Steve Knightley, born on April 30, 1954, in Southampton, England, is an English singer-songwriter and acoustic musician. At 14, he began playing acoustic guitar at Exmouth Grammar School, where he met Paul Downes. Inspired by folk music, they formed the trio Gawain in 1970. Knightley moved to Coventry for university studies and later to London, performing with various bands while working as a supply teacher. In 1985, he relocated to rural Dorset. He met Phil Beer the following year, and the duo began performing regularly as Show of Hands in 1991. Knightley released his debut solo album, Track of Words, in 1999. His other solo and collaborative albums included Western Approaches (2004), Cruel River (2007), and Off the beaten track (2014). Knightley was named "Songwriter of the Nineties" by BBC Radio 6 Music in 2012.
