English singer-songwriter and musician Stephen Lawrence Winwood was born 77 years ago in Handsworth, Birmingham, is married and has 4 children. He plays numerous instruments such as the guitar, mandolin, keyboards, etc.
When he was still a student, Steve accompanied various rock and blues artists like Chuck Berry and B B King amongst others, during their tours around the UK, playing the guitar and organ.
Steve became a member of the band The Spencer Davis Group when he was 14. A few days after Steve turned 16, the group released their first single named ‘Keep on Running’ which was a number one hit. Winwood wrote a couple of songs for the group which also topped the charts. Until 1976, Winwood was part of several other bands like Eric Clapton and the Powerhouse, Traffic, Blind Faith, Ginger Baker’s Air Force and Third World.
In 1977, Steve decided to embark on a solo career and released his debut solo album bearing his name. Three years later, his second album came out, which featured the hit ‘While you see a Chance’. The third album was released a couple of years later, and included the hit ‘Valerie’, which, however, became a hit single 5 years afterwards i.e. in 1987.
Winwood’s 4th album was produced in the US in 1986 and featured the number one US hit ‘Higher Love’. It was followed by an extensive North American tour in support of this album. For the rest of the 80s, Steve released another album.
From then to date, he had 4 studio, 7 compilation, 2 live, 2 video albums as well as 10 singles and had several number one hits globally. Over the years, Steve continued to collaborate with numerous renowned artists by playing various instruments during their tours/live shows.
During his long career, Winwood won 2 Grammy and an Ivor Novello Award, and was also inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. In addition, the following year, Steve was honoured as a BMI Icon at the annual BMI London Awards.
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