RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Ramsey E. Lewis Jr. has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 87; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Ramsey is survived by his loving wife Janet Lewis, daughters Denise Jeffries and Dawn Allain (Michael), sons Kendall Kelly Lewis, Frayne Lewis (Julctta), and Bobby Lewis (Crystal), grandchildren Apryl Daniels (Dennis), Regan Lewis, Kris Jeffries (Nailah), Joshua Allain, June]] Lewis, Malachi Lewis, Aja Alain, Jordan Lewis, Ramsey Lewis IV, Dorien Olson-Lewis, Miyoshie Lewis, Meshach Lewis, Taylor Lewis, Kevai Lewis, Frayne Lewis Jr„ Niya Lewis, and Asia Lewis, greatgrandchildren Jalen Simmons, Dennis Daniels III, Omari Jackson, nieces Paula Jackson and Kimberly Johnson, and nephew James Johnson, and was predeceased by his sons Ramsey Lewis III and Kevyn Lewis; and
WHEREAS, Ramsey was born in Chicago on May 27,1935 to Ramsey E. Lewis Sr. and Pauline Lewis; and
WHEREAS, Growing up in the Cabrini Green housing project, he began piano lessons at age four and played piano at church, where his father was choir director. A jazz fan who played lots of Duke Ellington and Art Tatum at home and took his son to jazz concerts, Ramsey's father encouraged him to embrace that music; and
WHEREAS, Ramsey attended Jenner Elementary School and was a graduate of Wells High School, and at the Chicago Music College Preparatory School, he began studying with Dorothy Mendelsohn, and he credited her with teaching him how to listen with his inner ear and introducing him to Bach, Beethoven and Chopin. Dorothy also entered him in competitions and recitals; and
WHEREAS, When Ramsey was a freshman at Wells High School, Wallace Burton asked Ramsey to join his band, the Clefs, a septet of collegians that blended jazz and R&B; and
WHEREAS, After the Clefs broke up due to the Korean War, the three members Ramsey, Eldee Young, and Redd Holt who didn't get drafted formed wh...
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