Musical icon Steve Winwood took to the stage on Sunday, May 7, to serenade the newly crowned King Charles III during his much-anticipated Coronation Concert - and fans everywhere were delighted. While some viewers may not know who he is or his place in music's history, a plethora of viewers were ecstatic to learn that the Higher Love singer would be performing a few numbers, claiming it would be one of the night's highlights.
The 74-year-old had hits across the 60s, 80s and 00s and was member of many rock bands over his more than 50-year career. Some of his well known hits include Keep On Runnin’ and Gimme Some Lovin’. During tonight's concert, the rock star performed Higher Love with the virtual Commonwealth Choir - and it seems the royals were enjoying it with members nodding along and Charles looking as if to say 'Wonderful man'.
But who is Steve Winwood?
The musician began learning the piano at the age of four and soon picked up the guitar and drums. As the years went on, he gained experience on the music scene in a band with his father and older brother Muff in the Ron Atkinson Band. While still at school, he even supported legends like Muddy Waters, aka McKinley Morganfield, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley when they toured the UK. During this time, he also befriended Fleetwood Mac star Christine McVie.
At just fourteen, he joined the Spencer Davis Group with his older brother and in 1964 bagged his first record deal with Island Records. With this group, he had his first number one single with Keep On Running, Gimme Some Lovin and I'm A Man. After leaving the group in 1967, Winwood joined forces with guitaring hero Eric Clapton for a group named Eric Clapton and the Powerhouse - although only three songs were made.
He then formed a second group, Traffic, made up of Jim Capaldi, Dave Mason, Chris Wood and Steve, with whom Winwood wrote Dear Mr Fantasy, Paper Sun and The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys.
Before he embarked on a solo career in the 70s, the rhythm and blues star formed a supergroup called Blind Faith with Eric Clapton, once again, Ginger Baker and Ric Grech. Steve Winwood's solo career brought him smash hits like Valerie and the global hit, Higher Love - which topped the Billboard Hot 100 at the time.
The musician has a number of strings to his musical bow and is a talented guitarist, keyboard player and vocalist. But that's not all - he has also mastered instruments including drums, mandolin, bass and saxophone and has played as a session instrumentalist for artists such as Jimi Hendrix, The Who, James Brown, Joe Cocker, Tina Turner, George Harrison and so much more. He has also been nominated for a remarkable 11 grammy awards - winning two.
But this concert isn't his first performance in from of a royal - in 2002 he performed for the Queen's Golden Jubilee.
As for Steve Winwood's personal life, In 1978, the artist married Nicole Weir, although their marriage proved short-lived and the pair split in 1986. In 1987, however, Steve found love again and married Eugenia Crafton, with who he shares four children. And it seems playing at the King's Coronation Concert isn't his only link to the British Royal Family. Steve Winwood's daughter, Mary Clare married Ben Elliott a businessman who is the nephew of Queen Camilla and King Charles III.
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