Biography Willie Lewis

There are at least two artists with this name.

1) William T. Lewis (June 10, 1905, Cleburne, Texas – January 13, 1971, New York City) was an American jazz clarinetist and bandleader.

Lewis grew up in Dallas and played in variety shows as a teen. He attended the New England Conservatory of Music, then played in Will Marion Cook's orchestra. When Cook's band was taken over by Sam Wooding, Lewis traveled with him on his tours of Europe, South America, and North Africa, remaining until Wooding disbanded the orchestra in 1931. Following this Lewis set up his own band, Willie Lewis and His Entertainers, which featured some of Wooding's old players and played to great success in Europe. Among those who played under Lewis were Herman Chittison, Benny Carter, Bill Coleman, Garnet Clark, Bobby Martin, and June Cole. Lewis's Entertainers recorded for French label Disques Swing.

In 1941 Lewis disbanded the Entertainers and returned to New York City. He played sparsely after this; he found some work as an actor, but took up waitering as his fortunes declined.

2) Willie Lewis (born 1946) is a rockabilly recording artist and founder of The Rock-A-Billy Record Company, a record label based in Denver, Colorado. He started the label in order to release rare and authentic rockabilly recordings, most of which were pressed on colored vinyl between 1982 and 1998. He released music from artists such as Go Cat Go, Ronnie Dawson, Don Rader, Marti Brom, High Noon, Jonny Barber & The Rhythm Razors, Little Roy Williamson & the Denver Ramblers and Kidd Pharaoh.

Lewis recorded his own music under a variety of names, including Willy & the String Poppers, Billy & the Bop Cats, King Cat & the Pharaohs, the Bop-a-Whiles, and most recently Willie & The Rhythm Razors. The Rock-A-Billy Record Company celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2007, and in honor of its birthday Willie released new Silver Anniversary records on colored vinyl once again.

Creative Commons By-SA License