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{{Infobox musical artist
'''Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis, Jr.''' (born [[May 27]], [[1935]] in [[Chicago, Illinois]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[jazz]] and [[pop music|pop]] [[pianist]] and [[keyboardist]].
| Name = Ramsey Lewis
| Img = .jpg
| Img_capt =
| Img_size =
| Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| Birth_name = Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis, Jr.
| Alias =
| Born = {{birth date and age|1935|5|27}}
| Died =
| Origin = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| Instrument = [[Piano]], [[Keyboards]]
| Genre = [[Jazz]], [[Bop-jazz]], [Pop]]
| Occupation = [[Composer]], [[Pianist]]
| Years_active =
| Label = [[MCA Records|MCA]], [[Chess Records|Chess]], [[PolyGram]], [[Virgin Records|Virgin]], [[GRP]], [[BGO Records|BGO]], [[Columbia Records|Columbia]], [[Narada Jazz]], [[CBS Records|CBS]], [[Blue Note Records|Blue Note]], etc.
| Associated_acts =
| URL = [http://www.ramseylewis.com/ Offical website]
| Notable_instruments =
}}


'''Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis, Jr.''' (b. [[May 27]], [[1935]] is an [[United States|American]] [[jazz]] icon, composer, and pianist. Has been referred to as “the great performer,”<ref>[http://www.legendsofjazz.net/ramseylewis/ Ramsey Lewis Biography]</ref> a title reflecting his performance style and musical selections which display his early gospel playing and classical training ([[Johann Sebastian Bach|Bach]], [[Beethoven]], [[Johannes Brahms|Brahms]], etc.) along with his love of jazz and other musical forms. Ramsey Lewis has received five gold records and four Grammy Awards so far in his career, and recorded over eighty albums.
Lewis, drummer Isaac "Redd" Holt and bassist Eldee Young formed the Ramsey Lewis Trio. They started as primarily a jazz unit but after their hit, "The In Crowd", in 1965 (the single reached fifth place on the pop charts, and the album second place) the trio concentrated more and more on pop material. Young and Holt left in 1966 to form the [[Young-Holt Trio]] and were replaced by [[Cleveland Eaton]] and [[Maurice White]]. White was replaced by [[Maurice Jennings]] in 1970. In the late [[1970s]] an additional keyboard player was frequently added to the lineup. A contemporary version of "The In Crowd" was recorded for Lewis' [[2004]] album, ''Time Flies''.


==Biography==
Ramsey Lewis has received five [[gold album|gold records]] and three [[Grammy Awards]] so far in his career.


Ramsey Lewis born in [[Chicago, Illinois]], to the parents of Ramsey, Sr. and Pauline.<ref>[http://www.narada.com/images/ArtistBio/lewis/Lewisbio.pdf Ramsey Lewis with one voice]</ref> Lewis started taking piano lessons at the age of four. At age fifteen he join his first jazz band. The seven piece group was called "The Cleffs", which provided Lewis to his first involvement with the great music of jazz. The emerging group from this was the drummer Isaac "Redd" Holt and bassist Eldee Young formed the Ramsey Lewis Trio. They started as primarily a jazz unit but after their hit, ''The In Crowd'', in [[1965]] (the single reached fifth place on the pop charts, and the album second place) the trio concentrated more and more on pop material. Young and Holt left in [[1966]] to form the Young-Holt Trio and were replaced by [[Cleveland Eaton]] and [[Maurice White]]. White was replaced by Maurice Jennings in 1970. In the late [[1970]]s an additional keyboard player was frequently added to the lineup. Ramsey Lewis first captivated fans with his first album ''Ramsey Lewis And The Gentlemen of Swing'' by the Ramsey Lewis Trio in [[1956]]. By [[1965]], he was one of the nation’s most successful jazz pianists, topping the charts with ''The In Crowd'', ''Hang On Sloopy'' and ''Wade In The Water''. Most of his recordings (particularly by the mid-'60s) were very accessible and attracted a large non-jazz audience. In the [[1970]]s, Lewis often played electric piano, although by later in the decade he was sticking to acoustic and hiring an additional keyboardist.<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp?pid=23708Billboard: Ramsey Lewis]</ref>
His recent "With One Voice" release pays homage to his gospel roots all while maintaining his classic style. With the help of gospel favorites [[Smokie Norful]], [[Darius Brooks]], and [[Donald Lawrence]], Lewis delivers an emotion-packed, soul-stirring, album. Lewis also enlisted the help of his church's choir, pastored by his older sister, to sing on several of the album's tracks. The J.W. James Memorial A.M.E. Church Combined Choir is breath-taking, adding so much life, freedom, and hope to "With One Voice". The CD's first single, "Pass Me Not" can be heard on Chicago's [[WGCI]] 107.5.


