Steve Winwood

Biography

Stephen Lawrence Winwood (born 12 May 1948) is an English musician and songwriter whose genres include blue-eyed soul, rhythm and blues, blues rock and pop rock. Though primarily a keyboard player, guitarist and vocalist prominent for his distinctive soulful high tenor voice, Winwood also plays other instruments including mandolin, electric bass, saxophone, flute, drums and percussion.
Winwood achieved fame during the 1960s and 1970s as an integral member of three successful bands: the Spencer Davis Group, Traffic and Blind Faith. During the 1980s his solo career flourished and he had a number of hit singles, including "While You See a Chance×While You See a Chance1980 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAWhile You See a ChanceBVacant Chair" (1980) from the album Arc of a Diver×Arc of a Diver31 December 1980 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracksA1While You See a Chance5:17A2Arc of a Diver5:30A3Second‐Hand Woman3:44A4Slowdown Sundown5:27B1Spanish Dancer6:01B2Night Train7:54B3Dust6:19, and "Valerie×Valerie1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Valerie4:102Talking Back to the Night (instrumental version)4:133The Finer Things (remix)8:29" (1982) from Talking Back to the Night×Talking Back to the Night2 August 1982 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Valerie4:052Big Girls Walk Away3:513And I Go4:124While There's a Candle Burning3:115Still in the Game4:516It Was Happiness4:587Help Me Angel5:068Talking Back to the Night5:449There's a River4:40 ("Valerie" became a hit when it was re-released with a remix from Winwood's 1987 compilation album Chronicles×ChroniclesNovember 1987 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Wake Me Up on Judgement Day5:522While You See a Chance5:113Vacant Chair6:554Help Me Angel4:595My Love’s Leavin’5:216Valerie4:077Arc of a Diver5:298Higher Love5:499Spanish Dancer5:5910Talking Back to the Night5:40).
Winwood's 1986 album Back in the High Life×Back in the High LifeJune 1986 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Higher Love5:512Take It as It Comes5:243Freedom Overspill5:374Back in the High Life Again5:365The Finer Things5:516Wake Me Up on Judgement Day5:517Split Decision6:028My Love's Leavin'5:19 marked his career zenith, with hit singles including "Back in the High Life Again×Back in the High Life AgainMay 1986 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksABack in the High Life Again4:09BNight Train (instrumental)4:10", "The Finer Things×The Finer Things1986 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAThe Finer Things4:00BNight Train (instrumental)4:10", and the US Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit "Higher Love×Higher LoveJune 1986 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksAHigher Love (remix)7:45B1Higher Love (instrumental)6:05B2And I Go4:12". He reached No.1 on the Hot 100 again with "Roll with It×Roll With It20 June 1988 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Roll With It5:212Holding On6:163The Morning Side5:154Put on Your Dancing Shoes5:135Don't You Know What the Night Can Do?6:556Hearts on Fire5:187One More Morning5:008Shining Song5:29" (1988) from the album Roll with It, with "Don't You Know What the Night Can Do?" and "Holding On×Holding OnOctober 1988 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Holding On (7″ version)4:152Holding On (instrumental version)5:373Go Juan (Aaghh mix)5:054Holding On (Stevappella mix)4:36" also charting highly the same year. Although his hit singles ceased after the 1980s, he continued to release new albums. His most recent album, Nine Lives×Nine Lives25 April 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11I’m Not Drowning3:322Fly7:493Raging Sea6:184Dirty City7:445We’re All Looking5:266Hungry Man7:087Secrets6:418At Times We Do Forget5:589Other Shore6:41Disc 21Exclusive in the Studio Performances2Interview3Dirty City – Music Video, was released in 2008.
In 2004, Winwood was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Traffic. He has won two Grammy Awards and an Ivor Novello Award, and has been honoured as a BMI Icon. In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked Winwood the 33rd-greatest singer. In 2025, Winwood was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King's Birthday Honours.

