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Biography
Infobox musical artist| name = Ramsey Lewis| image = Ramsey Lewis October 2009.jpg| caption = Lewis at KPLU in October 2009| image_size =| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist| birth_name = Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis, Jr.| alias =| birth_date = birth date and age|1935|5|27| death_date =| origin = Chicago , Illinois , United States|U.S. | instrument = Piano , Keyboard instrument|keyboards | genre = Jazz , jazz funk , Pop music|pop | occupation = Composer , pianist , radio personality | years_active = 1956–present| label = MCA Records|MCA , Columbia Records|Columbia , Blue Note Records|Blue Note , Hidden Beach Recordings | associated_acts = Young-Holt Unlimited| website = URL| http://www.ramseylewis.com/| notable_instruments = Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis, Jr. (born May 27, 1935) is an United States|American jazz composer , pianist and radio personality . Ramsey Lewis has recorded over 80 albums and has received seven RIAA certification|gold records and three Grammy Awards so far in his career.
Biography
Ramsey Lewis was born in Chicago, Illinois , to Ramsey Lewis, Sr. and Pauline Lewis.cite web|url= http://www.narada.com/images/ArtistBio/lewis/Lewisbio.pdf |title=Ramsey Lewis with one voice |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2011-10-31 Lewis began taking piano lessons at the age of four. At 15 he joined his first jazz band, The Cleffs. The seven-piece group provided Lewis his first involvement with jazz; he would later join Cleffs drummer Isaac "Redd" Holt and bassist Eldee Young to form the Ramsey Lewis Trio. Lewis is a graduate of DePaul University .
The trio started as primarily a jazz unit and released their first album, Ramsey Lewis And The Gentlemen of Swing , in 1956. Following their 1965 hit "The In Crowd" (the single reached #5 on the pop charts, and the album #2) they concentrated more on pop material. Young and Holt left in 1966 to form Young-Holt Unlimited and were replaced by Cleveland Eaton and Maurice White . White left to form Earth, Wind & Fire was replaced by Morris Jennings in 1970. Later, Frankie Donaldson and Bill Dickens replaced Jennings and Eaton; Felton Crews also appeared on many 1980's releases.
By 1966, Lewis was one of the nation’s most successful jazz pianists, topping the charts with " The 'In' Crowd (song)|The In Crowd ", " Hang On Sloopy ",cite web|url= http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19831/m1/ |title=Show 50 - The Soul Reformation: Phase three, soul music at the summit. Part 6& #93; : UNT Digital Library |publisher=Digital.library.unt.edu |date=2011-10-16 |accessdate=2011-10-31 and " Wade in the Water ". All three singles each sold over one million copies, and were awarded music recording sales certification|gold discs .cite book | first= Joseph | last= Murrells | year= 1978 | title= The Book of Golden Discs | edition= 2nd | publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd | location= London | pages= 192, 193 & 207 | isbn= 0-214-20512-6 Many of his recordings attracted a large non-jazz audience. In the 1970s, Lewis often played electric piano, although by later in the decade he was sticking to acoustic and using an additional keyboardist in his groups.cite web|url= http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp? pid=23708 |title='& #39;Billboard'& #39;: Ramsey Lewis |publisher=Billboard.com |date= |accessdate=2011-10-31
In 1994, Lewis appeared on the Red Hot Organization 's compilation album, Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool , alongside other prominent jazz artists, Herbie Hancock and Roy Ayers . The album, meant to raise awareness and funds in support of the AIDS epidemic in relation to the African American community, was heralded as "Album of the Year" by Time Magazine .
