Origin: Birmingham, England
Traffic is considered by many to have been one of the top British psychedelic bands of the era. Like other heavy hitters of the time, they successfully incorporated jazz and improvisational techniques into their music through extremely creative songwriting and the well-placed use of eclectic instruments like the Mellotron, harpsichord, sitar, and various woodwinds. The band formed in April, 1967 when at the ripe old age of 18, Stevie Winwood (keyboards, guitar, vocals) decided it was time to leave the Spencer David Group and form his own ensemble. Winwood was a musical child prodigy and had be…