Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis Jr. (May 27, 1935 – September 12, 2022) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and radio host. He recorded more than 80 albums and won five gold records and three Grammy Awards during his career. His album The In Crowd received praise from critics and earned him the 1965 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance. His most well-known songs include "The 'In' Crowd," "Wade in the Water," and "Sun Goddess." He hosted the Ramsey Lewis Morning Show on the Chicago radio station WNUA until 2009.

Lewis also helped teach music in Chicago. He started the Ramsey Lewis Foundation, began the Ravinia's Jazz Mentor Program, and was a member of the board of trustees for the Merit School of Music and The Chicago High School for the Arts.

Life and career

Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis Jr. was born on May 27, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois. His parents were Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis and Pauline Lewis, who both came from the Deep South. Ramsey grew up in the Cabrini–Green Homes Housing Projects, a neighborhood where famous soul singers Curtis Mayfield and Jerry Butler also lived. His father was a church choir director who encouraged Ramsey to study music. At age four, Ramsey began taking piano lessons with Ernestine Bruce, the church pianist and organist. At 11, Bruce recommended Ramsey study with Dorothy Mendelssohn at the Chicago Musical College. Mendelssohn taught classical piano techniques, believing this helped musicians focus more on the music itself. Ramsey understood this lesson after meeting Wynton Kelly, a jazz pianist who praised Ramsey’s skill by saying, “Boy, I wish I had technique.”

As a young man, Ramsey played with local music groups, including Edward Virgil Abner’s Knights of Music. He later joined a jazz group called the Clefs and eventually formed the Ramsey Lewis Trio with drummer Isaac “Redd” Holt and bassist Eldee Young. The trio signed with Chess Records, a well-known music label.

In 1956, the trio released their first album, Ramsey Lewis and His Gentle-men of Swing. Their 1965 hit song, “The ‘In’ Crowd,” reached No. 5 on the pop charts, and their album reached No. 2. After this success, the group focused more on pop music. In 1966, Holt and Young left to form a new group called Young-Holt Unlimited and were replaced by Cleveland Eaton and Maurice White. White later left to form Earth, Wind & Fire and was replaced by Morris Jennings in 1970. Later, Frankie Donaldson and Bill Dickens joined the trio, and Felton Crews appeared on Ramsey’s 1981 album Three Piece Suite.

By 1966, Ramsey was one of the most successful jazz pianists in the United States. His songs “The In Crowd,” “Hang On Sloopy,” and “Wade in the Water” each sold over one million copies and earned gold records. In the 1970s, Ramsey often played electric piano but later returned to using an acoustic piano and added a keyboardist to his performances.

In addition to his music career, Ramsey hosted a weekly radio program called Legends of Jazz, which began in 1990 and was broadcast on many radio stations. He also hosted the Ramsey Lewis Morning Show on Chicago’s smooth jazz radio station WNUA (95.5 FM). In December 2006, this show became part of Broadcast Architecture’s Smooth Jazz Network, which aired it on other smooth jazz stations until the show ended in May 2009, when WNUA changed to a Spanish music format.

In 2005, Ramsey founded the Ramsey Lewis Foundation, which helped children learn to play musical instruments. In 2006, a 13-episode television series called Legends of Jazz, hosted by Ramsey, aired nationwide. The show featured live performances by jazz musicians such as Larry Gray, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Joey Defrancesco, Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, Kurt Elling, Benny Golson, Pat Metheny, and Tony Bennett.

Ramsey was the artistic director of Jazz at Ravinia, a yearly event at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Illinois. He also helped create Ravinia’s Jazz Mentor Program. Ramsey served on the board of trustees for the Merit School of Music and The Chicago High School for the Arts.

Distinctions, honors, awards

Lewis was an honorary member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. In May 2008, Lewis was given an honorary doctorate by Loyola University Chicago after giving the main speech at the graduation ceremony for college students.

In January 2007, Lewis was invited to join the Honorary Board of Friends at the Dave Brubeck Institute, which is located at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. Lewis also served as an Honorary Board member of the Chicago Jazz Orchestra.

Personal life

From 1954 to 1988, Lewis was married to Geraldine Taylor (1935–2005), and they had seven children. In 1990, he married Jan Tamillow. Lewis died in his sleep at his home in Chicago on September 12, 2022, at the age of 87.

Discography

• MAX (Argo, 1958)

• Bright String Performances by Jimmy Woode (Argo, 1957)

• Special Performance (Cadet, 1967)

Awards and recognitions

The Grammy Awards are given each year by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Lewis has won three awards out of four nominations.

• 1997: Ramsey Lewis was honored as a Laureate by The Lincoln Academy of Illinois and received the Order of Lincoln, which is the highest award given by the Governor of Illinois in the area of Performing Arts.
• 2002: Lewis took part in the 2002 Winter Olympics torch relay and lit the cauldron when the relay passed through Chicago.
• 2004: Received a NAACP Image Award for Best Jazz Artist.
• 2006: Won the 22nd Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards for Best Gospel Instrumental Album, With One Voice.
• 2007: Received the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Award.
• 2007: Honored with the Landmarks Illinois Legendary Landmark Award, recognizing him as one of Illinois’ living cultural treasures. "Just like our landmarked buildings, our three Legendary Landmarks have helped the city’s growth and show the strength of our cultural values," said David Bahlman, president of Landmarks Illinois.