Ryan Lewis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ryan Lewis
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Lewis performing on stage in 2013
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ryan Scott Lewis |
| Also known as | Duke Goobler |
| Born | March 25, 1988 Spokane, Washington, U.S. |
| Origin | Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
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Ryan Scott Lewis (born March 25, 1988) is an American musician, DJ, and record producer from Seattle, Washington. He is best known for being the creative partner of the rapper Macklemore. Together, they formed the duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.
Lewis was the producer and creative force behind their hit albums, including The Heist (2012) and This Unruly Mess I've Made (2016). He also directed many of their famous music videos, such as "Thrift Shop" and "Can't Hold Us".
In 2006, Lewis connected with Macklemore on the social media site Myspace. They quickly became a team. Lewis handled the production, recording, and mixing of their music. He was the behind-the-scenes genius for all of their biggest songs.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Music
Ryan Lewis was born in Spokane, Washington. He has two older sisters, Teresa and Laura. From a young age, he loved music and played guitar in rock bands with his friends.
When he was about 15, he became very interested in making his own music. He attended Ferris High School in Spokane and later graduated from Roosevelt High School in Seattle. After high school, he went to the University of Washington.
Music Career
2006–2008: Getting Started
Before becoming a famous music producer, Lewis worked as a professional photographer and videographer. In 2008, he released his first collection of songs, an extended play (EP) called Instrumentals. It featured four alternative hip-hop tracks. That same year, he also worked with a rapper named Symmetry on an album.
2009–2017: Success with Macklemore
Lewis and Macklemore started working together seriously in 2009. They officially formed the duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and released an EP called The VS. EP. This was the beginning of their successful partnership.
In 2011, they released the singles "Wings" and "Can't Hold Us". "Can't Hold Us" became a huge hit and was even used in a TV commercial.
The Heist and Global Fame
In October 2012, the duo released their album The Heist. It was a massive success and reached number 2 on the U.S. Billboard 200 music chart. The album included their previous hits and new songs like "Same Love" and "White Walls".
Their song "Thrift Shop" became a worldwide sensation. It reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and stayed there for six weeks. This gave the duo their first number-one hit in the United States. They performed the song on popular TV shows like The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
To support the album, they went on The Heist World Tour, performing for fans all over the globe.
Grammy Awards and a Special Moment
On January 26, 2014, the duo had a memorable performance at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. While they performed "Same Love," singer Queen Latifah officiated the weddings of 33 couples live on television. One of the people getting married was Ryan's own sister, Laura.
This Unruly Mess I've Made
In 2015, the duo began working on their next album. They released the song "Downtown", which had a fun, retro sound. They performed it live at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards.
Their second major album, This Unruly Mess I've Made, was released on February 26, 2016. On June 15, 2017, Macklemore announced that the duo was taking a break to work on their own projects.
2017–Present: Working with Other Artists
Since the duo's break, Ryan Lewis has continued to work as a producer and songwriter. In 2017, he co-wrote and produced the powerful song "Praying" for the singer Kesha.
In 2019, he also worked with the artist Hobo Johnson on the song "Subaru Crosstrek XV".
Discography
As a solo artist and with other collaborators, Ryan Lewis has released several projects.
- Symmetry and Ryan Lewis (2008): A full album created with the rapper Symmetry.
- Instrumentals (2008): An extended play (EP) with four of his own instrumental tracks.
He has also created popular remixes of his own duo's songs, including "Vipassana" and "Otherside".
See also
In Spanish: Ryan Lewis para niños
- List of awards and nominations received by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
