World News – UK – Keep On Running musician Spencer Davis dies at 81

Spencer Davis, who founded influential beat group The Spencer Davis Group, has passed away at the age of 81

The Welsh-born musician, who produced hits such as Keep On Running and I’m A Man, died in hospital while being treated for pneumonia

His agent Bob Birk told the PA News Agency: “I have represented him as his agent for over 30 years.

« He was a very good friend. He was a highly ethical, very talented, kind-hearted, extremely intelligent and generous man

Davis, known in musical circles as the Professor, was born in Swansea and began learning the harmonica and accordion at the age of six

In 1960 he moved to Birmingham to read German at the University of Birmingham, where he was more exposed to burgeoning genres such as single scull, jazz and blues

He formed the Spencer Davis Group in 1963, with Steve Winwood on keyboard and guitar, his brother Muff Winwood on bass and Pete York on drums

In less than a year they had landed a regular gig at the famous Marquee Club on Oxford Street in London, and by 1964 had adopted the name The Spencer Davis Group

They topped the UK singles charts twice and had seven top 40 singles, according to the Official Charts Company

The original line-up was together for six years, with subsequent meetings with a variety of new players

Gimme Some Lovin ‘was featured on The Blues Brothers and Notting Hill soundtracks

Music by the band Spencer Davis is also included in Helen Reddy’s recent biopic, I Am Woman

He said on Twitter: « #RIP Spencer Davis Such happy memories of Northern Soul dancing on This Hammer »

Brian Jonestown Massacre frontman Anton Newcombe shared a video of the band performing Gimme Some Lovin ‘

Horace Panter, bassist for ska The Specials, tweeted: “One of the pioneers of those great 60s bands fusing soul and R&B into rock Remember hearing #thespencerdavisband for the first time as an impressionable teenager I just released their album so the turntable beckons « 

I wasn’t aware Of course I was a fan The British invasion is my main thing RIP Spencer Davis Thank you https: // tco / XZWitesw8n

Stevie Van Zandt, best known as a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, said he was a Davis fan, tweeting: « The British invasion is my main thing RIP Spencer Davis Thank you »

The Spencer Davis Group, Steve Winwood, Muff Winwood