Steve Winwood, anyone?

[Telemarkman]

I've said many times that there ain't no way to measure what's best when it comes to music/musicians, but I dare you to prove me wrong when I say that Steve Winwood is the greatest rock musician when you put together every aspect of it: at 15 he sang like Ray Charles, he plays the Hammond organ like few others, he plays guitar as good as Clapton and he's also a great songwriter. In addition he plays harmonica, mandolin, bass and drums.

He was one of the first that inspired me to get a Tele:



Steve as a young Ray Charles protégé:



Steve, the lead guitar player:

[hekawi]

Steve is terrific. this one is my fave:

[nvilletele]

One of the all-time greats, no doubt. Saw him in concert a couple years ago, and he's still as awesome as ever. Not only started out at a very young age, but has somehow managed to still look somewhat youthful over the years. Even the stuff he did in the 80s is great and still holds up.

[drf64]

I can't see what songs/videos have been posted so far (work place firewall), but Arc of a Diver is one of my favorites.

dan

[elihu]

He joined the Spencer Davis Group at fourteen...

If you watch this on Youtube you can read the lyrics-I never could quite understand them all.

[fakeocaster]

Ive just got home from seeing him playing in Dublin. Excellent gig

[Linc Gray]

Originally Posted by hekawi

Steve is terrific. this one is my fave:

Steve's playing a concert with EC at the Albert Hall May 26 and 27 2011. I believe it's the first time they've played together in London since Blind Faith.
They did Maddison SG together in 2008 and I heard it was great.

[castpolymer]

Put me solidly in the " me likey " category.

[Cassady]

I've quoted this before, and probably will again, Warren Zevon put it best when he said "Every human being loves Steve Winwood."

Pretty well put, actually.

[Mechanic]

Count me in. I don't think he did a bad one ever. Mostly like the Traffic years. His new stuff is quite good though I don't have any for repeated listening.

[elihu]

Here's a 19 year old Steve pickin' a strat...blasphemy I know. Interesting that he's using a thumbpick. I've seen a couple vids of the Spencer Davis group where the bass player was also.



This cut reminds me of the time when FM radio used to play album sides. So cool...great jazzy keys throughout and the sax is just icing on the cake.



And one from his first solo album in 1977 with Willie Weeks on bass.



See, I've left plenty for the rest of y'all to pick from. But what an amazing career Steve has. I mean he's still going strong on his fifth decade of being among the top pop musicians. Who beside Eric can touch that? And Steve's a better singer.

[JosephB]

but him in the "love him...as long as i block out the 80's part of his career"

[Janitor Julius]

Put me in the category of "loves Warren Zevon" Of course Winwood needs no affirmation. I like that song he wrote for John Mayer... you know... "say what you need to say"?

[SnidelyWhiplash]

One of the most talented musicians ever in " rock " music.

[Bob Mc]

I'm a little late to the party, but wanted to add that SW's music (specifically Traffic) was a huge ear opener for me. By the time I really listened to Traffic they were long gone, in fact it was just around Winwood's "Higher Love" era. But they just floor me. The guitarless recordings make for great jamming.

[Baldir]

In can´t find my way home, someone noticed that is something different in that telecaster´s headstock??? :)

[gandsfjord]

..and of course we remember Valerie:
..
which some years ago got the cover 'Call on me':

by swede Eric Prydz. Steve Winwood re-recorded the lyrics to make them fit better to the techno version.
If you don't like the techno version, it could still be worthwhile to just turn the volume down.

[PumpJockey]

Originally Posted by Linc Gray

Steve's playing a concert with EC at the Albert Hall May 26 and 27 2011. I believe it's the first time they've played together in London since Blind Faith.
They did Maddison SG together in 2008 and I heard it was great.

I saw them there. A lot of what they did was off the Blind Faith album and their solo stuff, plus some 60s chestnuts like Buddy Miles' "Them Changes". He played both a strat and a tele (and a Hammond of course).

I gather that Blind Faith was a drugged out disaster as a project but his contribution to their one album is outstanding. For me the highlight is "Can't Find My Way Home" where he slips effortlessly in and out of falsetto and nails every note. Unbelievable.

[elihu]

Steve is a great singer. Blind Faith has got to be one of the biggest "what if they'd stayed together?" speculations ever. But I guess it all worked out-Steve and Eric have toured together enough lately to make up for lost time.

[Joefish]