Ramsey Lewis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ramsey Lewis
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Lewis in 1998
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis Jr. |
| Born | May 27, 1935 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | September 12, 2022 (aged 87) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1956–2022 |
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Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis Jr. (born May 27, 1935 – died September 12, 2022) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and radio personality. He was known for his amazing piano skills. Lewis recorded over 80 albums during his career. He also earned five gold records and won three Grammy Awards.
His album The In Crowd was a big success. It won him a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance in 1965. Some of his most famous songs include "The In Crowd", "Wade in the Water", and "Sun Goddess". For many years, until 2009, he hosted the Ramsey Lewis Morning Show on the Chicago radio station WNUA.
Ramsey Lewis also cared a lot about music education. He started the Ramsey Lewis Foundation to help young musicians. He also helped create the Ravinia's Jazz Mentor Program. He was a trusted member of the boards for the Merit School of Music and The Chicago High School for the Arts.
Contents
Ramsey Lewis's Life and Career
Ramsey Lewis was born in Chicago, Illinois, on May 27, 1935. His parents were Ramsey Lewis Sr. and Pauline Lewis. He started learning to play the piano when he was just four years old.
As a young man, Lewis played with different music groups in Chicago. He joined a jazz group called the Clefs. Later, he formed his own group, the Ramsey Lewis Trio. This trio included Isaac "Redd" Holt on drums and Eldee Young on bass. They eventually signed with Chess Records.
Early Albums and Big Hits
In 1956, the Ramsey Lewis Trio released their first album, Ramsey Lewis and his Gentle-men of Swing. Their big breakthrough came in 1965 with the song "The In Crowd". This song was a huge hit, reaching number 5 on the pop music charts. The album also reached number 2. After this success, the trio started focusing more on pop music.
In 1966, Young and Holt left the trio. They formed their own group called Young-Holt Unlimited. Cleveland Eaton and Maurice White joined Ramsey Lewis to replace them. Maurice White later left to create the famous band Earth, Wind & Fire. Morris Jennings then took his place in 1970. Later, Frankie Donaldson and Bill Dickens joined the group.
By 1966, Ramsey Lewis was one of the most successful jazz pianists in the country. He had hit songs like "The In Crowd", "Hang On Sloopy", and "Wade in the Water". All three of these songs sold over one million copies. They were each awarded gold discs, which means they were very popular!
Radio Shows and Music Education
In the 1970s, Lewis often played the electric piano. However, by the end of that decade, he went back to playing the acoustic piano. He would sometimes have another keyboard player join his groups.
Besides making music and performing, Lewis also hosted radio shows. He had a weekly show called Legends of Jazz, which started in 1990. He also hosted the Ramsey Lewis Morning Show on Chicago's WNUA radio station. This morning show was broadcast across the country until 2009.
In 2005, Ramsey founded the Ramsey Lewis Foundation. This foundation helps promote music education for children.
In 2006, a 13-episode TV series called Legends of Jazz was shown on public television. Lewis hosted this show, and it featured live performances by many famous jazz artists. Some of these artists included Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, and Tony Bennett.
Lewis was also the artistic director for Jazz at Ravinia. This is an annual event at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Illinois. He helped create Ravinia's Jazz Mentor Program. He also served on the board of trustees for the Merit School of Music and The Chicago High School for the Arts.
Awards and Honors
Ramsey Lewis received many awards and honors throughout his life.
Grammy Awards
Ramsey Lewis won three Grammy Awards:
- In 1965, he won for The In Crowd (Best Jazz Performance).
- In 1966, he won for "Hold It Right There" (Best Rhythm & Blues Group Performance).
- In 1973, he won for "Hang on Sloopy" (Best Rhythm & Blues Instrumental Performance).
Other Recognitions
- 1997: He was inducted as a Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois. He received the Order of Lincoln, which is the highest honor from the state of Illinois, for his work in the performing arts.
- 2002: Lewis took part in the 2002 Winter Olympics torch relay. He lit the cauldron when the torch briefly stopped in Chicago.
- 2003: He won the NAACP Image Award for Best Jazz Artist for his album Simple Pleasures.
- 2006: He received an award at the 22nd Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards for Best Gospel Instrumental Album, With One Voice.
- 2007: He received the Jazz Masters Award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
- 2007: Landmarks Illinois gave him the Legendary Landmark Award. This award recognized him as one of Illinois's living treasures.
Ramsey Lewis's Passing
Ramsey Lewis passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Chicago on September 12, 2022. He was 87 years old.
Ramsey Lewis's Music
Ramsey Lewis created many albums and singles during his career. Here are some of his notable works.
Albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Ramsey Lewis and his Gentle-men of Swing | Argo |
| 1965 | The In Crowd | Argo |
| 1966 | Wade in the Water | Cadet |
| 1974 | Sun Goddess | Columbia |
| 1992 | Ivory Pyramid | GRP |
| 2005 | With One Voice | Narada |
Singles
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1965 | "The 'In' Crowd" |
| 1965 | "Hang On Sloopy" |
| 1966 | "Wade in the Water" |
| 1975 | "Sun Goddess" |
Images for kids
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Lewis in 1998
See also
In Spanish: Ramsey Lewis para niños
