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A piano prodigy who transcended his work as one of America's finest jazz musicians to become a pop star, Ramsey Lewis, has died.
According to his son, Bobby Lewis, the three-time Grammy Award winner died peacefully in his sleep Monday night at his Chicago home. He was 87.
“Most people say when they met dad that he was a class act," Lewis told The Associated Press of his father's passing. "He was that way even through his last breath.”
A Chicago native, the elder Lewis began playing piano at four. He found jazz and popular music success in the 1960s with his acclaimed Ramsey Lewis Trio, thanks to hits like "The 'In' Crowd," “Hang on Sloopy” and “Wade in the Water.”
The three records' fusion of gospel, R&B and rock —spurred on by Lewis' play on the piano made them million-plus sellers and they account for three of his seven gold records.
"Jazz would not exist had it not been for gospel music, the blues would not exist had it not been for spiritual blues. #Jazz now is played by various cultures and colors around the world. The stimulus is One Voice." #RIP @NEAarts #JazzMaster #RamseyLewis pic.twitter.com/18B1pM8bcO
— JazzCorner (@jazzcorner) September 12, 2022
"The 'In' Crowd," an instrumental cover of Dobie Gray's R&B hit from 1964, was the group's most popular effort. It peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965 and No. 2 on the Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart.
Ramsey Lewis was one of the leaders of the jazz-funk movement. Here's Ramsey and his band on Soul Train performing 1975's "Don't It Feel Good." https://t.co/PWyaXdpRuj
— The Black Music Project (@WeAreTBMP) September 13, 2022
Throughout a career that spanned six decades, Lewis toured around the world, released more than 80 albums, performed with titans of music like Aretha Franklin and Tony Bennett and played for heads of state.
Following the news of his death several friends, fans and contemporaries took to the internet to mourn his passing.
1) @RamseyLewis, from Chicago’s West Side & one of the greatest musicians of all time, has died. For more than 40 years, we were neighbors. Our children grew up together. He first hired #MauriceWhite to be his drummer before his #EWF fame. He had a kinship with musicians. pic.twitter.com/euI2iuFY0Z
— Rev Jesse Jackson Sr (@RevJJackson) September 12, 2022
Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson wrote on Twitter, "RamseyLewis, from Chicago’s West Side & one of the greatest musicians of all time, has died. For more than 40 years, we were neighbors. Our children grew up together."
