Kim Simmonds
The driving force behind Savoy Brown, he was a cornerstone of the British blues boom who exported a raw, rocking sound to American audiences for over five decades.
1947–2022 (age 75)·British musician·Birthday: December 5·Baby Boomers
Biography
Kim Simmonds didn't just play blues rock; he was one of its architects in Britain. Born in Wales in 1947, he formed Savoy Brown in London in 1965, a band that became a crucial bridge between purist Chicago blues and the heavier, more improvisational rock that would define the era. While peers like Cream and Fleetwood Mac achieved greater fame, Simmonds' vision was unwavering. He was the band's sole constant, its guitarist, songwriter, and captain, steering it through countless lineup changes. His sharp, fluid guitar work and commitment to the form earned Savoy Brown a dedicated following, particularly in the United States, where they became a relentless touring machine. Simmonds never stopped, recording and performing with a fervor that kept the blues flame burning right up until his death, leaving a vast catalog as his legacy.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Kim was born in 1947, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kim Was Born
The biggest hits of 1947
#1 Movie
The Egg and I
Best Picture
Gentleman's Agreement
Kim's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1947Born
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1952Started school
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1960Became a teenager
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Could drive
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1965Could vote
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1968Turned 21
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1977Turned 30
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 40
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 50
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 60
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 70
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2022Died at 75
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
Key Achievements
- Founded and led the influential blues rock band Savoy Brown from 1965 until his death in 2022, appearing on every one of their dozens of albums.
- Pioneered the British blues rock sound alongside acts like John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, influencing the development of hard rock and heavy metal.
- Achieved significant commercial success in the US with albums like 'Hellbound Train' and 'Looking In', which charted on the Billboard 200.
- Maintained a prolific touring schedule for over 50 years, bringing British blues to generations of fans across North America and Europe.
Did You Know?
He was largely self-taught on guitar, learning by listening to records by Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, and B.B. King.
Early lineups of Savoy Brown included future members of famous bands like Foghat (Lonesome Dave Peverett and Roger Earl).
He was also an accomplished painter and held several exhibitions of his artwork.
He lived for many years in upstate New York, from where he continued to tour extensively.
“The blues is a feeling. If you don't have the feeling, you can't play it.”