Early life

Winwood was born on 12 May 1948 in Handsworth, Birmingham. His father Lawrence, a foundryman by trade, was a semi-professional musician, playing mainly the saxophone and clarinet. Winwood began playing piano at the age of four while interested in swing and Dixieland jazz, and soon started playing drums and guitar. He was also a choirboy at St John the Evangelist's Church, Perry Barr. The family moved from Handsworth to Atlantic Road, Kingstanding, Birmingham, and he attended Great Barr School, one of the first comprehensive schools. He also attended classes at the Birmingham and Midland Institute to develop his skills as a pianist, but did not complete his course. During this time, he befriended future Fleetwood Mac member Christine Perfect.
At eight years of age, Winwood first performed with his father and elder brother Muff in the Ron Atkinson band. Muff Winwood later recalled that when Steve began playing regularly with him and his father in licensed pubs and clubs, the piano had to be turned with its back to the audience to try to hide him because he was so obviously underage.

Early years

While still a pupil at Great Barr School, Winwood was a part of the Birmingham blues rock scene, playing the Hammond C-3 organ and guitar, backing blues and rock legends such as Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, B. B. King, 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, Winwood was living on Atlantic Road in Kingstanding, close to the Birmingham music halls where he played. Winwood modelled his singing after Ray Charles.

The Spencer Davis Group

In 1963, Winwood (then known as "Stevie" Winwood) became singer and keyboardist of the Spencer Davis Group, with his older brother Muff Winwood on bass, Spencer Davis on guitar, and Pete York on drums. Davis had been impressed by the Winwood brothers after he saw them performing as the Muffy Wood Jazz Band at the Golden Eagle in Birmingham. The Spencer Davis Group made their debut at the Eagle and subsequently had a Monday-night residency there. Winwood's distinctive high tenor singing voice and vocal style drew comparisons to Ray Charles.
In 1964, the Spencer Davis Group signed their first recording contract with Island Records. Producer and founder Chris Blackwell later said of Winwood, "He was really the cornerstone of Island Records. He's a musical genius and because he was with Island all the other talent really wanted to be with Island." The group's first single "Dimples" was released 10 days after Winwood's 16th birthday.
The group had two UK No.1 singles in late 1965 and early 1966 with "Keep on Running×Keep On Running1991 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1 1Keep On Running2:421 2Gimme Some Lovin’2:521 3Somebody Help Me1:581 4I’m a Man2:481 5Every Little Bit Hurts3:281 6Paper Sun4:141 7Smiling Phases2:391 8Heaven Is in Your Mind4:151 9Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush2:391 10No Face, No Name, No Number3:312 1Well Alright4:242 2Empty Pages4:332 3John Barleycorn (Must Die)6:202 4Happy Vibes4:572 5Something New3:132 6Time Is Running Out (long version)6:282 7Hold On4:27" and "Somebody Help Me". The money from this success allowed Winwood to buy his own Hammond organ. Winwood co-wrote the band's breakthrough hits in America, "Gimme Some Lovin'" and "I'm a Man", both of which went Top 10 in the US and UK in late 1966 and early 1967. Winwood left the Spencer Davis Group in April 1967.

Traffic and Blind Faith

Winwood met drummer Jim Capaldi, guitarist Dave Mason and multi-instrumentalist Chris Wood when they jammed together at The Elbow Room, a club in Aston, Birmingham. After Winwood left the Spencer Davis Group in April 1967, the quartet formed Traffic. Soon after, they rented a cottage near the rural village of Aston Tirrold, Berkshire (now Oxfordshire), to write and rehearse new music. This allowed them to escape the city and develop their music.
Early in Traffic's formation, Winwood and Capaldi formed a songwriting partnership, with Winwood writing music to match Capaldi's lyrics. This partnership was the source of most of Traffic's material, including popular songs such as "Paper Sun", "No Face, No Name, No Number", "Dear Mr. Fantasy", and "The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys", and outlived the band, producing several songs for Winwood's and Capaldi's solo albums. Over the band's history, Winwood performed the majority of their lead vocals, keyboard instruments and guitars (guitars more so after Mason's departure in 1968). Traffic disbanded in early 1969 after two albums, Mr. Fantasy (1967) and Traffic (1968), with a third album, Last Exit, being issued later that year.

