Singer/songwriter, keyboardist, and guitarist Steve Winwood was a well-known musician long before he finally embarked on a solo career in the second half of the '70s. Born in Birmingham, England, Winwood joined The Spencer Davis Group with his older brother Muff when he was only 15 years old. His was the soulful, Ray Charles-like voice on such hits as "Gimme Some Lovin'" and "I'm a Man," songs he also co-wrote. In 1967 he formed Traffic, which he led, with time off for the supergroup Blind Faith in 1969, until 1974. Winwood finally released his first solo album in 1977 and, in 1981 had his first million-seller with his second album, Arc of a Diver. Talking Back to the Night (1982) was not as much of a success, and Winwood spent four years preparing Back in the High Life (1986), which sold three million copies. Roll with It (1988) went to number one, but Refugees of the Heart (1990) was not up to his usual standard.