With the aim of creating a solo album Winwood took to the studio in 1970 however he gradually invited more ex-Traffic member so much so it became a reunion. Winwood subsequently played in the supergroup Ginger Baker’s Air Force however departed after their debut performance at the Royal Albert Hall. The band released their self-titled debut in the summer of 1969 but the pressure was too much and Blind Faith broke up before the year’s end. The two began playing together, along with ex-Cream drummer Ginger Baker, which eventually led to the band Blind Faith, named after the faith record labels were putting into the collaboration.

Winwood then looked to old friend Eric Clapton who had recently diverged with his band Cream. Merging the sounds of R&B, psychedelia, and British pop folk, Traffic released their debut single “Paper Sun” in May 1967, followed a year after with the album “Mr. Tired of the pop-single format Winwood explored his rock & roll and jazz interests and formed the band Traffic with guitarist Dave Mason, hornist Chris Wood and drummer Jim Capaldi, all of whom had played on Spencer Davis Group’s records. He was noted for his surprisingly Ray Charles-esque vocals with a maturity and soulfulness way past his years. 1 hit single “Keep on Running” after which Winwood was able to purchase his own Hammond B-3 organ. Growing up in Handsworth, Birmingham, UK, with a semi-professional musician father, Winwood was a part of the rhythm and blues scene playing the organ and guitar on tours for esteemed artists such as Muddy Waters, T-Bone Walker and Chuck Berry.Īged 14 Winwood joined the Spencer Davis Group with his older brother Muff and collaboratively had the 1965 No. Steve Winwood’s ‘80s solo career saw the musician adopt a slick and polished blue-eyes soul persona, however before going solo Winwood had an eclectic career spanning decades and genres.

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