1. Spencer Davis was born in Swansea, South-West Wales, on 17 July 1939.
19 Facts About Spencer Davis
1. 2.
Spencer Davis's father was a paratrooper during World War II.
3.
Spencer Davis began learning to play harmonica and accordion at the age of six.
4.
Spencer Davis attended Dynevor School in Swansea and became proficient at speaking a few languages.
5.
Spencer Davis 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.
6.
Musical artists who influenced Spencer Davis include Big Bill Broonzy, Huddy Ledbetter, Buddy Holly, Davey Graham, John Martyn, Alexis Korner, and Long John Baldry.
7.
When Spencer Davis moved to Birmingham as a student, he often performed on stage after his teaching day.
8.
In 1963, Spencer Davis went to the Golden Eagle pub in Birmingham to see the Muff Wood Jazz band, a traditional jazz band featuring Muff Winwood and his younger brother, Steve Winwood.
9.
Spencer Davis persuaded them to join him and drummer Pete York as the Rhythm and Blues Quartet.
10.
Spencer Davis performed on guitar, vocals and harmonica, Steve Winwood on guitar, organ and vocals, Muff Winwood on bass and Pete York on drums.
11.
The Spencer Davis Group continued after Winwood left to form Traffic in April 1967.
12.
Spencer Davis followed it with a solo album, Mousetrap, for United Artists, produced by and featuring Sneaky Pete Kleinow.
13.
In 1993, Spencer Davis formed the supergroup the Class Rock All-Stars.
14.
Spencer Davis 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.
15.
Spencer Davis had studied German and played in clubs in Berlin early in his career.
16.
Spencer Davis watched both the building of the Berlin Wall in 1961 and with his son, its fall in 1989.
17.
Spencer Davis was a supporter and honorary member of the Wales nationalist party, Plaid Cymru.
18.
Spencer Davis had three children and divorced in the late 1970s.
19.
Spencer Davis died from pneumonia in Los Angeles on 19 October 2020 at the age of 81.