In addition to recording and performing, Lewis hosts the weekly syndicated radio program Legends of Jazz , created in 1990. He also hosted the Ramsey Lewis Morning Show on Chicago "smooth jazz" radio station WNUA (95.5 FM). In December 2006, this morning show became part of Broadcast Architecture's Smooth Jazz Network, simulcasting on other smooth jazz stations across the country until its cancellation in May 2009, when WNUA switched over to a Spanish format. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/chi-fri-phil-radio-0522may22,0,6922906.column WNUA Swings to Spanish Format, Chicago Tribune , May 22, 2009
In 2006, a well-received 13-episode Legends of Jazz television series hosted by Lewis was broadcast on public TV nationwide and featured live performances by a variety of jazz artists including Larry Gray , Lonnie Smith , Joey Defrancesco , Dave Brubeck , Chick Corea , Kurt Elling , Benny Golson , Pat Metheny and Tony Bennett . http://www.wnua.com/pages/jocks.html? feed=133987& article=1496293 WTTW - Channel 11, Legends of Jazzdead link|date=October 2011 Lewis is artistic director of Jazz at Ravinia (an annual feature at the Ravinia Park|Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Illinois ) and helped organize Ravinia's Jazz Mentor Program. http://www.ravinia.org/Support/staff.aspx Ravinia Festivaldead link|date=October 2011 Ramsey also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Merit School of Music, a Chicago inner-city music program and The Chicago High School for the Arts , the new public arts high school in Chicago. Early in 2005, the Ramsey Lewis Foundation was created to help connect at-risk children to the world of music. As an offshoot of that foundation, Lewis plans to form a Youth Choir and Youth Orchestra. In January 2007, the Dave BrubeckInstitute invited Lewis to join its Honorary Board of Friends at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. Lewis is an Honorary Board member of the Chicago Jazz Orchestra . Lewis is a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. In May 2008, Lewis received an honorary doctorate from Loyola University Chicago upon delivering the keynote address at the undergraduate commencement ceremony.
Lewis still lives in Chicago , Illinois , the city of his musical roots. He has seven children, fourteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
2002: Ramsey Lewis, carried the Winter 2002 Olympic Torch, Ramsey lights the cauldron for its brief stop in Chicago.cite web|author=Tony Faillo |url= http://www.worldisround.com/articles/8626/ |title=Winter 2002 Olympic Torch |publisher=Worldisround.com |date= |accessdate=2011-10-31
2003: NAACP Image Award, Best Jazz Artist, for his album Simple Pleasures (2003)cite web|url= http://theenvelope.latimes.com/factsheets/awardsdb/env-awards-db-search,0,7169155.htmlstory? searchtype=all& query=Ramsey+Lewis& x=12& y=4 |title=NAACP: Ramsey Lewis |publisher=Theenvelope.latimes.com |date=2008-11-11 |accessdate=2011-10-31
2006: 22nd Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, Best Gospel Instrumental Album, With One Voice (2005)cite web|url= http://www.thestellarawards.com/soul.html |title=Stellar Gospel Music Awards |publisher=Thestellarawards.com |date= |accessdate=2011-10-31
2007: National Endowment for the Arts, Jazz Masters Award http://www.arts.gov/national/jazz/jazz07/lewis.html 2007 NEA Jazz Masterdead link|date=October 2011
2007: Landmarks Illinois, Legendary Landmark Award, as one of living treasures of Illinois. "Just like our landmarked buildings, our three Legendary Landmarks have been critical to the civic well-being of Chicago and stand as a testimony to the greatness of our cultural integrity." said David Bahlman, president of Landmarks Illinois.cite web|url= http://www.landmarks.org/events_gala.htm |title=Legendary Landmarks Gala |publisher=Landmarks.org |date= |accessdate=2011-10-31
References
Reflist
External links
http://www.ramseylewis.com Ramsey Lewis official site
Allmusic|class=artist|id=p27524/charts-awards|pure_url=yes Billboard Chart History for Ramsey Lewis
http://www.legendsofjazz.net PBS - Legends of Jazz
http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/517/ramsey_lewis_heart_warming/ Ramsey Lewis interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' March 2010
http://jazzmonthly.com/artists/Lewis_Ramsey/interviews/index.html Jazz Monthly Feature Interview: Ramsey Lewis
http://www.legendsofjazz.net/podcast Legends of Jazz podcasts
Persondata | NAME =Lewis, Ramsey | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =May 27, 1935 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Ramsey Category:African American pianists Category:American jazz pianists Category:American radio personalities Category:Cadet Records artists Category:Musicians from Chicago, Illinois Category:Radio personalities from Chicago, Illinois Category:DePaul University alumni Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Mercury Records artists Category:Smooth jazz pianists Category:Soul-jazz pianists Category:1935 births Category:Living people Category:Northern soul musicians
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