Spencer Davis, RIP

Spencer Davis, guitarist and leader of The Spencer Davis Group, has died from complications of pneumonia, reports the BBC. He was 81.

Originally named The Rhythm & Blues Quartette, the band changed their name in 1964 when, so the story goes, it became clear that Davis was the only member of the band who liked talking to the press. They had worldwide hits with "Gimme Some Lovin'," "I'm a Man," ""Somebody Help Me," and "Keep on Running" but the group came to an end at the height of their fame when singer/keyboardist Steve Winwood left to for Traffic.

Before the SDG, Davis briefly had a band, The Saints, that included a pre-Rolling Stones Bill Wyman, and played folk music with Christine Perfect (aka soon-to-be Fleetwood Mac member Christine McVie). After Spencer Davis Group, he went on to work for Island Records before re-launching a solo career in the '80s. More recently, Davis lead new lineups of The Spencer Davis Group into the '00s and '10s.

Rest in peace, Spencer.