Huey Lewis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Huey Lewis
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Lewis performing with Huey Lewis and the News in 2013
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Hugh Anthony Cregg III
July 5, 1950 New York City, U.S.
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| Education | Cornell University |
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| Years active | 1967–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Sidney Conroy
(m. 1983; div. 1989) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Hugh Cregg (grandfather) |
| Musical career | |
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Hugh Anthony Cregg III (born July 5, 1950), known as Huey Lewis, is a famous American singer, songwriter, and actor.
He is the lead singer and harmonica player for his band, Huey Lewis and the News. He also helped write many of their songs. The band is well-known for their best-selling album Sports. They also made music for the 1985 movie Back to the Future. Before this, Lewis was part of the band Clover from 1972 to 1979.
Contents
Early Life and Adventures
Huey Lewis was born in New York City. His father was Irish-American, and his mother was Polish. He grew up in Marin County, California. He went to elementary and junior high school there. When he was 13, his parents separated. He later graduated from Lawrenceville School in New Jersey in 1967. He was a great student and athlete.
Lewis went to Cornell University in New York. In an interview, he shared stories about his travels. He once hitchhiked across the country. He learned to play the harmonica while waiting for rides. He even traveled to Europe without much money. In Madrid, Spain, he became a skilled blues player. He earned money by playing his harmonica on the street. This helped him buy a plane ticket back to the U.S.
When he returned, Lewis studied engineering at Cornell. But he soon became more interested in music. He joined a band called Slippery Elm. In 1969, he left college to focus on music. He moved back to the San Francisco Bay Area. Besides music, he also tried jobs like landscaping and carpentry.
Music Career Highlights
In 1971, Lewis joined a band called Clover. Around this time, he started using the stage name "Hughie Louis." He played harmonica and sang some songs for the band.
In 1976, Clover went to Los Angeles. They got a big break when Nick Lowe saw them play. He convinced them to go to Great Britain. However, their folk-rock style was becoming less popular there. Punk rock music was taking over.
Clover released two albums, but they were not very successful. Lewis was credited as "Huey Louis" on these albums. The band also played on Elvis Costello's first album, My Aim is True. In 1978, Clover returned to California and then broke up.
Later that year, Lewis was playing at a club in California. He was with musicians who would become future members of The News. He started using the name "Huey Lewis." His band was first called Huey Lewis and the American Express. They recorded a disco song called "Exodisco."
The band later changed their name to Huey Lewis and The News. Their first album in 1980 was not a big hit. But their second album, Picture This (1982), was a success. It reached No. 13 on the album charts. The song "Do You Believe in Love" became their first top-10 hit.
Sports and Back to the Future
The band's third album, Sports (1983), became one of the best-selling pop albums ever. It reached No. 1 in 1984. Four songs from the album made it to the top-10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. These hits included "Heart and Soul" and "I Want a New Drug".
Huey Lewis also produced songs for Bruce Hornsby & The Range. Hornsby thanked him by writing "Jacob's Ladder." This song became a No. 1 hit for Huey Lewis and the News.
His song "The Power of Love" was a No. 1 hit in the U.S. It was featured in the 1985 movie Back to the Future. The band also recorded "Back in Time" for the movie. Lewis even had a small role in the film. He played a teacher who tells Marty McFly's band they are "too darn loud." "The Power of Love" was nominated for an Academy Award.
After the success of Back to the Future, the band released their fourth album, Fore! in 1986. This album also reached No. 1. It had hit singles like "Stuck with You" and "Jacob's Ladder."
Lewis and his bandmates also performed on the 1985 charity song "We Are the World." This song helped raise money for a good cause. Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, they continued to tour and release hit albums.
Recent Years
On February 13, 2007, Lewis shared that the band had new songs. They planned to record them in 2008. On August 21, 2007, Lewis was named Sacramento's Musician of the Year.
In 2007, Lewis recorded a song called "Workin' for a Livin'" with Garth Brooks. On July 4, 2008, Huey Lewis and the News performed at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Over half a million people attended this event.
On April 2, 2013, Lewis appeared on Dancing with the Stars. He performed "The Heart of Rock & Roll" to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Sports album.
In April 2018, Lewis announced that he had Ménière's disease. This condition affects his hearing. Because of this, he could not hear well enough to sing. All his planned shows for 2018 were canceled.
In November 2023, it was announced that a musical featuring the band's music would open on Broadway. It is called The Heart of Rock and Roll. Lewis has been involved in creating the show since 2018.
Acting Career
After his small role in Back to the Future, Huey Lewis got more acting jobs. He appeared in movies like Short Cuts and Duets. He also had roles in TV shows such as One Tree Hill, The King of Queens, and Hot in Cleveland. He voices Bulworth the junkyard dog in the cartoon series Puppy Dog Pals.
In 2013, he played himself in a funny video with "Weird Al" Yankovic. On October 21, 2015, Lewis appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live. He played his character from Back to the Future when Marty McFly and Doc Brown visited the show. In 2021, he played himself again on an episode of The Blacklist.
Lawsuit
In 1985, Huey Lewis sued Ray Parker Jr.. This was because Parker's song for the movie Ghostbusters sounded very similar to Lewis's song "I Want a New Drug." They settled the case outside of court. Both sides agreed to keep the details a secret.
Personal Life
Huey Lewis lives on a ranch near Stevensville, Montana. He considers this his main home.
He married Sidney Conroy in 1983. They separated six years later. They have a daughter and a son.
In April 2018, Lewis shared that he had hearing loss due to Ménière's disease. This led to him canceling his tours.
Images for kids
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Lewis performing with Huey Lewis and the News in 2013
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Lewis circa early 1990s
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Lewis in 2009
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Lewis performing in Nashville, Tennessee, November 2008
See also
In Spanish: Huey Lewis para niños
