Does Steve Winwood sing in the Negro style?

**Richmondbread** · 06-26-2021, 07:52 AM

I always liked him but when I first heard him as a child in the 80s I thought he was a Negro, lol. It took me years to find out he was actually White AND British. Now that I see he is white , I wonder if maybe my perception is off and he sounds like a typical British white singer. What do Y'all think?

**Creoda** · 06-26-2021, 08:31 AM

I never imagined him to be black.

**Richmondbread** · 06-26-2021, 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by Creoda

I never imagined him to be black.

His tonal qualities , (some of them) sounded black to me. But I guess he's what they call white soul music.

**Davystayn** · 06-26-2021, 06:22 PM

He was part of the British Blues scene of the 1950s, when UK bands worshipped the Southern Blues scene, Rolling Stones came out of this as well. So yes, I think you are right.

His 1980s had broad appeal probably for the same reason

**Radimir** · 06-26-2021, 06:30 PM

"Negro style" lol never change Richie, well you could improve with weight loss but keep the persona. It's funny!

**Creoda** · 06-27-2021, 03:57 AM

Originally Posted by Richmondbread

His tonal qualities , (some of them) sounded black to me. But I guess he's what they call white soul music.

I grew up almost exclusively with white music/artists, so my default was to imagine them as white, unless they sounded distinctly black. Don't think I even pictured Dusty Springfield being black. 'Valerie' isn't the type of song I'd associate with blacks also.

**Daco Celtic** · 06-27-2021, 04:15 AM

Great thread. My parents would have played this song. More like suburban top 40 adult contemporary music than anything else regardless of his early blues influences

**Daco Celtic** · 06-27-2021, 04:21 AM

Very urban song

**NSXD60** · 06-27-2021, 06:02 AM

Nah, never fooled me, but some were fooled by Tom Jones, especially Blacks, however, Tom modulates his voice to suit a song, where most Blacks go overboard even when a song calls for some restraint.

**Richmondbread** · 06-28-2021, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by NSXD60

Nah, never fooled me, but some were fooled by Tom Jones, especially Blacks, however, Tom modulates his voice to suit a song, where most Blacks go overboard even when a song calls for some restraint.

Ironically, back in the day, everyone said Elvis sounded black. Elvis never sounded black to me. He may have sung the Negro style but his voice was completely original and white and his own interpretation.