RIP Ramsey Lewis
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Renowned jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis, whose 60-year music career earned him three Grammy awards, died Monday. He was 87.
Lewis, known for his role in the namesake Ramsey Lewis Trio, died in his sleep at his Chicago home, his son Bobby Lewis told the Associated Press.
His son said his father was at peace at the time of his death.
“Most people say when they met dad that he was a class act,” Bobby Lewis said. “He was that way even through his last breath.”
Lewis, a Chicago native, picked up piano from the young age of four, when he first took lessons. He used his roots in classical and gospel music to create his own style of jazz, which he performed in many Chicago venues that gave young musicians their start.
He went on to tour around the world and perform with other musical greats like Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, Al Jarreau and Pat Metheney. He played at the 1995 state dinner then-President Bill Clinton had hosted for President Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil.
Lewis received seven gold records as well as the three Grammys and was named National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master in 2007.
