Renowned jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis dies aged 87

[peppertree]

Source: The Guardian

Ramsey Lewis, the renowned jazz pianist whose music entertained fans over a more than 60-year career that began with the Ramsey Lewis Trio and made him one of the country’s most successful jazz musicians, has died. He was 87.

Lewis is revered in jazz circles for 1960s hits like The In Crowd, Hang on Sloopy and Wade in the Water.

He earned three Grammy awards and seven gold records. The trio’s first record in 1956 was Ramsey Lewis and the Gentlemen of Swing.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/sep/12/jazz-artist-ramsey-lewis-death

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Grammy Award-winning Jazz pianist and composer Ramsey Lewis, 1935-2022.

[Rocknation]

1. He was in with the "In" Crowd

Rocknation

[C Moon]

2. It's so sad when talent like that leaves us. :(

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Oh no!

He and his band's music were something I grew up with in my household as my parents were fans. Have a few vinyls in a crate including that "The In Crowd" album, the title song being quintessential '60s jazz standard -

and I think we had this album too with his "modern" cover of "High-Heel Sneakers" -

As a keyboardist, his music was instantly recognizable as being him. He was able to move through the shifts in modern jazz that even crossed over into play on R & B / Urban Contemporary stations like the song "7-11" -

But my favorite was always Sun Goddess with Earth, Wind, & Fire -

(I still have a 45 of this song and it was later updated as "Sun Goddess 2000" 20 years later)

Damn damn damn. R.I.P. and thank you for your decades of music and musical influence.

[gademocrat7]

4. R.I.P Ramsey Lewis

He was an incredible jazz musician.