Glenn Lewis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Glenn Lewis
Background information
Birth name	Glennon Ricketts Jr.
Born	(1973-03-13) March 13, 1973 (age 52) Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Origin	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Neo soul
Occupation(s)	Singer–songwriter
Years active	1995–present
Labels	Sanctuary Records, Ruffhouse Records, Capitol Records, Epic Records
Associated acts	Stanley Clarke, Kardinal Offishall, Melanie Fiona, Amel Larrieux

Glennon Ricketts Jr. (born March 13, 1973), known to many as Glenn Lewis, is a talented Canadian neo soul singer and songwriter. He has been nominated for a Grammy Award and has won a Juno Award. These are big honors in the music world!

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Glenn Lewis was born in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. He grew up in Toronto with his mother, who was from Trinidad and Tobago, and his father, Glennon "Glen" Ricketts Sr., who was from Jamaica. Both of his parents were musicians. His father was even the lead singer of a band called Crack of Dawn in the 1970s.

From ages eight to fourteen, Glenn lived in Trinidad. When he returned to Toronto, he first thought about a career in animation. However, he soon decided to focus on music instead.

Discovering His Voice

While attending Eastern High School of Commerce in Toronto, Glenn won a talent contest. He sang a cover of "I Just Called to Say I Love You" by Stevie Wonder. Glenn has often said that Stevie Wonder is his biggest musical inspiration. People often compare Glenn's singing style to Wonder's because their voices sound similar.

After high school, Glenn started making demo recordings with musician Alex Greggs. He also performed at nightclubs around the city. Soon, he became a well-known and respected artist in Toronto's music scene.

Music Career Highlights

Glenn Lewis's success in Toronto helped him release his first single, "The Thing to Do", in 1997. This song earned him a nomination for a Juno Award, which is one of Canada's top music awards.

First Albums and Big Hits

His second single, "Bout Your Love", came out in 1998 and also received a Juno nomination. He also worked with other Canadian artists, like Maestro and Jazmin. In 2000, he was featured on the song "Only Be in Love," which led to his third Juno nomination. All this exposure helped him sign a record deal with Epic Records.

Glenn Lewis's first album with Epic Records was called World Outside My Window. It was released on March 19, 2002. The album featured the popular song "Don't You Forget It", which helped him win a Juno Award for Best R&B/Soul Recording. The album reached number 4 on the Billboard charts. To promote his album, Glenn toured with famous artists like Alicia Keys and Tweet.

In 2002, Glenn recorded a cover of "Superstition" for a tribute album to Stevie Wonder. He also appeared in the movie Maid in Manhattan, starring Jennifer Lopez. His song "Fall Again" was featured on the movie's soundtrack. Later that year, he released his first concert DVD, Glenn Lewis Live.

Later Projects and Collaborations

In 2003, Glenn started working on his second album, Back for More. The first song from this album, also called "Back for More", featured rapper Kardinal Offishall. However, his record label decided not to release the album at that time.

Later in 2003, Glenn received a Grammy Award nomination. This was for his part in the song "Where Is the Love" by Stanley Clarke, which also featured Amel Larrieux. He also won an International Achievement Award for his hit song "Don't You Forget It" at the SOCAN Awards in Toronto.

Glenn continued to perform, especially in London, where he gained many fans. In 2009, he reconnected with Andre Harris and Vidal Davis, who had produced his first album. On December 14, 2010, a song called "Good One" was leaked online, so Glenn officially released it the next week. He released the music video for "Good One" in September 2011.

New Albums and Sounds

On April 29, 2013, Glenn released his single "Can't Say Love." This song became very popular on Urban AC Radio. His album Moment of Truth was released on October 15, 2013. It included songs produced by Grammy Award-winning artists and a duet with singer Melanie Fiona.

In 2017, Glenn Lewis worked with DJ Jazzy Jeff and a group called ThePLAYLIST. They created a special album called Chasing Goosebumps. What's cool is that they recorded and mixed the entire album in just seven days!

Discography

Albums

• World Outside My Window (2002)
• Moment of Truth (2013)
• Chasing Goosebumps (2017) (with ThePLAYLIST)

Singles