Son Lewis
Encyclopedia
Son Lewis is an American
blues
singer and guitarist
. He was nicknamed "Son" or "Sonny" by his family, to differentiate him from his father, Andrew Lewis Sr.
and Chicago blues
at a very young age. Lewis started playing guitar in 1964, studying under the R&B
guitarist Dennis Gorgas, and later with Danny Kalb
, founder and leader of The Blues Project. During that time, Lewis performed with The Avlons (on bass guitar) and fronted The Strangers and The Love Merchants (vocals and rhythm guitar) performing covers of "Blue-eyed Soul", Motown and STAX hits. By late 1968, Lewis had begun visiting the folk
and blues clubs
of New York
's Greenwich Village
. After witnessing a performance by John P. Hammond
at Gerde's Folk City
, he was determined to begin performing as a solo acoustic performer. In early 1969, Lewis became a regular fixture at "open mics" and "hootenanys" in and around the New York/New Jersey area, singing and playing acoustic blues guitar in the Delta and Piedmont styles. These performances resulted in several paid gigs as an opening or support act at The Coffeehouse at Fairleigh Dickenson University in New Jersey. During that period, Lewis opened shows for The Manhattan Transfer
(when they were a folk group), comedian Chris Rush
, Melissa Manchester
, J.F. Murphy and Free Flowing Salt.
In 1974, Lewis re-incorporated electric guitar into his repertoire and shortly thereafter formed The Son Lewis Blues Band, which has featured members of Mink DeVille
, Exuma
, Rockett 88, Impact and The Ricki Lee Jones Band.
Since 1979, he has recorded ten albums, primarily for New Jersey's Silk City Records and has appeared on numerous compilation album
s. In 1996, he was selected by The Skyland Blues Society to represent Northern New Jersey in the 'International Blues Competition', held by the Blues Foundation
in Memphis, Tennessee
. He has also appeared on a number of local television program
s and has over 25 live radio broadcasts to his credit.
s in the late 1960s but refused to perform them in his live performances. He began writing blues and roots-based songs again in 2001, and now focuses extensively on original material for his recorded works. His CD Cadillac Rhythm, released in 2008, featured all original songs written by Lewis, or co-written with his keyboardist
John Pittas. Lewis' original material was again featured prominently in his 2011 recording "Laws of Nature". Lewis has also returned to writing in other genres outside of Blues and his instrumental song "For Skylar" has been used by several broadcast radio stations as a music bed for public service announcements.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
singer and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. He was nicknamed "Son" or "Sonny" by his family, to differentiate him from his father, Andrew Lewis Sr.
Family
He is the son of former soldier and businessman Andrew Lewis Sr. and his wife, Frances Frano. He has one sister, Michele.Career
Although not coming from a musical family, he was influenced by his cousin Carl Lewis, who exposed him to DeltaDelta blues
The Delta blues is one of the earliest styles of blues music. It originated in the Mississippi Delta, a region of the United States that stretches from Memphis, Tennessee in the north to Vicksburg, Mississippi in the south, Helena, Arkansas in the west to the Yazoo River on the east. The...
and Chicago blues
Chicago blues
The Chicago blues is a form of blues music that developed in Chicago, Illinois, by taking the basic acoustic guitar and harmonica-based Delta blues, making the harmonica louder with a microphone and an instrument amplifier, and adding electrically amplified guitar, amplified bass guitar, drums,...
at a very young age. Lewis started playing guitar in 1964, studying under the R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
guitarist Dennis Gorgas, and later with Danny Kalb
Danny Kalb
Danny Kalb is an American blues guitarist, and was one of the original members of the 1960s group, Blues Project.-Life and career:...
, founder and leader of The Blues Project. During that time, Lewis performed with The Avlons (on bass guitar) and fronted The Strangers and The Love Merchants (vocals and rhythm guitar) performing covers of "Blue-eyed Soul", Motown and STAX hits. By late 1968, Lewis had begun visiting the folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and blues clubs
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
. After witnessing a performance by John P. Hammond
John P. Hammond
John Paul Hammond is an American blues singer and guitarist. The son of record producer John H. Hammond, he is sometimes referred to as "John Hammond, Jr.".-Background:...
at Gerde's Folk City
Gerde's Folk City
Gerdes Folk City was a music venue in the West Village in New York City. Initially opened as a restaurant called Gerdes, by owner Mike Porco, it eventually began to present occasional incidental music. It was located at 11 West 4th Street , having moved in 1970 to 130 West 3rd Street before finally...
