60s Hitmaker Spencer Davis Has Died

He led the Spencer Davis Group...

Musician and songwriter *Spencer Davis* has died.

The Swansea musician moved to London as a teen, where he became swept up in the R&B movement.

Forming the Spencer Davis Group, he encountered the Winwood brothers - Muff and Stevie - who helped form the core of the outfit.

With the husky, Ray Charles esque vocals of the teenage Stevie at the forefront, the Spencer Davis Group's organ led sound proved a huge hit with their Mod audience, before tackling the mainstream.

Breaking into the charts with singles such as 'Keep On Running' and 'I'm A Man', the band managed to earn success without watering down their soulful approach.

Stevie Winwood left to form Traffic as '67 dawned, leaving Spencer Davis to lead a freshly overhauled line up for the rest of the decade.

The group split in 1969, leaving Spencer Davis to travel to California, before becoming an A&R Executive at Island Records.

News of his passing was confirmed a few moments ago - he was 81.

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