The Stylistics

In 1980 (see 1980 in music), several members departed, and the remainder continued performing for the next two decades, and are still a popular live draw.
. They left Avco for H&I and the Stylistics' popularity rapidly declined in the US, though their British popularity continued for the rest of the 70s. Traffic was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 15, 2004. They struggled hard to find producers who could come up with the right material, and partnerships with Hugo & Luigi and Van McCoy were notably unsuccessful. After re-uniting, Capaldi and Winwood toured widely but were unable to regain their former stature. Just as with The Delfonics, The Stylistics were to some extent a vehicle for Bell's own creativity. Traffic did not record again until 1994, when they released Far From Home.

The group split with Thom Bell in 1974, and the split proved devastating commerically to the group. Winwood's solo career peaked with the album Back in the High Life. Their hits from this period included "Betcha by Golly, Wow", "I'm Stone in Love with You", "You Make Me Feel Brand New" "Stop, Look, Listen To Your Heart" and "You Are Everything". Capaldi's solo career began to heat up, and Winwood finally launched one of his own, recording the smash hit album Arc of a Diver. The bittersweet lyrics from Creed were a key factor in creating hugely memorable music. Still, Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory was another hit, as was When the Eagle Flies (1974 in music). Bell imported the sweet soul techniques he had perfected with the Delfonics and his arragmements worked perfectly with Thompkins' falsetto. Once again, personnel problems wracked the band as Capaldi began a solo career.

Signing to Avco Records, the Stylistics began working with producer Thom Bell, who had already produced a catalogue of hits for The Delfonics, and songwriter Linda Creed. After some personnel changes (including the return of Mason), Traffic released The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, an American hit that didn't chart in the UK. They had their first hit in 1971 (see 1971 in music) with "You're a Big Girl Now". Winwood formed Blind Faith but after that band split in 1969 he began working on a solo recording which eventually turned into another Traffic album, John Barleycorn Must Die, their most successful album yet. They formed in 1968 (see 1968 in music) and comprised Russell Thompkins Jr, Herb Murrell, Airrion Love, James Smith, and James Dunn. Their second album, Traffic, was released in 1968. The band began touring the US, but Mason was fired and Winwood announced the band's break-up. The Stylistics are one of the most well-known Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s. "Hole in My Shoe", the second single, was an even bigger hit, and set the stage for a rivalry between Winwood and Mason, the group's principal songwriters. Their debut album was Mr. Fantasy which, like the singles, was a hit in the UK but not in the US or elsewhere.

Their debut single was 1967's "Paper Sun", a UK hit. With Mason and Capaldi eager to form a new group, Winwood agreed to join the partnership along with Chris Wood and so the four members retreated to a secluded cottage in Aston Tirrold, Berkshire to rehearse. The four musicians often played at a club called The Elbow Room in Aston, Birmingham. Traffic was a rock band, from Birmingham in the late 1960s and led by Steve Winwood, with Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason, after Winwood left the Spencer Davis Group.

Steve Winwood (http://stevewinwood.com).