entire track was thrown together in a relatively quick fashion, and at one point Winwood accidentally deleted the drum track introduction in preparation for vocals. The keyboard introduction that he composed on the spot to replace it is now well-loved by fans.
All these albums were released on Island Records. However, at the peak of his commercial success, Winwood moved to Virgin Records and released Roll With It and Refugees Of The Heart. The album Roll With It and the title track hit #1 on the album and singles charts in the summer of 1988. He recorded another album with Jim Capaldi released under the Traffic name, Far From Home, then resumed his solo career with his final Virgin album Junction Seven.
1990s to present
In 1994, Capaldi and Winwood reunited Traffic for a new album, Far From Home, and a tour, including a performance at Woodstock II Festival. The same year, Winwood appears on A Tribute To Curtis Mayfield CD, recording Mayfield's "It's Alright". In 1995 and 1996, Winwood released "Reach for the Light" for the animated film Balto. In 1997, Winwood released a new album, Junction Seven, toured the US and sang with James Taylor at the VH-1 Honors.[7] In 1998, Winwood joined Tito Puente, Arturo Sandoval, Ed Calle and other musicians to form the band Latin Crossings for a European tour, after which they split without making any recordings. Winwood also starred in the film Blues Brothers 2000, appearing on stage with Issac Hayes, Eric Clapton, and KoKo Taylor at the battle of the bands competition; the band is called the Louisiana Gator Band.
In 2003, Winwood released a new studio album, About Time, co-produced by Johnson Somerset and engineered by George Shilling, on his new record label, Wincraft Music. 2004 saw his 1982 song "Valerie" used by Eric Prydz in a song called "Call on Me". It spent five weeks at #1 on the UK singles chart. Winwood heard an early version of Prydz's remix and liked it so much, he not only gave permission to use the song, he re-recorded the samples for Prydz to use.[8]
In 2005, the Soundstage Performances DVD was released, featuring his recent work from the album About Time along with his hits including "Higher Love" and "Back in the High Life". Winwood also performs hits from his days with Traffic (inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004) as well as current recordings that represent a tapestry of tastes woven after 40 years in music. In 2005, he accepted an invitation from 2008 Grammy Award winner Ashley Cleveland to appear on her album Men and Angels Say. This album of rock, blues and country arrangements of well known hymns includes "I Need Thee Every Hour" which features a vocal duet and organ performance. Christina Aguilera features Winwood on one of her songs from her 2006 record Back to Basics, called "Makes Me Wanna Pray".
In July 2007, Winwood performed with Eric Clapton, in Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival. Among the songs they played together were "Presence of the Lord" and "Can't Find My Way Home" from their Blind Faith days. Winwood played several guitar leads in 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. On 19 February 2008 Winwood and Clapton released a collaborative EP through iTunes titled Dirty City. Clapton and Winwood released a CD and DVD of their Madison Square Garden shows and then toured together in the summer of 2009.[9] A new studio album, Nine Lives, was released 29 April 2008 on Columbia Records.[10][11] The album opened at #12 on the Billboard 200 album chart, his highest US debut ever.[12] Also in 2008, Winwood received an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music.
Personal life
Winwood lives in a 300-year-old manor house in the Gloucestershire countryside with Eugenia (Crafton), to whom he has been married since 1987. They have four children (three daughters and a son), the eldest having been born in 1987. Winwood is also asserted to have a daughter from a teenage union in the 1960s, who was given up for adoption.[13] He was previously married (1977-1986) to the late Nicole Tacot, who also contributed background vocals to the early solo work of both Winwood and Jim Capaldi.[14]
Discography
Albums
| Year | Title | US Chart | UK Chart | RIAA Certification | BPI Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Steve Winwood | 22 | 12 | — | — |
| 1980 | Arc of a Diver | 3 | 13 | Platinum | Silver |
| 1982 | Talking Back to the Night | 28 | 6 | — | — |
| 1986 | Back in the High Life | 7 | 8 | 3 x Multi-Platinum | Gold |
| 1988 | Roll with It | 1 | 4 | 2 x Multi-Platinum | Gold |
| 1990 | Refugees of the Heart | 27 | 26 | Gold | — |
| 1997 | Junction Seven | 123 | — | — | — |
| 2003 | About Time | 126 | — | — | — |
| 2008 | Nine Lives | 12 | 31 | — | — |
| 2009 | Live From Madison Square Garden (with Eric Clapton) | — | — | — | — |
Compilations
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1972 | Winwood |
| 1982 | They Call it an Accident (soundtrack) |
| 1987 | Chronicles (#26 US, RIAA: Platinum) (#12 UK, BPI: —) |
