Traffic

Navigating through three decades of changing lineups and directions, Traffic emerged as one England's more credible acts. Driven by keyboardist/singer/songwriter/guitarist Steve Winwood, he formed Traffic in 1967 and picked up drummer Jim Capaldi, singer/guitarist Dave Mason, and reed instrumentalist Chris Wood along the way to create the first incarnation of the band with a sound influenced by the Beatles. The four young guys lived together in a cottage in Berkshire in a cooperative manner, from there releasing their first single, "Paper Sun" and gaining international attention. The collaborative intention for their songwriting was disrupted by Mason, who composed on his own and tended towards folk-rock verses Winwood's favoritism for a more jazzy sound. Mason left Traffic as the initial success from their debut album "Mr. Fantasy" was breaking but was back in the band periodically over the years, already reinstated in 1968 for the second album "Traffic." By the end of 1968, Traffic disbanded and the musicians pursued their own careers, Winwood in particular, becoming part of the super group Blind Faith. Traffic was reincarnated several more times throughout the 70's, picking up other musicians here and there and releasing a couple of studio albums and a couple live ones. Up until Capaldi's death in 2005, the members of Traffic continued to join forces time and again, releasing a studio effort in 1994 called "Far From Home" as well as several compilation albums.