Ramsey Lewis (Finding Aid)

Ramsey Lewis

1935 -

Favorite Color: Shades of gray

Favorite Food: Leafy green vegetables

Favorite Time of Year: All seasons

Favorite Vacation Spot: Paris

Interview Length: 139 minutes

Interview Date(s): December 12, 2001, June 29, 2004

Interview Location(s): Chicago, Illinois

Abstract

Jazz musician and composer Ramsey Lewis talks about growing up in Chicago, Illinois on the Near North Side, where his family lived several years in the Cabrini-Green housing project. He describes his home life, participation in Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church, friends, school, and especially talks about his early musical training. Lewis recounts how he began piano lessons at age four with the church organist, Ernestine Bruce, and at about age twelve began studying with Dorothy Mendelsohn, who taught him to "hear with his inner ear"--to feel the music he was playing. Lewis also talks about his parents' rural backgrounds in Georgia and Mississippi. Jazz musician and composer Ramsey Lewis talks about his teenage years, his musical mentor Dorothy Mendelsohn, his father's love for gospel music, and his start in jazz. He relates how at age fifteen he was invited by fellow church musician Wallace Burton to join his jazz septet, the Cleffs; at the first rehearsal it became apparent that, despite his talent in gospel music, the young classically trained musician had no experience playing jazz; Burton coached him in improvisation and music charts and suggested recordings to buy, and kept him in the Cleffs. This group included Eldee Young and Isaac 'Redd' Holt, who would become the other two members of the Ramsey Lewis Trio, formed after the others in the Cleffs were drafted during the Korean War. Lewis describes how the trio was discovered some years later by disc jockey Daddy-O Daylie, who got them an audition for Chess Records and a record contract in 1957. Jazz musician and composer Ramsey Lewis recalls the early years of the Ramsey Lewis Trio from their first recording 'Gentlemen of Swing' on Chess/Arco in 1956 up through their 1965 hit 'The In Crowd'. He talks about the formation of the group, the assistance and advice from Chicago radio disc jockey Holmes 'Daddy-O' Daylie, their live performances in jazz clubs in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and their increasing acclaim that spread from Chicago to other jazz centers in America. He goes on to describe the frictions that developed among the group members Lewis, Eldee Young and Redd Holt, and finally led to the break up of the group in late 1965. Jazz musician and composer Ramsey Lewis discusses the Ramsey Lewis Trio's musical influences and style, their successful shows at Birdland in 1959, their huge 1965 hit with 'The In Crowd', the trio's break up at the height of their success and subsequent lawsuits. He discusses Chess Records jazz releases on their Arco subsidiary, Daddy-O Daylie's involvement with Chess and his continued help with getting more recognition for the Ramsey Lewis Trio. Lewis also talks about his own early jazz influences. Jazz musician and composer Ramsey Lewis talks about the line-up change after the break-up of the original Ramsey Lewis Trio. He discusses his work with Maurice White, praises White's subsequent band, Earth Wind and Fire, and recalls the recording session for 'Sun Goddess' and 'Hot Diggit'. Lewis also credits producer and arranger Charles Stepney, with whom he worked on several albums. Lewis also turned to Stepney for arrangements and compositions for his appearances with symphony orchestras, and he contrasts the experience of playing with orchestras with that of playing with jazz bands Jazz musician and composer Ramsey Lewis talks about signing to Columbia after the Chess label had been sold to a conglomerate following the death of Leonard Chess. Lewis expresses himself as very happy working with Clive Davis and Bruce Lundvoll, Columbia executives who were jazz lovers. He gives an overview of his recordings in the early-to-mid 1970s, and discusses the expansion of his musical line-up after the success of 'Sun Goddess' which used vocals.

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