, he was determined to begin performing as a solo acoustic performer. In early 1969, Lewis became a regular fixture at "open mics" and "hootenanys" in and around the New York/New Jersey area, singing and playing acoustic blues guitar in the Delta and Piedmont styles. These performances resulted in several paid gigs as an opening or support act at The Coffeehouse at Fairleigh Dickenson University in New Jersey. During that period, Lewis opened shows for The Manhattan Transfer
The Manhattan Transfer
The Manhattan Transfer is an American vocal music group. There have been two manifestations of the group, with Tim Hauser being the only person to be part of both...
(when they were a folk group), comedian Chris Rush
Chris Rush
Chris Rush is an American stand-up comedian, writer, actor, radio personality and author. He is best known for his stand-up routines and albums along with being a writer and editor on the satirical publication National Lampoon Magazine.-Early life:Rush was born in Brooklyn, New York. He is of...
, Melissa Manchester
Melissa Manchester
Melissa Manchester is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Beginning in the 1970s, she has recorded generally in the adult contemporary genre. She has also appeared as an actress on television, in films, and on stage....
, J.F. Murphy and Free Flowing Salt.
In 1974, Lewis re-incorporated electric guitar into his repertoire and shortly thereafter formed The Son Lewis Blues Band, which has featured members of Mink DeVille
Mink DeVille
Mink DeVille was a rock band known for its association with early punk rock bands at New York’s CBGB nightclub and for being a showcase for the music of Willy DeVille. The band recorded six albums in the years 1977 to 1985. Except for frontman Willy DeVille, the original members of the band played...
, Exuma
Exuma
Exuma is a district of the Bahamas, consisting of over 360 islands . The largest of the cays is Great Exuma, which is 37 mi in length and joined to another island, Little Exuma by a small bridge. The capital and largest city in the district is George Town , founded 1793 and located on Great...
, Rockett 88, Impact and The Ricki Lee Jones Band.
Since 1979, he has recorded ten albums, primarily for New Jersey's Silk City Records and has appeared on numerous compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
s. In 1996, he was selected by The Skyland Blues Society to represent Northern New Jersey in the 'International Blues Competition', held by the Blues Foundation
Blues Foundation
The Blues Foundation is an American nonprofit corporation, headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, that is affiliated with more than 175 Blues organizations from various parts of the world....
in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. He has also appeared on a number of local television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
s and has over 25 live radio broadcasts to his credit.
Songwriter
Long considered "an interpreter", Lewis originally wrote balladBallad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
s in the late 1960s but refused to perform them in his live performances. He began writing blues and roots-based songs again in 2001, and now focuses extensively on original material for his recorded works. His CD Cadillac Rhythm, released in 2008, featured all original songs written by Lewis, or co-written with his keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
John Pittas. Lewis' original material was again featured prominently in his 2011 recording "Laws of Nature". Lewis has also returned to writing in other genres outside of Blues and his instrumental song "For Skylar" has been used by several broadcast radio stations as a music bed for public service announcements.
Discography
- Live Radio, Son! (Bluesong 1974), out of print
- Solid Son (Silk City 1980), out of print
- Glad You Came (Silk City 1988), out of print
- Roadwork (Silk City 1991), out of print
- Next Train Smokin (Silk City 1996)
- Borderline: The Ry Cooder Tribute (Hattori/Japan 1998) out of print
- Standing Room Only: Songs from the Last Roadhouse (Silk City 1999)
- Hobo Jungle: Independent Blues Artists (Silk City 2000)
- Santa Has Left The Building (Silk City 2003)
- Red, Hot, Blues (Silk City 2004)
- The Country Blues (Silk City 2004)
- Snake (Silk City 2005)
- Urban Legends of NJ (Silk City 2006)
- Dark Past (live albumLive albumA live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
- Silk City 2007) - Cadillac Rhythm (Silk City 2008)
- Not Fade Away (Silk City 2010)
- Laws of Nature (Silk City 2011)