Ramsey Lewis was an American jazz composer, pianist, and radio personality.
He began taking piano lessons at the age of four. As a young man, Lewis played with several local ensembles, such as Edward Virgil Abner’s Knights of Music.
Lewis then join a jazz group called the clefs. He subsequently formed the Ramsey Lewis Trio with drummer Isaac “Red” Holt and bassist Eldee Young. They eventually joined up with Chess Records.
The trio released their debut album, Ramsey Lewis & His Gentlemen of Jazz, back in 1956.
During his music career, he recorded over 80 albums and received five gold records and three Grammy Awards in his career.
In addition to recording and performing, Lewis hosted the weekly syndicated radio program Legends of Jazz, created in 1990, and syndicated by United Stations Radio Networks. He also hosted the Ramsey Lewis Morning Show on Chicago’s “smooth jazz” radio station WNUA (95.5 FM).
Ramsey Lewis died on September 12, 2022, at age 87 in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
What genre is Ramsey Lewis?
Ramsey Lewis concentrated on Jazz, funk and pop music.