SPENCER DAVIS
The Spencer Davis Group

In the early 1960's and Spencer Davis was literally a professor of English in his native Britain. He left the classroom to form his first group, the Rhythm and Blues Quartet featuring Spencer on guitar and vocals, Steve Winwood on guitar/organ/vocals, Muff Winwood on bass, and Pete York on drums. Davis, Muff Winwood and Pete York already had a background in playing skiffle, jazz and blues. Spencer Davis's background was in jazz and the blues of artists like Muddy Waters and Leadbelly. Steve -- Muff's younger brother -- was only 15 when the band played its first gigs at the Golden Eagle pub, Birmingham's only rhythm & blues club. The band was subsequently offered a residency there. Soon to follow were regular Tuesday night gigs at the Marquee in London. The Rhythm and Blues Quartet became The Spencer Davis Group.

Following a deal with Island Records, John Lee Hooker's Dimples was chosen as their first single. Their first major chart hit was Keep on Running which went to Number One in the UK as did the second hit Somebody Help Me.

The Spencer Davis Group quickly broke on the U.S. Charts with their Top 10 singles, Gimme Some Lovin' and I'm A Man. The band's second album was a massive success, featuring such classics as, When a Man Loves a Woman, Dust My Blues and Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out.

Steve Winwood left The Spencer Davis Group in 1967 to form Traffic. Muff Winwood left to join Island Records as head of A & R. Despite the losses The Spencer Davis Group released two subsequest hits, Mr. Second Class and Time Seller.

After a number of additional personnel changes the band finally split. Spencer Davis moved to California where he worked in A & R for a number of record companies. His skill at finding and developing artists, such as Steve Winwood, was legendary. The line-up of Davis/York/Hardin and Fenwick reformed in 1973 with Charlie McCracken on bass and made two more albums. Catch Me On The Rebop scored a chart success.

Today Spencer Davis tours with a reformed line-up of The Spencer Davis Group, including original drummer Peter York. Spencer obviously also records and performs with Rockforever.com and The Voices of Classic Rock.