In addition to recording and performing, he is / has been a radio host on Chicago's '''[[smooth jazz|Smooth Jazz]]''' station, '''[[WNUA]] (95.5 FM)'''. His syndicated show ''Legends of Jazz'', featuring classic jazz recordings from artists such as [[Charlie Parker]] and [[Miles Davis]]), can be heard in 60 cities in the United States and other countries as well. His most recent venture, the ''Legends of Jazz'' television series on [[PBS]], was first aired in April [[2006]].
In addition to recording and performing, he is / has been a radio host on Chicago's Smooth Jazz station, [[WNUA]] (95.5 FM). His syndicated show Legends of Jazz, created in 1990, featuring classic jazz recordings from artists such as [[David Sanborn]], [[George Duke]], [[Charlie Parker]], [[Kurt Elling]], [[Al Jarreau]], [[Miles Davis]], can be heard in 60 cities in the United States and other countries as well.<ref>[http://www.legendsofjazz.net/ Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis</ref> Ramsey Lewis brings together the influential artists in Jazz for live performances and lively conversations. He also include "young and current participants" in the musical genre as well. The Legends of Jazz can now be seen on [[WTTW]] - Channel 11, Friday nights at 9:30PM (CST).<ref>[http://www.wnua.com/pages/jocks.html?feed=133987&article=1496293 WTTW - Channel 11, Legends of Jazz]</ref>


On December 4, 2006, the "Ramsey Lewis Morning Show" became a part of Broadcast Architecture's Smooth Jazz Network, simulcasting on other Smooth Jazz stations across the country for the first time. However, the show is still based in Chicago, as it has always been. Lewis helped organize the Ravinia Festival's jazz Mentor Program and in January of 2007, the Dave Brubeck Institute invited Lewis to be on the Honorary Board of Friends of the Brubeck Institute at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Merit School of Music, an inner city music program in Chicago. Early 2005 the Ramsey Lewis Foundation was created to help to connect at-risk children to the world of music. Out of that foundation he plans to form his own Youth Choir and Youth orchestra. Lewis serves as artistic director of jazz at Ravinia a world music series, and an off-season showcase for "Rising Stars."<ref>[http://www.ravinia.org/Support/staff.aspx Ravinia Festival]</ref>
As of 2005 he has been hosting a radio show called ''Legends of Jazz'' for London's [[Smooth FM]] (previously [[Jazz FM]]).


Ramsey Lewis's ''With One Voice'' (2005) release pays homage to his gospel roots all while maintaining his classic style. With the help of gospel favorites [[Smokie Norful]], Darius Brooks, and [[Donald Lawrence]], Lewis delivers an emotion-packed, soul-stirring, album. Lewis also enlisted the help of his church's choir, pastored by his older sister, to sing on several of the album's tracks. The J.W. James Memorial A.M.E. Church Combined Choir is breath-taking, adding so much life, freedom, and hope to ''With One Voice''.
On [[December 4]], [[2006]], the '''Ramsey Lewis Morning Show''' became a part of Broadcast Architecture's Smooth Jazz Network, simulcasting on other Smooth Jazz stations across the country for the first time. However, the show is still based in Chicago, as it has always been.

Lewis, still lives in Chicago, Illinois, the city of his musical roots.

==Selective awards and recognitions==

===Grammy history===

*Career Wins: 4<ref>[http://theenvelope.latimes.com/factsheets/awardsdb/env-awards-db-search,0,7169155.htmlstory?searchtype=all&query=Ramsey+Lewis&x=12&y=4 Grammy Awards Database for Ramsey Lewis Grammy Awards]</ref>
*Career Nominations:

