Ramsey Lewis
Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis Jr. (May 27, 1935 – September 12, 2022) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and radio personality.[1] Lewis recorded over 80 albums and received five gold records and three Grammy Awards in his career. His album The In Crowd earned Lewis critical praise and the 1965 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance. His best known singles include "The 'In' Crowd", "Wade in the Water", and "Sun Goddess". Until 2009, he was the host of the Ramsey Lewis Morning Show on the Chicago radio station WNUA.
For the scientific term definition methodology, see Ramsey–Lewis method.
Ramsey Lewis
Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis Jr.
May 27, 1935
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
September 12, 2022 (aged 87)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
- Composer
- pianist
- radio personality
- Piano
1955–2022
Lewis was also active in musical education in Chicago. He founded the Ramsey Lewis Foundation, established the Ravinia's Jazz Mentor Program, and served on the board of trustees for the Merit School of Music and The Chicago High School for the Arts.
Distinctions, honors, awards[edit]
Lewis was an honorary member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.[18] In May 2008, Lewis received an honorary doctorate from Loyola University Chicago upon delivering the keynote address at the undergraduate commencement ceremony.[19]
In January 2007, the Dave Brubeck Institute invited Lewis to join its Honorary Board of Friends at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.[20] Lewis was an Honorary Board member of the Chicago Jazz Orchestra.[19]
Personal life[edit]
From 1954 to 1988, Lewis was married to Geraldine Taylor (1935–2005), with whom he had seven children. In 1990, he married Jan Tamillow. His sisters, Gloria Johnson (1941–2021) and Lucille Jackson (1932–2012), served as music minister and co-pastor respectively, at the James Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church of Maywood, Illinois. On September 12, 2022, Lewis passed away in his sleep at his home in Chicago at age 87.[21][22][2][23][24]