Bobby Lewis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bobby Lewis
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| Birth name | Robert Alan Lewis |
| Born | February 9, 1925 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | April 28, 2020 (aged 95) |
| Genres | Rhythm and blues, rock and roll |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1950s–2020 |
Robert Alan Lewis (born February 9, 1925 – died April 28, 2020) was an American singer. He was famous for his rock and roll and rhythm and blues music. Bobby Lewis, as he was known, had two big hit songs in 1961: "Tossin' and Turnin'" and "One Track Mind".
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Early Life and Music
Bobby Lewis was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He grew up in an orphanage for some time. Even with very poor eyesight, he learned to play the piano when he was only six years old.
When he was twelve, Bobby was adopted and moved to a foster home in Detroit, Michigan. But he ran away from home at age 14.
Starting a Music Career
As he grew up, Bobby was inspired by early blues musicians. Later, rock and roll music became popular, and he started his own music career in the 1950s.
He first worked in carnival shows, which are like traveling fairs. Then, he became a singer with the Leo Hines Orchestra in Indianapolis. Bobby made his first recordings for a company called Spotlight. In 1952, he recorded a song called "Mumbles Blues" for Chess Records.
Rise to Fame
Bobby Lewis moved to New York City. In 1960, he recorded a song called "Tossin' and Turnin'" for the Beltone record label. This song became a huge hit!
"Tossin' and Turnin'" Success
In the summer of 1961, "Tossin' and Turnin'" reached number one on the Billboard music chart. It stayed at the top for seven weeks! More than one million copies of the song were sold, earning it a gold disc. This means it was a very successful record.
Another Hit Song
Later in 1961, Bobby Lewis had another song that became very popular. It was called "One Track Mind," and it reached number 9 on the music charts. This was his only other major hit song.
After these two big hits, his other songs were not as successful. The Beltone Records company, which released his hits, even closed down in 1963.
Later Years
In an interview from 2011, Bobby Lewis shared that he had been living in Newark, New Jersey since about 1980. He also mentioned that he had become almost blind, but he still performed his music sometimes.
Bobby Lewis passed away on April 28, 2020, at the age of 95. He died after getting pneumonia.
