Victor LewisMBE (29 July 1919 – 9 February 2009) was a British jazz guitarist and bandleader.[1] He also enjoyed success as an artists' agent and manager.
He was born in London, England.[1] Lewis began playing the guitar at the age of three, and dabbled with cornet and trombone. One of his early bands included George Shearing, then a teenager, among its members.[1] Lewis first toured the United States in 1938, where he did recording sessions with a band that had Bobby Hackett, Eddie Condon, and Pee Wee Russell among its members.[1] He served in the Royal Air Force from 1941 to 1944; during this time he recorded with Buddy Featherstonhaugh. He worked with Stephane Grappelli during 1944-45 and with Ted Heath soon after.[1] While he was in the RAF, he met Jack Parnell and together they formed the "Vic Lewis/Jack Parnell Jazzmen".
Lewis put together his first big band in 1946 to play swing jazz, but soon after its formation Lewis began to direct the ensemble toward the sound of Stan Kenton.[1] Kenton provided Lewis with some of his arrangements by Pete Rugolo, Gerry Mulligan, and Bill Holman. Lewis's pianist, Ken Thorne, also made arranging contributions. Lewis toured the US with the band at various intervals between 1956 and 1959, and recorded extensively for Parlophone, Esquire, Decca, and Philips. After 1959, Lewis semi-retired as a performer, he only occasionally recorded, but he continued to write about jazz and champion its value. He went into artist management, and oversaw the careers of photographer Robert Whitaker and the singer Cilla Black among many others.[1]
In 1964, Lewis sold his management agency to Brian Epstein's company NEMS,[2] and thereafter worked with Epstein on arranging the Beatles' international tours.[3] Following Epstein's death in 1967, Lewis served as managing director of NEMS.[2]
Lewis also had a foot in the door of more serious music and conducted recordings of his own and others with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on Vocalion, which included excerpts from his Russian Suite, a Romance for Violin, and two movements (Red and Jade) from a multi-composer suite called Colours. He was awarded the MBE in 2007.
Personal life and deathedit
Lewis married Jill Anstey in 1950. An autobiography, Music and Maiden Overs: My Showbusiness Life (written with the publicist Tony Barrow) was published in 1987. He also collaborated with Robert Feather on a volume of photographs, My Life in Jazz (2007). He died in 2009. His wife having predeceased him, he was survived by daughter Dannie and granddaughter Jasmine.[4]
Discographyedit
Vic Lewis Plays Bossa Nova at Home and Away (His Master's Voice, 1963)
Plays the Songs of the Beatles (DJM Silverline, 1973)
In Concert (Hep, 1978)
Tea Break (Concept, 1985)
Vic Lewis Big Bands (Concept, 1988)
Presents a Celebration of West Coast Jazz (Candid, 1994)
^ abVacher, Peter (15 April 2009). "Obituary: Vic Lewis". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
^Brown, Peter; Gaines, Steven (2002) [1983]. The Love You Make: An Insider's Story of the Beatles. New York, NY: New American Library. pp. 161, 187–88. ISBN978-0-4512-0735-7.
^Vic Lewis Obituary www.theguardian.co.uk; 'Vic Lewis' London Telegraph 2 March 2009, p. 31
. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
October 26, 2023
lewis, american, jazz, drummer, victor, lewis, victor, lewis, july, 1919, february, 2009, british, jazz, guitarist, bandleader, also, enjoyed, success, artists, agent, manager, mbebirth, namevictor, lewisborn, 1919, july, 1919london, englanddied9, february, 20. For the American jazz drummer see Victor Lewis Victor Lewis MBE 29 July 1919 9 February 2009 was a British jazz guitarist and bandleader 1 He also enjoyed success as an artists agent and manager Vic LewisMBEBirth nameVictor LewisBorn 1919 07 29 29 July 1919London EnglandDied9 February 2009 2009 02 09 aged 89 Barnet London EnglandGenresJazzOccupation s MusicianBandleaderAgentManagerInstrument s GuitarYears active1938 2009 Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal life and death 3 Discography 4 References 5 External linksBiography editHe was born in London England 1 Lewis began playing the guitar at the age of three and dabbled with cornet and trombone One of his early bands included George Shearing then a teenager among its members 1 Lewis first toured the United States in 1938 where he did recording sessions with a band that had Bobby Hackett Eddie Condon and Pee Wee Russell among its members 1 He served in the Royal Air Force from 1941 to 1944 during this time he recorded with Buddy Featherstonhaugh He worked with Stephane Grappelli during 1944 45 and with Ted Heath soon after 1 While he was in the RAF he met Jack Parnell and together they formed the Vic Lewis Jack Parnell Jazzmen Lewis put together his first big band in 1946 to play swing jazz but soon after its formation Lewis began to direct the ensemble toward the sound of Stan Kenton 1 Kenton provided Lewis with some of his arrangements by Pete Rugolo Gerry Mulligan and Bill Holman Lewis s pianist Ken Thorne also made arranging contributions Lewis toured the US with the band at various intervals between 1956 and 1959 and recorded extensively for Parlophone Esquire Decca and Philips After 1959 Lewis semi retired as a performer he only occasionally recorded but he continued to write about jazz and champion its value He went into artist management and oversaw the careers of photographer Robert Whitaker and the singer Cilla Black among many others 1 In 1964 Lewis sold his management agency to Brian Epstein s company NEMS 2 and thereafter worked with Epstein on arranging the Beatles international tours 3 Following Epstein s death in 1967 Lewis served as managing director of NEMS 2 As a keen cricketer and administrator he founded his own cricket club and represented the United States at the International Cricket Council He served as a General Committee Member of Middlesex County Cricket Club between 1976 and 2001 Lewis also managed Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees and Lewis produced Gibb s debut album Robin s Reign released in 1970 Lewis also had a foot in the door of more serious music and conducted recordings of his own and others with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on Vocalion which included excerpts from his Russian Suite a Romance for Violin and two movements Red and Jade from a multi composer suite called Colours He was awarded the MBE in 2007 Personal life and death editLewis married Jill Anstey in 1950 An autobiography Music and Maiden Overs My Showbusiness Life written with the publicist Tony Barrow was published in 1987 He also collaborated with Robert Feather on a volume of photographs My Life in Jazz 2007 He died in 2009 His wife having predeceased him he was survived by daughter Dannie and granddaughter Jasmine 4 Discography editVic Lewis Plays Bossa Nova at Home and Away His Master s Voice 1963 Plays the Songs of the Beatles DJM Silverline 1973 In Concert Hep 1978 Tea Break Concept 1985 Vic Lewis Big Bands Concept 1988 Presents a Celebration of West Coast Jazz Candid 1994 The Project with Andy Martin Drewbone 2004 References edit a b c d e f g Colin Larkin ed 2002 The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music Third ed Virgin Books p 251 ISBN 1 85227 937 0 a b Vacher Peter 15 April 2009 Obituary Vic Lewis The Guardian Retrieved 21 January 2017 Brown Peter Gaines Steven 2002 1983 The Love You Make An Insider s Story of the Beatles New York NY New American Library pp 161 187 88 ISBN 978 0 4512 0735 7 Vic Lewis Obituary www theguardian co uk Vic Lewis London Telegraph 2 March 2009 p 31External links editScott Yanow Vic Lewis at Allmusic Vic Lewis dies aged 89 Archived from the original on 12 February 2012 Retrieved 8 March 2009 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vic Lewis amp oldid 1132740749, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
