The three-time Grammy winner, NEA Jazz Master, and Chicago jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis passed away peacefully on September 12 at his home in Chicago. He was best known for his 1965 pop crossover hit “The In Crowd.” He was 87.
According to AP News, Bobby Lewis confirmed his father’s passing, adding that “he was just at peace.”
Long Live the Legendary Ramsey Lewis… Our Great Friend and Jazz Icon. You will be sorely missed, and always remembered. God Bless and Keep you.
— Philip Bailey (@PhilipBaileyEWF) September 12, 2022pic.twitter.com/JNbnp1ZHye
“Most people say when they met dad that he was a class act,” Bobby Lewis told the news outlet. “He was that way even through his last breath.”
The jazz legend was born in Chicago on May 27, 1935, and according to his biography, he was raised in the Cabrini Green housing project. At the age of four, he started piano instruction and played for church services. As choir director, Ramsey Lewis Sr. introduced his son to jazz performances and the music of Duke Ellington and Art Tatum.
Ramsey received an invitation to join the Clefs as a freshman at Wells High School from saxophone, pianist, and fellow church musician Wallace Burton. The Ramsey Lewis Trio was created in 1956 when the remaining members, with the exception of Lewis, Eldee Young, and Redd Holt, who were all enlisted into the Korean War.
After successfully crossing over from the jazz charts to the pop charts, Lewis’ Grammy-winning song “The In Crowd” was followed by favorites “Hang on Sloopy,” and “Wade in the Water.” Later, Young and Holt left to create their own group and Lewis formed a new trio with bassist Cleveland Eaton and future leader of Earth, Wind & Fire, Maurice White, on drums.
From the 1970s until the 1990s, Ramsey Lewis embraced several musical genres. He stayed very close to his jazz background despite experimenting with everything from R&B and gospel to Latin music.
Ramsey Lewis received numerous honors for his efforts, including five honorary doctorates, the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Artist, and more.
His wife Janet Lewis, daughters Denise Jeffries and Dawn Allain, sons Kendall Kelly Lewis, Frayne Lewis, and Bobby Lewis, as well as a sizable number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, survive Ramsey Lewis.
“Ramsey’s passion for music was truly fueled by the love and dedication of his fans across the globe. He loved touring and meeting music lovers from so many cultures and walks of life. It was our family’s great pleasure to share Ramsey in this special way with all those who admired his God-given talents. We are forever grateful for your support,” Janet Lewis said in a statement.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Jazz Foundation of America at www.jazzfoundation.org.
