About Me
Ramsey Lewis was a Chicago based pianist, who formed The Ramsey Lewis Trio in the mid fifties with Eldee Young and Red Holt. The trio first recorded in 1956 under the heading, "Ramsey Lewis & his Gentlemen of Jazz," cutting their first record on Argo records of the same name in 1957. More albums followed and the trio was a local success. Their albums consisted of standards, originals, and many tunes unfamiliar with jazz audiences, but the trio was able to make it work with their wonderful chemistry. Some highlight albums are Bach To The Blues, Never On Sunday, Pot Luck, Down To Earth, More Music From The Soil, In Chicago, and many more. The trio even recorded two Christmas albums. The Ramsey Lewis Trio was perhaps Argo Records' top record seller, with the exception of The Ahmad Jamal Trio. The trio was very unique. Bassist Eldee Young was one of the first to successfully apply his bass chops to the cello, and Red Holt's drumming was always a highlight with his use of tambourines, triangle, bell tree, wood blocks, and other various percussive instruments with his swinging drumming. The trio continued to record when in 1965, a waitress at a club the group was playing suggested they record the current pop hit, "The In Crowd." The trio recorded it in 1965 at Bohemian Caverns. The record was released, and it was a smash hit! Suddenly, the Ramsey Lewis Trio was a house hold name. After their follow up album, Hang On Ramsey, the group called it quits. Young and Holt went on to form Young/Holt Unlimited, and had the hits Soulful Strut and Wack Wack. Ramsey formed a new trio with CLEVELAND EATON on bass, and Maurice White, (of Earth Wind And Fire) on drums. The new group usually played with horns, and was highly successful, exploring the relm of fusion and r&b influences. The original trio got together for a reunion tour and album in the 80's. Ramsey now hosts the PBS show, Legends of Jazz, Eldee Young has recently passed away while on tour, and Red Holt continues to play in his own groups.