{| class=wikitable
|-
| colspan=5 align=center | '''Ramsey Lewis [[Grammy Awards]] History'''
|-
! Year
! Category
! Genre
! Title
! Label
! Result
|- align=center

| 2003
| Best Jazz Artist
| ''Simple Pleasures''
| Jazz
| Narada Jazz
| Winner
|- align=center

| 1973
| Best Rhythm & Blues Instrumental Performance
| ''Hang on Sloopy''
| R&B
| MCA
| Winner
|- align=center

| 1966
| Best Rhythm & Blues Group Performance - <br />Vocal or Instrumental
| ''Hold It Right There''
| R&B
| Chess
| Winner
|- align=center

| 1965
| Best Jazz Performance - Small Group or <br />Soloist with Small Group
| ''The In Crowd''
| Jazz
| Chess
| Winner
|- align=center
|}

===Gold Records===

{| class=wikitable
|-
| colspan=5 align=center | '''Gold Records'''
|-
! Year
! Title
! Label
|- align=center

| 1976
| ''Sun Goddess''
| Columbia
|- align=center

| 1968
| ''The Sound of Christmas''
| Chess
|- align=center

| 1966
| ''Wade in the Water''
| Chess
|- align=center

| 1966
| ''Hang on Sloppy''
| Rhapsody
|- align=center

| 1965
| ''The In Crowd''
| Chess
|- align=center
|}

*2002: Ramsey Lewis, carried the Winter 2002 Olympic Torch, Ramsey lights the cauldron for it's brief stop in Chicago.</ref>[http://www.worldisround.com/articles/8626/ Winter 2002 Olympic Torch]

*2003: NAACP Image Award, Best Jazz Artist, for his album Simple Pleasures (2003)<ref>[http://theenvelope.latimes.com/factsheets/awardsdb/env-awards-db-search,0,7169155.htmlstory?searchtype=all&query=Ramsey+Lewis&x=12&y=4 NAACP: Ramsey Lewis]</ref>

*2006: 22nd Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, Best Gospel Instrumental Album, With One Voice (2005)<ref>[http://www.thestellarawards.com/soul.html Stellar Gospel Music Awards]</ref>

*2007: National Endowment for the Arts, Jazz Masters Award<ref>[http://www.arts.gov/national/jazz/jazz07/lewis.html 2007 NEA Jazz Master]

*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.<ref>[http://www.landmarks.org/events_gala.htm Legendary Landmarks Gala]</ref>


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.ramseylewis.com Ramsey Lewis] official site
*[http://www.ramseylewis.com Ramsey Lewis] official site
*[http://www.legendsofjazz.net PBS - Legends of Jazz]
*[http://www.legendsofjazz.net PBS - Legends of Jazz]
*[http://www.wnua.com/pages/ramsey.html]
*[http://jazz.about.com/od/interviews/a/ramseylewisLOJ.htm Interview, About.com]
*[http://jazz.about.com/od/interviews/a/ramseylewisLOJ.htm Interview, About.com]
*[http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/news/celebrity/mmx-0702040496feb04,0,4741404.story?coll=mmx-celebrity_heds Ramsey's Rhythms]
*[http://jazzmonthly.com/artists/Lewis_Ramsey/interviews/index.html Jazz Monthly Feature Interview: Ramsey Lewis]
==See also==

[http://www.wnua.com/main.html Chicago's Smooth Jazz station]
[http://www.legendsofjazz.net/podcast Legends of Jazz podcasts]




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[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:DePaul University alumni]]
[[Category:DePaul University alumni]]

{{US-jazz-musician-stub}}


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[[de:Ramsey Lewis]]

Revision as of 04:12, 23 August 2007

Ramsey Lewis

Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis, Jr. (b. May 27, 1935 is an American jazz icon, composer, and pianist. Has been referred to as “the great performer,”[1] a title reflecting his performance style and musical selections which display his early gospel playing and classical training (Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, etc.) along with his love of jazz and other musical forms. Ramsey Lewis has received five gold records and four Grammy Awards so far in his career, and recorded over eighty albums.

Biography

Ramsey Lewis born in Chicago, Illinois, to the parents of Ramsey, Sr. and Pauline.[2] Lewis started taking piano lessons at the age of four. At age fifteen he join his first jazz band. The seven piece group was called "The Cleffs", which provided Lewis to his first involvement with the great music of jazz. The emerging group from this was the drummer Isaac "Redd" Holt and bassist Eldee Young formed the Ramsey Lewis Trio. They started as primarily a jazz unit but after their hit, The In Crowd, in 1965 (the single reached fifth place on the pop charts, and the album second place) the trio concentrated more and more on pop material. Young and Holt left in 1966 to form the Young-Holt Trio and were replaced by Cleveland Eaton and Maurice White. White was replaced by Maurice Jennings in 1970. In the late 1970s an additional keyboard player was frequently added to the lineup. Ramsey Lewis first captivated fans with his first album Ramsey Lewis And The Gentlemen of Swing by the Ramsey Lewis Trio in 1956. By 1965, he was one of the nation’s most successful jazz pianists, topping the charts with The In Crowd, Hang On Sloopy and Wade In The Water. Most of his recordings (particularly by the mid-'60s) were very accessible and 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 hiring an additional keyboardist.[3]

