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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZDAVIS, Spencer(b Spencer David Nelson Davies, 17 July 1939, Swansea, Wales; d 19 October 2020, Los Angeles, of pneumonia) Leader, guitar, backup vocals. The former teacher formed the Spencer Davis Group playing R&B-style in Birmingham '64; it included Stevie Winwood and his brother Muff Winwood on bass (Muff later became head of A&R at CBS UK, produced Dire Straits debut LP), Peter York on drums. Ten top 40 hits '64-8 included 'Keep On Runnin' ' '65, 'Somebody Help Me' '66, both no. 1; 'Gimme Some Loving' no. 2 '66, 'I'm A Man' no. 9 '67. LPs on Fontana included Autumn '66; Winwood's songs, keyboard and bluesy voice were singled out by critics: he left '67 to form Traffic, replaced by Eddie Hardin. Others passing through included Ray Fenwick on guitars and vocals, Dee Murray on bass (later with Elton John), Dave Hynes, drums. There were minor hits '67-8; LPs on UA included With Their New Face On '68. Davis went to USA '70, formed acoustic duo '71, worked with blues legend Fred McDowell, tried reunion of SPG with York '73; worked with Rolling Stones producer Jimmy Miller early '80s (Miller d 22 October 1994 aged 52 in Denver of liver failure). Other Spencer LPs: Letters From Edith '70 on CBS; It's Been So Long '71 with Peter Jameson, solo Mousetrap '72 on UA; Giuggo '73 and Living In A Back Street '74 on Vertigo. Greatest And Latest '86 on Pro Acoustic was remakes of hits. All 51 tracks with Winwood were issued in a set on Island '96 as Eight Gigs A Week: The Steve Winwood Years. |