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While actually a middle-school-age boy, singer Steve Winwood was already part of the Birmingham R&B scene, playing organ and guitar and backing blues singers such as Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, T-Bone Walker, Howlin' Wolf, B. B. King, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Eddie Boyd, Otis Spann, 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 pickup bands. At this time, Winwood was living on Atlantic Road in Great Barr, close to the Birmingham music halls where he played.
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At the age of 14 he joined the Spencer Davis Group, along with his older brother Muff, who later had success as a record producer. Steve's distinctive high tenor singing voice drew comparisons to Ray Charles. Winwood also co-wrote and recorded Gimme Some Loving and I'm a Man before leaving to form Traffic. During this time, Winwood joined forces with guitarist Eric Clapton as part of the one-off group Eric Clapton's Powerhouse.
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The Spencer Davis Group was formed in 1963 in Birmingham when Welsh guitarist Spencer Davis recruited vocalist and organist Steve Winwood and his bass playing brother in-addition to Pete York on drums. They signed their first recording contract after the legendary Chris Blackwell of Island Records saw them at an appearance in a local club; Blackwell also then became their producer.
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The group came to success at the end of 1965 with Keep On Running, but Winwood left in 1967 to form Traffic before joining Blind Faith with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker, then forging a career as a soloist. After releasing a few more singles the band ceased activity in 1968. Davis started a new group in 2006, although only Davis remains from the 1960s line-ups.
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In the 80s, Steve Winwood of course went on to great success as a solo artist- his songs such as Higher Love still played every single day, worldwide. Winwood looks like just a kid in the Spencer Davis Group days- which he was... just 17 here:
Spencer Davis Group: Keep on Running (1965)