Spencer Davis
Spencer Davis (born Spencer David Nelson Davies; 17 July 1939 – 19 October 2020) was a Welsh musician. He founded the Spencer Davis Group, a band that had several hits in the 1960s including "Keep On Running", "Gimme Some Lovin'", and "I'm a Man", all sung by Steve Winwood. Davis subsequently enjoyed success as an A&R executive with Island Records.[1][2]
For the racing driver, see Spencer Davis (racing driver). For the American baseball infielder, see Spencer Davis (baseball). For the British colonial administrator, see Spencer Davis (governor).
Spencer Davis
Spencer David Nelson Davies
17 July 1939
Swansea, Wales
19 October 2020 (aged 81)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Musician
- Guitar
- vocals
- harmonica
1963–2020
Early life[edit]
Davis was born in Swansea, South-West Wales, on 17 July 1939.[3] His father was a paratrooper during World War II. While his father was away, his uncle Herman was a musical influence on Davis, teaching him how to play the harmonica at age six. While growing up in Swansea, Davis lived through The Blitz: "The bombed city centre was my playground. I watched the town being absolutely destroyed."[1] Davis's mother continued to live in the West Cross area of Swansea until her death.[4] He began learning to play harmonica and accordion at the age of six. He attended Dynevor School and became proficient in languages.[5] He moved to London when he was 16 and began working in the civil service as a clerical officer at the Post Office Savings Bank in Hammersmith and then for HM Customs and Excise. However, he went back to his old school to study for A-levels in languages, becoming head boy in 1959. In 1960, he moved to Birmingham, to read German at the University of Birmingham.[6] In music circles, Davis was later known as "Professor".[7]
Early music career[edit]
His early musical influences were skiffle, jazz and blues. Musical artists who influenced Davis include Big Bill Broonzy, Huddy Ledbetter, Buddy Holly, Davey Graham, John Martyn, Alexis Korner and Long John Baldry. By the time he was 16, Davis was hooked on the guitar and the American rhythm and blues music making its way across the Atlantic. With few opportunities to hear R&B in South Wales, Davis attended as many local gigs as practical.
When Davis moved to Birmingham as a student, he often performed on stage after his teaching day. While in Birmingham, he formed a musical and personal relationship with Christine Perfect who was later a member of Fleetwood Mac.[4][8]
Solo career[edit]
After the group broke up, Davis moved to California and recorded an acoustic album with Peter Jameson, It's Been So Long, for Mediarts in mid-1971. He followed it with a solo album, Mousetrap, for United Artists, produced by and featuring Sneaky Pete Kleinow. Neither album sold well. Soon after, he moved back to the UK, formed a new Spencer Davis Group and signed with Vertigo Records. In addition, Davis was an executive at Island Records in the mid-1970s.[9][8] As a promoter for Island Records, Davis worked with Bob Marley, Robert Palmer and Eddie and the Hot Rods as well as promoting the solo career of former Spencer Davis Group member Steve Winwood.[4]
In 1993, Davis formed the supergroup the Class Rock All-Stars. He left the group in 1995 to form World Classic Rockers with former Eagles bassist Randy Meisner, ex Toto singer Bobby Kimball and ex Moody Blues and Wings guitarist Denny Laine.[8]
Later life[edit]
Davis retained an affinity for Germany, having studied its language and played in clubs in Berlin early in his career. He watched both the building of the Berlin Wall in 1961 and, with his son, its fall in 1989.[5]
Davis was a supporter and honorary member of the Wales nationalist party, Plaid Cymru.[10][11] From the mid-1970s onwards, Davis lived in Avalon on Catalina Island, a small island off the coast of Southern California.[5][12] During the summer of 2012, the Catalina Island Museum hosted an exhibition called "Gimme Some Lovin': The Spencer Davis Group", to celebrate Davis's musical career. To complement the museum show, the museum also hosted a symposium on "The British Invasion", where Davis was joined on a panel by, among others, Micky Dolenz of the Monkees and a July Fourth concert featuring Davis singing his hits with a backing band named 'The Catalina All Stars'.[13]
Personal life[edit]
He had three children and divorced in the late 1970s.
Death[edit]
Davis died from pneumonia in Los Angeles on 19 October 2020 at the age of 81.[8][14][1]