Following Traffic's split, Winwood formed the supergroup Blind Faith, along with former Cream members Eric Clapton (guitar) and Ginger Baker (drums), and former Family member Ric Grech (bass). The band produced only one album, which reached No.1 in both the UK and US, and included "Can't Find My Way Home". The band was short-lived owing to Clapton's greater interest in Blind Faith's opening act on tour, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends; Clapton left the band at the tour's completion, bringing Blind Faith to an end.

In 1970, Winwood went into the studio to begin work on a solo album, tentatively titled Mad Shadows. He called in his former Traffic bandmates Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood to help, resulting in the Traffic reunion album, John Barleycorn Must Die. Traffic would continue for another five albums: Welcome to the Canteen (1971), The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (1971), Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory (1973), On the Road (1973) and When the Eagle Flies (1974). Weariness with the grind of touring and recording prompted Winwood to break up Traffic in 1974 and retire to session work for several years.

Other 1960s and 1970s work

In 1966, three years before Blind Faith, Winwood guested with Eric Clapton as part of the temporary group Eric Clapton and the Powerhouse. Three tracks were recorded and released on the 1966 various artists compilation album, What's Shakin'. In 1968, Winwood was recruited by Jimi Hendrix to play organ for "Voodoo Chile" on the Electric Ladyland album.
Following the end of Blind Faith, Winwood and Ric Grech continued working with Ginger Baker as part of Ginger Baker's Air Force, who also featured Winwood's Traffic bandmate Chris Wood. Winwood played on their self-titled first album, released in 1970.
In 1972, Winwood recorded the part of Captain Walker in the highly successful orchestral version of the Who's Tommy. He recorded a 1973 album with Remi Kabaka and Abdul Lasisi Amao (as 'The Third World'), Aiye-Keta×Aiye-Keta1976 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracksA1Happy Vibes7:02A2Irin Ajo7:51A3Black Beauty4:23B1Afro Super7:35B2Shango10:21. Later, after the unrelated reggae group Third World had formed, the album was re-released and identified by the band members' names. In 1976, Winwood provided vocals and keyboards on GO, a concept album by Japanese composer Stomu Yamashta. That same year, Winwood also played guitar on the Fania All Stars' Delicate and Jumpy record and performed as a guest with the band in their only UK appearance, a sold-out concert at the Lyceum Theatre, London.
Under pressure from Island Records, Winwood finally released his self-titled debut solo album in 1977. In 1979 he played keyboards on the Marianne Faithfull album Broken English, including synthesizer on the tracks "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" and the title track, which were taken as singles from the album.

Solo career success

In 1980, Winwood released his second solo album, Arc of a Diver×Arc of a Diver31 December 1980 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracksA1While You See a Chance5:17A2Arc of a Diver5:30A3Second‐Hand Woman3:44A4Slowdown Sundown5:27B1Spanish Dancer6:01B2Night Train7:54B3Dust6:19, which included his first solo hit, "While You See a Chance×While You See a Chance1980 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAWhile You See a ChanceBVacant Chair". This was followed by Talking Back to the Night in 1982, which featured the song "Valerie×Valerie1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Valerie4:102Talking Back to the Night (instrumental version)4:133The Finer Things (remix)8:29", which would eventually become a hit single upon re-release in 1987. Both Arc of a Diver and Talking Back to the Night were recorded at his home in Gloucestershire with Winwood playing all instruments.
In 1986, Winwood travelled to New York City for his next album project. There, he enlisted the help of a coterie of stars to record Back in the High Life. The album went triple platinum in the US, with its first single "Higher Love×Higher LoveJune 1986 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksAHigher Love (remix)7:45B1Higher Love (instrumental)6:05B2And I Go4:12" reaching No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning Winwood Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. He embarked on an extensive tour of North America in support of the album, and at the end of the tour, he divorced Nicole Weir in England then settled in the Nashville area with his new American wife, Eugenia Crafton.
With the exception of 1969's Blind Faith, Winwood had been with Island Records since the Spencer Davis Group's first single in 1964. However, at the peak of his commercial success, Winwood moved to Virgin Records and released the albums Roll with It×Roll With It20 June 1988 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Roll With It5:212Holding On6:163The Morning Side5:154Put on Your Dancing Shoes5:135Don't You Know What the Night Can Do?6:556Hearts on Fire5:187One More Morning5:008Shining Song5:29 (1988) and Refugees of the Heart×Refugees of the Heart1990 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1You'll Keep on Searching6:212Every Day (Oh Lord)5:513One and Only Man5:034I Will Be Here5:595Another Deal Goes Down4:586Running On4:207Come Out and Dance5:358In the Light of Day9:46 (1990). Roll with It and its title track hit No.1 on the US album and singles charts in the summer of 1988.