| 1995 | The Finer Things (box set) |
| 1996 | Keep on Running |
| 1999 | 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Steve Winwood |
| 2001 | Classic Steve Winwood |
| 2002 | Best of Steve Winwood |
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Hot 100 | U.S. Mainstream Rock | U.S. AC | UK Singles | |||
| 1966 | "Keep On Running" (with The Spencer Davis Group) | 76 | - | - | 1 | Non-Album Single |
| "Somebody Help Me" (with The Spencer Davis Group) | 47 | - | - | 1 | ||
| "When I Come Home" (with The Spencer Davis Group) | - | - | - | 12 | ||
| "Gimme Some Lovin'" (with The Spencer Davis Group) | 7 | - | - | 2 | ||
| 1967 | "I'm a Man" (with The Spencer Davis Group) | 10 | - | - | 9 | |
| "Paper Sun" (with Traffic) | 94 | - | - | 5 | ||
| "Hole in My Shoe" (with Traffic) | - | - | - | 2 | ||
| "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush" (with Traffic) | - | - | - | 8 | ||
| "Dear Mr. Fantasy" (with Traffic) | - | - | - | - | Mr. Fantasy | |
| 1968 | "No Face, No Name, No Number" (with Traffic) | - | - | - | 40 | |
| "Medicated Goo" (with Traffic) | - | - | - | - | Last Exit | |
| 1970 | "Empty Pages" (with Traffic) | 74 | - | - | - | John Barleycorn Must Die |
| 1971 | "Gimme Some Lovin' (Part One, Live)" (with Traffic) | 68 | - | - | - | Welcome to the Canteen |
| "Rock & Roll Stew (Part One)" (with Traffic) | 93 | - | - | - | The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys | |
| 1977 | "Hold On" | - | - | - | - | Steve Winwood |
| "Time Is Running Out"/"Penultimate Zone" | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1981 | "Arc of a Diver" | 48 | 11 | - | - | Arc of a Diver |
| "While You See a Chance" | 7 | 2 | - | 45 | ||
| 1982 | "Still in the Game" | 47 | 8 | - | - | Talking Back to the Night |
| "Valerie" | 70 | 13 | - | 51 | ||
| "Talking Back to the Night" | - | - | - | - | ||
| "Your Silence Is Your Song" | - | - | - | - | They Call It an Accident | |
| 1986 | "Higher Love" | 1 | 1 | 7 | 13 | Back in the High Life |
| "Freedom Overspill" | 20 | 4 | - | 69 | ||
| "Split Decision" | - | 3 | - | - | ||
| "Take It as It Comes" | - | 33 | - | - | ||
| "Back in the High Life Again" | 13 | 19 | 1 | 53 | ||
| 1987 | "The Finer Things" | 8 | 5 | 1 | - | |
| "Valerie" (re-mixed version of 1982 song) | 9 | 13 | 2 | 19 | Chronicles | |
| 1988 | "Talking Back to the Night" | 57 | 17 | 7 | - | |
| "Roll with It" | 1 | 1 | 1 | 53 | Roll with It | |
| "Put on Your Dancing Shoes" | - | 25 | - | - | ||
| "Don't You Know What the Night Can Do?" | 6 | 1 | 2 | 89 | ||
| "Holding on" | 11 | 1 | 1 | - | ||
| 1989 | "Hearts on Fire" | 53 | 22 | 22 | - | |
| 1990 | "One and Only Man" | 18 | 1 | 9 | 87 | Refugees of the Heart |
| 1991 | "Another Deal Goes Down" | - | 10 | - | - | |
| 1994 | "Here Comes a Man" (with Traffic) | - | 10 | - | - | Far from Home |
| 2003 | "Different Light" | - | - | - | - | About Time |
| 2008 | "Dirty City" (with Eric Clapton) | - | - | - | - | Nine Lives |
Session work
- Marianne Faithfull - Dangerous Acquaintances
- David Gilmour - About Face
- George Harrison - George Harrison
- Jade Warrior - Waves
- Billy Joel - The Bridge
- Chris Knipp - blast
- McDonald and Giles - McDonald and Giles, keyboards, 1971
- Lou Reed - Berlin
- Soulsister - Heat
- Vivian Stanshall - Sir Henry at Rawlinson End, Teddy Boys Don't Knit
- Talk Talk - The Colour of Spring
- Toots & the Maytals - Reggae Got Soul
- Paul Weller - Stanley Road
- The Jimi Hendrix Experience - "Electric Ladyland"
- John Martyn – One World
Grateful Dead, played a special version of low spark of high heeled boys
References
- ^ "The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
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.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Steve Winwood biography - Yahoo! Music
- ^ Clayson, Alan (1988). Back in the High Life. Sidgewick and Jackson. ISBN 0-283-99640-4.
- ^ "It's 'About Time' for Steve Winwood". BBC. Retrieved 2007-08-19.
- ^ "100 Greatest Singers of All Time". Rolling Stone.
(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.".
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Steve's still winning nine lives later - Herald.ie
- ^ http://mywebpages.comcast.net/nigelsmum/videolistsmusicawardsshows.htm
- ^ Steve Winwood calls on Eric Clapton, Sunday Mail.
- ^ "Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood at the Bowl". Los Angeles Times.
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 2 ½-hour excursion through the music they created, individually and collectively, three and four decades ago.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Legendary superstar Steve Winwood to release Nine Lives". Retrieved 2009-06-13.
- ^ Steve Winwood information - Columbia Records UK
- ^ http://sev.prnewswire.com/entertainment/20080507/NYW17307052008-1.html
- ^ I'm Steve Winwood's secret love child, Daily Mail.
- ^ Steve Winwood Discussion Forum, Nicole Tacot Weir; topix.com.
External links
| Studio albums | |
|---|---|
| Live albums | |
| Compilations | |
| Songs | |
| Related articles | |
