From CBS
Jazz was in Ramsey Lewis' DNA – he played it, composed it, taught it – and for more than six decades, he shared his love affair with jazz with his hometown Chicago and with the world.
Lewis passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday at the age of 87, his manager said. As CBS 2's Steven Graves reported, Lewis worked right up until his death.
Lewis was a three-time Grammy winner, and NEA Jazz Master. His 1965 hit "The In Crowd" was an international pop crossover hit.
His manager added that Lewis became very reflective over the past few days on his life well-lived.
Lewis was born in Chicago on May 27, 1935 and grew up in the Cabrini Green housing project. He started taking piano lessons at a young age and played at church, where his father was choir director. His father, Lewis Sr., was a big jazz fan, always playing Duke Ellington and Art Tatum at home and took Ramsey to jazz shows.
