Happy Birthday Steve Winwood: Blind Faith At Hyde Park In 1969
By Andy Kahn May 12, 2016 • 9:00 am PDT
Photo by Sam Erickson
Today, multi-talented musician and songwriter Steve Winwood turns 68-years-old. The British-born artist known for his work with The Spencer Davis Group and the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inducted Traffic, as well as a hugely successful solo career, was also a central figure in one of the earliest supergroups – the short-lived Blind Faith.
Formed in 1969 while Traffic was broken up, Winwood joined former Cream members guitarist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker, along with bassist Rich Grech to round out Blind Faith’s lineup. That year the band released their lone self-titled album (featuring a controversial photo on the cover) and appeared live together in Europe and the United States. By the end of the tour in August 1969, Clapton effectively dissolved the band and the members went their separate ways.
High quality video footage of Blind Faith’s debut performance in front of more than 100,000 at free concert in London’s Hyde Park on June 7, 1969 has been shared by Winwood on his official Vimeo channel. The set included each of the songs on Blind Faith, including Buddy Holly’s “Well All Right,” “Sea Of Joy,” “Sleeping In The Ground,” “Can’t Find My Way Home,” “Do What You Like,” “Presence Of The Lord” and “Had To Cry Today.” They also threw in a cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Under My Thumb” and Traffic’s “Means to an End.” Watch the full set below:
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