Traffic reunion and subsequent work

In 1994, Winwood and Jim Capaldi reformed as Traffic for the album Far from Home. Despite lacking a significant hit, it broke the top 40 in both the UK and US. The band toured that year, which included a performance at the Woodstock '94 Festival. That same year, Winwood appeared on the A Tribute To Curtis Mayfield CD, recording Mayfield's "It's All Right".
In 1995, Winwood released "Reach for the Light" for the animated film Balto. Winwood's final Virgin album, Junction Seven×Junction Seven3 June 1997 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Spy in the House of Love4:472Angel of Mercy5:033Just Wanna Have Some Fun4:574Let Your Love Come Down5:485Real Love5:226Fill Me Up4:277Gotta Get Back to My Baby4:528Someone Like You4:399Family Affair5:1810Plenty Lovin'5:5711Lord of the Street6:2912Come Out and Dance4:54, was released in 1997, reaching the UK top 40. Later that year, he toured the US, and sang with Chaka Khan at the VH-1 Honors.
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 appeared in the film Blues Brothers 2000, as a member of the Louisiana Gator Boys, appearing on stage with Isaac Hayes, Eric Clapton and KoKo Taylor at the battle of the bands competition.
In 2003, Winwood released a new album, About Time×About Time17 June 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Different Light6:372Cigano (for the Gypsies)6:213Take It to the Final Hour5:364Why Can't We Live Together6:395Domingo Morning5:066Now That You're Alive5:297Bully5:408Phoenix Rising7:269Horizon4:3110Walking On4:5511Silvia (Who Is She?)11:28, on his new record label, Wincraft Music. In 2004, Eric Prydz sampled Winwood's 1982 song "Valerie×Valerie1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Valerie4:102Talking Back to the Night (instrumental version)4:133The Finer Things (remix)8:29" for the song "Call on Me". After hearing an early version, Winwood not only gave permission to use his song, but also re-recorded the samples for Prydz to use, to facilitate copyright clearance. The remix spent five weeks at No.1 on the UK Singles Chart.
In 2005, Winwood's Soundstage Performances DVD was released. That same year, he appeared on Grammy Award winner Ashley Cleveland's album Men and Angels Say, a mix of rock, blues and country arrangements of well-known hymns, including "I Need Thee Every Hour", which featured a vocal duet and organ performance. On her 2006 record Back to Basics, Christina Aguilera featured Winwood (using the piano and organ instrumentation from the John Barleycorn Must Die track "Glad") on her song "Makes Me Wanna Pray".
In May 2007, Winwood performed in support of the Countryside Alliance, an organisation opposed to the Hunting Act 2004, in a concert at Highclere Castle, joining fellow rock artists Eric Clapton, Bryan Ferry, Steve Harley and Kenney Jones. In July 2007, Winwood performed with Clapton in the latter's Crossroads Guitar Festival. Among the songs they played were "Presence of the Lord" and "Can't Find My Way Home" from their Blind Faith days, with Winwood playing several guitar leads during 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.

