Spencer Davis, one of the key figures of 1960s rock music, has died at the age of 81.
The Welsh guitarist was the driving force behind the Spencer Davis Group, who scored transatlantic hits with Keep On Running and Somebody Help Me.
The band, which also featured a teenage Stevie Winwood, was a key part of the "British invasion" and toured with The Who and The Rolling Stones in the 60s.
Davis later helped launch the careers of Bob Marley and Robert Palmer.
The son of a paratrooper, Davis was born in Swansea in 1939 and first started learning harmonica and the accordion at the age of six.
He moved to London to work for the civil service at the age of 16, but later relocated to Birmingham, where he taught English by day, and played in local clubs at night.
Inspired by blues and skiffle, he formed a band called The Saints with Bill Wyman, later a member of the Rolling Stones; and performed folk music with Christine Perfect - who, As Christine McVie, became a core member of Fleetwood Mac's classic line-up.
But it was with his eponymous rock group that he struck gold. Formed in 1963, The Spencer Davis Band featured Davis on guitar, Winwood on organ and vocals, his brother Muff on bass and Peter York on drums.
Originally called The Rhythm & Blues Quartette, they changed their name in 1964 when Muff pointed out that Davis was the only one who enjoyed doing interviews - the logic being that the rest of the band could slope off to the pub while he handled the press.
Full article - Spencer Davis, one of rock's elder statesmen, dies aged 81
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The Welsh guitarist was the driving force behind the Spencer Davis Group, who scored transatlantic hits with Keep On Running and Somebody Help Me.
The band, which also featured a teenage Stevie Winwood, was a key part of the "British invasion" and toured with The Who and The Rolling Stones in the 60s.
Davis later helped launch the careers of Bob Marley and Robert Palmer.
The son of a paratrooper, Davis was born in Swansea in 1939 and first started learning harmonica and the accordion at the age of six.
He moved to London to work for the civil service at the age of 16, but later relocated to Birmingham, where he taught English by day, and played in local clubs at night.
Inspired by blues and skiffle, he formed a band called The Saints with Bill Wyman, later a member of the Rolling Stones; and performed folk music with Christine Perfect - who, As Christine McVie, became a core member of Fleetwood Mac's classic line-up.
But it was with his eponymous rock group that he struck gold. Formed in 1963, The Spencer Davis Band featured Davis on guitar, Winwood on organ and vocals, his brother Muff on bass and Peter York on drums.
Originally called The Rhythm & Blues Quartette, they changed their name in 1964 when Muff pointed out that Davis was the only one who enjoyed doing interviews - the logic being that the rest of the band could slope off to the pub while he handled the press.
Full article - Spencer Davis, one of rock's elder statesmen, dies aged 81
Skip to 56 seconds -