In addition to recording and performing, he is / has been a radio host on Chicago's Smooth Jazz station, WNUA (95.5 FM). His syndicated show Legends of Jazz, created in 1990, featuring classic jazz recordings from artists such as David Sanborn, George Duke, Charlie Parker, Kurt Elling, Al Jarreau, Miles Davis, can be heard in 60 cities in the United States and other countries as well.[4] Ramsey Lewis brings together the influential artists in Jazz for live performances and lively conversations. He also include "young and current participants" in the musical genre as well. The Legends of Jazz can now be seen on WTTW - Channel 11, Friday nights at 9:30PM (CST).[5]

On December 4, 2006, the "Ramsey Lewis Morning Show" became a part of Broadcast Architecture's Smooth Jazz Network, simulcasting on other Smooth Jazz stations across the country for the first time. However, the show is still based in Chicago, as it has always been. Lewis helped organize the Ravinia Festival's jazz Mentor Program and in January of 2007, the Dave Brubeck Institute invited Lewis to be on the Honorary Board of Friends of the Brubeck Institute at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Merit School of Music, an inner city music program in Chicago. Early 2005 the Ramsey Lewis Foundation was created to help to connect at-risk children to the world of music. Out of that foundation he plans to form his own Youth Choir and Youth orchestra. Lewis serves as artistic director of jazz at Ravinia a world music series, and an off-season showcase for "Rising Stars."[6]

Ramsey Lewis's With One Voice (2005) release pays homage to his gospel roots all while maintaining his classic style. With the help of gospel favorites Smokie Norful, Darius Brooks, and Donald Lawrence, Lewis delivers an emotion-packed, soul-stirring, album. Lewis also enlisted the help of his church's choir, pastored by his older sister, to sing on several of the album's tracks. The J.W. James Memorial A.M.E. Church Combined Choir is breath-taking, adding so much life, freedom, and hope to With One Voice.

Lewis, still lives in Chicago, Illinois, the city of his musical roots.

Selective awards and recognitions

Grammy history

  • Career Wins: 4[7]
  • Career Nominations:
Ramsey Lewis Grammy Awards History
Year Category Genre Title Label Result
2003 Best Jazz Artist Simple Pleasures Jazz Narada Jazz Winner
1973 Best Rhythm & Blues Instrumental Performance Hang on Sloopy R&B MCA Winner
1966 Best Rhythm & Blues Group Performance -
Vocal or Instrumental 		Hold It Right There R&B Chess Winner
1965 Best Jazz Performance - Small Group or
Soloist with Small Group 		The In Crowd Jazz Chess Winner

Gold Records

Gold Records
Year Title Label
1976 Sun Goddess Columbia
1968 The Sound of Christmas Chess
1966 Wade in the Water Chess
1966 Hang on Sloppy Rhapsody
1965 The In Crowd Chess
  • 2002: Ramsey Lewis, carried the Winter 2002 Olympic Torch, Ramsey lights the cauldron for it's brief stop in Chicago.</ref>Winter 2002 Olympic Torch
  • 2003: NAACP Image Award, Best Jazz Artist, for his album Simple Pleasures (2003)[8]
  • 2006: 22nd Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, Best Gospel Instrumental Album, With One Voice (2005)[9]
  • 2007: National Endowment for the Arts, Jazz Masters AwardCite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).

External links

See also

Chicago's Smooth Jazz station Legends of Jazz podcasts

  1. ^ Ramsey Lewis Biography
  2. ^ Ramsey Lewis with one voice
  3. ^ Ramsey Lewis
  4. ^ [http://www.legendsofjazz.net/ Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis
  5. ^ WTTW - Channel 11, Legends of Jazz
  6. ^ Ravinia Festival
  7. ^ Grammy Awards Database for Ramsey Lewis Grammy Awards
  8. ^ NAACP: Ramsey Lewis
  9. ^ Stellar Gospel Music Awards
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