Obituary,
Ramsey Lewis (1935-2022)
The American jazz composer, pianist and radio personality Ramsey Lewis has passed away at the age of 87. Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1935, Lewis was introduced to playing music early when he began piano lessons at the age of four, playing in several local groups and later his own trio. The Ramsey Lewis Trio released their first record in 1956, but their 1965 breakthrough hit ‘The In Crowd’ was what propelled them into the mainstream, reaching no. 5 in the pop charts and the album of the same name reaching no. 2. Other successful singles, ‘Hang On Sloopy’, ‘Wade in the Water’, and ‘Sun Goddess’ with Earth Wind & Fire soon followed, making Lewis one of America’s most commercially successful jazz pianists of the time.
Besides his recording career, Lewis also worked extensively as a television and radio presenter, hosting the weekly Legends of Jazz program in the 1990s as well as the Ramsey Lewis Morning Show on Chicago's smooth jazz radio station until its cancellation in 2009. Lewis also hosted the popular 13-episode television series Legends of Jazz, which featured interviews and original performances by jazz musicians such as Clark Terry, Pat Metheny, Dave Brubeck and Dr. Lonnie Smith, with the episodes often centred on a unifying theme or instrument.
Lewis received multiple accolades during his long career, including an honorary doctorate from Loyola University Chicago, and honorary seats on the Dave Brubeck Institute and Chicago Jazz Orchestra. In the latter half of his life, Ramsey began to dedicate more of his time to fostering musical talent in his hometown, establishing the Ramsey Lewis Foundation and the Ravinia’s Jazz Mentor Program to further Chicago schools’ music education programmes. Lewis passed away in his sleep at his home in Chicago, Illinois, and is survived by his wife Janet, daughters Denise Jeffries and Dawn Allain, sons Kendall Kelly Lewis, Frayne Lewis and Bobby Lewis, as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Some of our favourite Ramsey Lewis recordings...
Joshua Lee - Jazz Content
