Ramsey Lewis, the jazz pianist who unexpectedly became a pop star when his recording of ‘The ‘In’ Crowd’ hit the Top 10 in 1965 and has remained musically active for more than half a century, will arrive at his home in London on Monday. died in Chicago. he was 87 years old.
His death was announced by his wife Janet Lewis. No reason was given.
Lewis, who has led his own group since 1956, recorded with esteemed drummer Max Roach and was well known in jazz circles, but he and his trio (Red on bass) Holt and Eldee Young on drums) were largely unknown elsewhere when they recorded it. Recorded live at Washington’s Bohemian Caverns in May 1965. The album included a version of “The ‘In’ Crowd” that had been hit by R&B singer Dobby Gray a few months earlier. single.
At the time, instrumental records were rare on the pop charts, especially jazz records. But with its infectious groove, Mr. Lewis’ bluesy piano work, and ecstatic audience reaction, the Ramsey Lewis Trio’s rendition of “The ‘In’ Crowd” became a national radio and jukebox hit. It has become a staple. It eventually reached his No. 5 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, 8 points higher than Dobie Gray’s original.
It’s a cover of The McCoys’ 1965 number one hit ‘Hang On Sloopy’ and The Beatles’ ‘A Hard Day’s Night’. Both “The ‘In’ Crowd” and “Hang On Sloopy” won Grammy Awards.
After Holt and Young left to form their own group, Lewis formed a new trio with Cleveland Eaton on bass and future Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White on drums. was formed. The group had a Top 40 hit in 1966 with a version of the spiritual “Wade in the Water.”
This marked the end of Lewis’ career as a purveyor of hit singles, but it was far from the end of his career as a jazz musician. He went on to record dozens more albums and in 2007 was awarded the title of His Master of Jazz by the National Endowment for the Arts, the nation’s highest honor for his musicians.
In the 1990s, Mr. Lewis hosted the syndicated weekly radio show Legends of Jazz. In 2006 he hosted a public radio series of the same name, featuring live performances of Dave He Brubeck, Chick He Coria, Tony Bennett and others.
A full obituary follows.