The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Guitarist who led chart-toppers
Welsh musician Spencer Davis was a key figure in the 1960s beat scene and founder of The Spencer Davis Group.
The singer and guitarist’s band toured with T he Rolling Stones and The Who as they topped the UK singles chart twice with Somebody Help Me and Keep On Running.
Mr D av i s ’ s death in hospital at the age of 81 was announced by Bob Birk, his agent of more than 30 years.
In a statement to Sky News he said: “He was a very good friend.
“He was a highly ethical, very talented, goodhearted, extremely intelligent, generous man.
“He leaves behind his long-time domestic partner Ju n e and three adult children and he will be missed.”
The Beatles’ double A-side single We Can Work It Out/ Day Tripper was knocked off the top spot by the group’s 1966 hit Keep On Running, which was a cover of a track by West Indian performer Jackie Edwards.
Born in Swansea, South Wales, on July 17 1939, Mr Davis was the son of a paratrooper and had started learning to play the harmonica and accordion by the age of six.
When he moved to Birmingham in 1960, he formed a close musical and personal relationship with Christine Perfect – known now as Christine McVie – who went on to find fame as a singer in Fleetwood Mac.
The Spencer Davis Group was compromised of Mr Davis on guitar, vocals and harmonica, a young Stevie Winwood on organ and vocals, his brother Muff on bass and Peter York on drums.
They had three top 10 albums and seven top 40 singles before they split in 1967, when Winwood quit the band to form Traffic.
Former Black Sabbath manager Jim Simpson told Birmingham Live that Spencer Davis Group drummer Pete York had informed him of Davis’ death
“I took Pete’s call half an hour ago and thought ‘What a shame’,” he said.
“Spencer was a lovely man – always very courteous and a purist about music.”
Mr Simpson added: “Spencer was scholarly and well educated, very gentle and kind and his tastes in music were spot on.”