Steve Winwood

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" (1980) from the album Arc of a Diver, and "Valerie" (1982) from Talking Back to the Night ("Valerie" became a hit when it was re-released with a remix from Winwood's 1987 compilation album Chronicles).

Winwood's 1986 album Back in the High Life marked his career zenith, with hit singles including "Back in the High Life Again", "The Finer Things", and the US Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit "Higher Love". He reached No.1 on the Hot 100 again with "Roll with It" (1988) from the album Roll with It, with "Don't You Know What the Night Can Do?" and "Holding On" 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, 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.

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.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.