b. Webster Lewis Jnr., 1st September 1943, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Maryland, U.S.A.
d. 20th November 2002, Barryville, Sullivan County, New York, U.S.A.
Webster Lewis was a fine pianist, clarinetist, conductor and arranger.
Webster was born 1st September, 1943 to the late Webster S. Lewis, Sr. and the late Virgie Gaines Lewis.
Although born in Baltimore, Webster Lewis moved to Los Angeles in the mid 1970's.
live at club 7 - 1971 / the human clock - 1971 / on the town - 1976 / touch my love - 1978
Prior to his move, Webster played the live circuit, cutting 'Live At Club 7' on Counterpoint Records, a three track live album that included his version of the Isley Brothers 'It's Your Thing'.
Webster graduated from Morgan State College and earned a master's degree from the New England Conservatory of Music, where he also was an associate dean from 1972 to 1978 and where his mentor was composer Gunther Schuller.
During these years, he was recruited to Epic Records, where he began a series of albums held in high regard by soul and jazz fans alike.
'On The Town' commenced the run with a disco feel on vocal tracks, highlighted by the infectious dancer 'Love Is The Way' and the breezy 'Do It With Style'.
'Theme' from this set had a great deal of club exposure.
'Touch My Love' followed 2 years later and is a much sought after offering, mainly for the rare groove 'Barbara Ann'.
8 for the eighties - 1979 / welcome aboard - 1981 / let me be the one - 1981 / my tutor - 1983
'Eight For The Eighties' followed including the excellent 'The Love You Give To Me', co-produced by Herbie Hancock, and then came 'Let Me Be The One' containing 'El Bobo' and the ballad 'Open Up Your Eyes'.
That year he toured the U.K. and Japan with Herbie Hancock, featuring on the artists album 'Direct Step', which was released on Sony Records in Japan in 1979.
His last outing was a collaboration with Barry White entitled 'Welcome Aboard'.
Following these releases, Webster Lewis moved into production work, producing artists as diverse as Gwen McCrae ('Keep The Fires Burning') and Michael Wycoff ('Looking Up To You').
the club 7 live tapes - 2007
In recent years he moved on to a very successful career in television commercial work and movie soundtrack songwriting (including 'The Hearse', 'The Sky Is Grey', 'Joe's Rotten World', 'Go Tell It On the Mountain', 'Beat Street', 'My Tutor' and 'Body and Soul').
Webster sadly passed away as a result of diabetic complications on the 20th November 2002 in Barryville, New York, U.S.A.
Webster left behind a wife, Monica, a daughter, Yana, son, Webster Courtney Lewis Jr., sister, Sheila Grimes, nieces and many friends.
Webster was laid to rest at the Meadowbridge Memorial Park, Elkridge, Howard County in Maryland.
He was a great favourite of punters and musicians alike, although he never attained mainstream success he thoroughly deserved.
Albums:
Live At Club 7 (Counterpoint Records 1971)
The Human Clock (Sonet Records 1971)
On The Town (Epic Records 1976)
Touch My Love (Epic Records 1978)
8 For The Eighties (Epic Records 1979)
Let Me Be The One (Epic Records 1981)
The Love Unlimited Orchestra Presents Webster Lewis - Welcome Aboard (Unlimited Gold Records 1982)
My Tutor (Regency Records 1983)
Webster Lewis Live In Norway-The Club 7 Live Tapes (Plastic Strip Press and Jazzaggression Records 2007)
Give Me Some Emotion (Expansion Records DBLP 2023)