Winwood's next album, Nine Lives×Nine Lives25 April 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11I’m Not Drowning3:322Fly7:493Raging Sea6:184Dirty City7:445We’re All Looking5:266Hungry Man7:087Secrets6:418At Times We Do Forget5:589Other Shore6:41Disc 21Exclusive in the Studio Performances2Interview3Dirty City – Music Video, was released in 2008. Nine Lives opened at No.12 on the Billboard 200 album chart, his highest US debut ever. 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.
In 2008, Winwood was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music to add to his honorary degree from Aston University, Birmingham.

Recent activity

On 28 March 2012, Winwood was one of Roger Daltrey's special guest stars for "An Evening with Roger Daltrey and Friends" gig, in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall.
In 2013, Winwood toured North America with Rod Stewart as part of the "Live the Life" tour. In 2014, Winwood toured North America with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.
On 17 February 2020, Winwood participated in "A Tribute to Ginger Baker", which took place at Eventim Apollo Hammersmith in London. Other participants were Ronnie Wood, Roger Waters and Eric Clapton. The concert was held in honour of Ginger Baker, his former band member in Blind Faith who had died the previous year.
On 7 May 2023, Winwood performed as part of the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle where he sang "Higher Love×Higher LoveJune 1986 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksAHigher Love (remix)7:45B1Higher Love (instrumental)6:05B2And I Go4:12" backed by virtual choirs from the Commonwealth realms.
In 2024 Winwood toured North America with the Doobie Brothers.
Winwood appears on Foreign Tongues, the studio album by The Rolling Stones, which was released on 10 July 2026.

Songwriting

Winwood has spoken very little publicly about the origin or meaning of the songs he has written. He has said that "when I write a song, I don't like to have to explain it afterwards. To me, it's like telling a joke, then having to explain it. The explanation doesn't add to the song at all."

Legacy

Winwood was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Traffic in 2004. In 2005, Winwood was honoured as a BMI Icon at the annual BMI London Awards for his "enduring influence on generations of music makers." In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked Winwood No.33 on its list of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Winwood has won two Grammy Awards.
He was nominated twice for a Brit Award for Best British Male Artist, in 1988 and 1989. In 2011, he received the Ivor Novello Award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors for Outstanding Song Collection.

Personal life

Between 1978 and 1986, Winwood was married to Nicole Weir (d. 2005), who had contributed background vocals to some of his early solo work. The two married at Cheltenham Register Office.
Winwood×Winwood1972 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks · 2 discsDisc 1A1Keep On Running2:42A2Somebody Help Me1:57A3Goodbye Stevie2:22A4Cross Roads2:32A5Gimme Some Lovin'2:53B1I'm A Man2:48B2Can't Get Enough Of It3:37B3Stevie's Blues3:50B4Paper Sun3:23B5Heaven Is In Your Mind4:02B6Coloured Rain2:44Disc 2C1Dear Mr. Fantasy5:33C2Smiling Phases2:36C3Dealer2:44C4Medicated Goo3:36C5Forty Thousand Headmen3:15C6Vagabond Virgin5:15D1Sea Of Joy5:25D2Empty Pages4:45D3Stranger To Himself4:05D4Freedom Rider6:02's primary residence is a 300-year-old manor house in Turkdean in the Cotswolds, where he also has a recording studio. Winwood also has a home in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife Eugenia Crafton, a Tennessee native whom he married in 1987. They have four children.
In 2011, one of Winwood's daughters, Mary Clare, married businessman Ben Elliot, later co-chairman of the Conservative Party between July 2019 and September 2022. The couple have two sons. Another daughter, Lilly, is a singer; she was featured with Winwood performing a duet of his song "Higher Love×Higher LoveJune 1986 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksAHigher Love (remix)7:45B1Higher Love (instrumental)6:05B2And I Go4:12" in a Hershey commercial. She was the opening act and was backing singer for her father's 2018 Greatest Hits Live tour.
In June 2025 Winwood was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King's Birthday Honours for services to music.

The Spencer Davis Group

Their First LP (1965)
The Second Album (1966)
Autumn '66 (1966)