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SPENCER DAVIS
This rock star from Wales, who created the famed Spencer Davis Group in 1963, had close to a dozen Top 10 hit songs, including "Gimmie Some Lovin", "Somebody Help Me", "I'm A Man"' and "Keep On Runnin'", helping to bring British rock 'n roll to the rest of the world.
With fluency in German, French and Spanish and degrees in modem languages, Spencer Davis left his teaching career and began his music career in Birmingham with drummer, Pete York, and brothers, Steve and Muff Winwood. This demonstrated the start of his remarkable ability for musical matchmaking.
Touring with the Rolling Stones and The Who when they were still working clubs, having after-hour drinks with Beatles, John and Paul and the lads, jamming with Charlie Watts and Long John Ba/dry and Jack Bruce were heady days for Spencer. When the hits started to come one after the other, his momentum spurred major US success.
Moving to America in 1970, Spencer Davis went on to record a now-hard-to-find solo albwn, then played in an acoustic blues band, which included Richard Landis (former Juice Newton producer and manager) and Peter Jarneson. Demonstrating a skill and understanding of the way the music business worked, he began to work as a consultant for a California video company, with Linda Ronstadt as one of his projects. By the mid-'70s Spencer Davis worked at Island Records (his group's label) and, as a record company executive, worked to further the profiles of people like Robert Palmer and Bob Marley.
In the early '80's Spencer Davis was head of A&R for a small Hollywood-based independent label and the itch to play in a band again was coming back. That's when he made his next album, "Crossfire", with guests like Dusty Springfield, Flo and Eddie, and Booker T. Jones. That's also when he did production projects with a Spokane group called (18K and Canada's Downchild Blues Band.
In 1984 Spencer Davis was back on the road with his own band in America. Then came European and Middle Eastern tours with Pete York, plus other British rock legends, Brian Auger and Chris Farlowe. It was during this time he recorded pioneering CD albums for German and Swiss release.
By 1987 Spencer Davis was performing well over 100 shows a year. For a rock and roll who's-who, he made guest appearances with the Grateful Dead, Gary US Bonds, Levon Helm, Springsteen's E Street Band, Peter Noone, Downchild, and Alvin Lee.
In the early '90's, audiences watched Spencer Davis pick up the pace at club and concert tours. His stature as a rock and roll "legend" also opened doors to a wide variety of benefits, telethons and special TV and radio appearances. Days on the road increased, as did the fans, while Spencer criss-crossed the US and Canada with forays into Europe. Some included opening acts for Hall & Oates and the Marshall Tucker Band.
His guest appearances on TV and radio talk shows mounted throughout most of 1990 when Spencer became involved promoting the definitive collection of Michael Cooper's photos in the book, "Blinds and Shutters", with Spencer being one of many contributors to the book. He also managed to tour with his own group through Australia, the US, Canada, and Japan during this time.
In 1993, Spencer Davis united with three other famed musicians to form one supergroup, THE CLASSIC ROCK ALL-STARS. These legendary players from the Golden Age of rock music include Mike Pinera of Iron Butterfly and of The Blues Image, Peter Rivera of Rare Earth, and Jerry Corbetta of Sugarloaf. The group released a CD together, simply titled, THE CLASSIC ROCK ALL-STARS and they toured through the U.S., Canada, and Japan.
Recently, in September 1995, Spencer Davis left the CRA's to tour Europe with his (European) Spencer Davis Group where he is joined with orignial member, Pete York. The group unites every year there to perform TV specials and concerts in front of large audiences.
As Spencer Davis' fans grew in increasing numbers, he signed a new record deal this year with CMC who plans to release the recent recording initially throughout Europe. With a mix of many new orginals, old hits and classic songs written by other artists, this new album is targeted to be a hit.
Spencer's songs continue to live on in movies, such as Iron Eagle, Big Chill, Mr. Destiny, Days of Thunder, and most recently, Mr. Holland's Opus. The mid '90's also landed him on TV commercials, industrials and a co-starring role in the hit series, "Married With Children." His most recent appearance this year was made on the TV special "The History of Rock 'n Roll."
Spencer Davis' popularity created even further new directions. Currently co-hosting a TV show called DESERT ROCK TV produced by ShoPro, Spencer once again continues his travels, only this time interviewing major rock bands.
His contributions to music history have created a constant demand for this legendary musician that encompass all areas of the music industry. His teaching status as Professor in the early days before his music career has brought him in full circle into delivering lectures. These lectures are intended to provide insight into the music business, as well as entertain the audience with his first-hand knowledge and experience of rock history.
1996, see Spencer taking off on one of the busiest schedules yet. He has recently toured the Midwest with the Spencer Davis Group and is currently undertaking his Spring tour of Europe, encompassing a television show in Belgium called THE GOLDEN YEARS followed by a reunion with original drummer Pete York The group will be going to Germany, England, and stopping off in Birmingham to record a live CD at die world famous RONNIE SCOTT'S CLUB. The tow finishes off with a week in Scandinavia.
Spencer Davis may be a legend, but he doesn't act that way. Continually excited by the music scene, he claims, "I'm having more fun than I ever did!" And, when anyone ever wondered if Spencer is doing a "come-back", they discover that he's never left. That's Spencer--who 'keeps on runnin'.
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