Until 2009, he was the host of the Ramsey Lewis Morning Show on the Chicago radio station WNUA.
16 Facts About Ramsey Lewis
2.
Ramsey Lewis founded the Ramsey Lewis Foundation, established the Ravinia's Jazz Mentor Program, and served on the board of trustees for the Merit School of Music and The Chicago High School for the Arts.
3.
Ramsey Lewis was born on May 27,1935, in Chicago to Ramsey Lewis Sr.
4.
Ramsey Lewis's father was a church choir director and Lewis felt that his father influenced him to study music.
5.
When it was decided that his older sister, Lucille, would take piano lessons and not Ramsey Lewis, Ramsey Lewis threw a fit.
6.
When Ramsey Lewis was 11, Bruce suggested he study with Dorothy Mendelssohn at the Chicago Musical College.
7.
Ramsey Lewis later formed the Ramsey Lewis Trio with drummer Isaac "Redd" Holt and bassist Eldee Young.
8.
Ramsey Lewis hosted the Ramsey Lewis Morning Show on Chicago "smooth jazz" radio station WNUA.
9.
In 2006, a well-received 13-episode Legends of Jazz television series hosted by Ramsey Lewis was broadcast on public TV nationwide and featured live performances by a variety of jazz artists including Larry Gray, Dr Lonnie Smith, Joey Defrancesco, Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, Kurt Elling, Benny Golson, Pat Metheny, and Tony Bennett.
10.
Ramsey Lewis was artistic director of Jazz at Ravinia and helped organize Ravinia's Jazz Mentor Program.
11.
Ramsey Lewis served on the board of trustees for the Merit School of Music and The Chicago High School for the Arts.
12.
Ramsey Lewis was an honorary member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.
13.
In May 2008, Ramsey Lewis received an honorary doctorate from Loyola University Chicago upon delivering the keynote address at the undergraduate commencement ceremony.
14.
In January 2007, the Dave Brubeck Institute invited Ramsey Lewis to join its Honorary Board of Friends at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.
15.
Ramsey Lewis was an Honorary Board member of the Chicago Jazz Orchestra.
16.
Ramsey Lewis died in his sleep at his home in Chicago, on September 12,2022, at age 87.