Steve Lewis (musician)
Encyclopedia
Steve Lewis was a jazz
pianist and composer.
Lewis was born in New Orleans. He was influenced by the piano stylings of Tony Jackson and Jelly Roll Morton
, and became the premier pianist in Storyville
after those two older musicians left town. When the District was closed down in 1917 he went on tour with Billy & Mary Mack's Merrymakers Review. He returned to New Orleans the following year and joined Armand J. Piron
's Orchestra.
Lewis was an eccentric character. He drove a Ford Model T
which he had custom painted in bright multicolored polka-dots. He played the piano without using either of his middle fingers; these he kept extended straight while playing (in the manner of the rude gesture known as Shooting the Bird).
Lewis taught piano; Luis Russell
was one of his students.
Lewis recorded with the Piron Orchestra, some accompanyments for singer New Orleans Willie Jackson
, and a single piano roll
. Those well familiar with his music first hand have said that these recordings are an inadequate sample of Lewis' range and talent.
Lewis started showing signs of mental illness, left Piron's band in 1938, was committed to an insane asylum in 1940, and was said to have died there soon after.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
pianist and composer.
Lewis was born in New Orleans. He was influenced by the piano stylings of Tony Jackson and Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton
Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe , known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and early jazz pianist, bandleader and composer....
, and became the premier pianist in Storyville
Storyville
Storyville was the red-light district of New Orleans, Louisiana, from 1897 through 1917. Locals usually simply referred to the area as The District.-History:...
after those two older musicians left town. When the District was closed down in 1917 he went on tour with Billy & Mary Mack's Merrymakers Review. He returned to New Orleans the following year and joined Armand J. Piron
Armand J. Piron
Armand John "A.J." Piron was an American jazz violinist, band leader, and composer.In 1915, Piron and Williams together started the Piron and Williams Publishing Company, and in their first year of business published Piron's composition, “I Wish That I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate”, which...
's Orchestra.
Lewis was an eccentric character. He drove a Ford Model T
Ford Model T
The Ford Model T is an automobile that was produced by Henry Ford's Ford Motor Company from September 1908 to May 1927...
which he had custom painted in bright multicolored polka-dots. He played the piano without using either of his middle fingers; these he kept extended straight while playing (in the manner of the rude gesture known as Shooting the Bird).
Lewis taught piano; Luis Russell
Luis Russell
Luis Russell was a jazz pianist and bandleader.Luis Carl Russell was born on Careening Cay, near Bocas del Toro, Panama, in a family of Afro-Caribbean ancestry. His father was a music teacher, and young Luis learned to play violin, guitar, trombone, and piano...
was one of his students.
Lewis recorded with the Piron Orchestra, some accompanyments for singer New Orleans Willie Jackson
New Orleans Willie Jackson
New Orleans Willie Jackson was a singer active in New Orleans, Louisiana and New York City in the 1920s.He sang blues, jazz, and comic numbers. He frequently performed with pianist Steve Lewis at Spanish Fort, New Orleans and they recorded some phonograph records. He also sang vocals in King...
, and a single piano roll
Piano roll
A piano roll is a music storage medium used to operate a player piano, piano player or reproducing piano. A piano roll is a continuous roll of paper with perforations punched into it. The peforations represent note control data...
. Those well familiar with his music first hand have said that these recordings are an inadequate sample of Lewis' range and talent.
Lewis started showing signs of mental illness, left Piron's band in 1938, was committed to an insane asylum in 1940, and was said to have died there soon after.