

Jazz
Ramsey Lewis
Genres
Hire Ramsey Lewis for Your Event
We Help You Hire, Book and Produce a Ramsey Lewis Performance

Celebrity Direct Inc. will help you select, book and hire Ramsey Lewis to perform at your corporate event, nonprofit event or private performance.
We are always uniquely positioned as your advocate throughout the hiring process and we won’t let you overpay.
Contact us for availability, price and other production details at:
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Ramsey Lewis Songs
- “Sun Goddess”
- “The In Crowd”
- “Living For The City”
- “Love’s Serenade”
- “Hang on Sloopy”
- “Jungle Strut”
- “Soul Man”
- “Les Fleur”
- “Cry Baby Cry”
- “Love Notes”
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Ramsey Lewis Bio
Ramsey Lewis has been an iconic leader in the contemporary jazz movement for over 50 years with an unforgettable sound and outgoing personality that has allowed him to cross over to the pop and R&B charts.
The Ramsey Lewis Trio, with bassist Eldee Young and percussionist Redd Holt, became a fixture on the Chicago jazz scene, releasing their debut album, Ramsey Lewis & His Gentlemen of Jazz, back in 1956. Lewis earned his first gold record, as well as a Grammy award for Best Jazz Performance, for their swinging version of Dobie Gray’s hit “The In Crowd.”
After Young and Holt left Lewis’ trio to form their own group, the pianist hired a new rhythm section with Cleveland Eaton on bass and Maurice White on drums. When White left the band to form Earth, Wind & Fire, Morris Jennings signed on as the trio’s new percussionist. White returned to produce Lewis’ 1974 smash album entitled Sun Goddess, in which Lewis first experimented with electronic keyboards and featured Earth, Wind & Fire on the album. In 1983, Lewis returned to the studio with Young and Holt for the album Reunion.
Throughout his illustrious career, Lewis who is a NEA Jazz Master, has also joined forces with countless other artists to create new and innovative music. In 1984, he collaborated with Nancy Wilson on The Two of Us; in 1988, he recorded with London’s Philharmonic Orchestra for the album A Classic Encounter; and in 1989, Lewis and Dr. Billy Taylor cut a set of piano duets in We Meet Again. In 1995, Lewis launched the side project Urban Knights, in which he collaborated with a handful of successful crossover jazz stars, including Grover Washington, Jr., Earl Klugh, and Dave Koz. In 1997, Lewis added disc jockey to his resume, hosting a popular show on Chicago’s WNUA-FM that ran until 2009. A new show was syndicated in 2006 under the name Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis and was broadcast on jazz radio stations across the country.
After having played mostly in an acoustic trio for the last fifteen years, Lewis’ latest endeavor has him returning to his electric roots. The three time Grammy® winner will release his new CD Taking Another Look – Deluxe Edition on July 24, 2015, featuring a new electric quintet with Henry Johnson on guitar, Michael Logan on keys, Joshua Ramos on bass and Charles Heath on drums.
On the CD, Lewis rekindles his 1974 career-defining album “Sun Goddess” through a collection of re-recorded tracks from the original disc perfectly balanced with five new tunes. “Jungle Strut” has all the attitude of its 1974 original and Lewis makes magic on the Fender Rhodes in “Tambura.” And rather than re-recording the title track “Sun Goddess”, Lewis has beautifully re-edited the original studio recording featuring Earth, Wind and Fire. Lewis and his Electric Band breathe new life into classic covers, such as the new high-octane rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Living For The City” for which Ramsey shot a great a new video and a tender interpretation of the timeless “Betcha By Golly Wow.”
The CD also features three bonus tracks. First, the legendary Dr. John serves up some Cajun style funk with his rendition of “Jungle Strut”. Then up and comers and jazz fusion funksters Kung Fu turn in a mesmerizing version of “Tambura”. Finally, TAUK delivers an amazing take on “Sharing Her Journey” that clearly establishes them as a band to watch.
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How do I hire Ramsey Lewis for a private event, corporate event, nonprofit gala or convention?
To hire Ramsey Lewis for a private or corporate performance, the event buyer must first determine whether the artist is available and interested in the proposed engagement and then submit an offer through the appropriate authorized representative. The offer typically includes the event date and location, type of event, proposed performance format and fee.
Celebrity Direct represents event buyers throughout this process, including availability inquiries, offer strategy, negotiation, contracting, rider review and production coordination.
How much does it cost to hire Ramsey Lewis for a private or corporate event?
There is no single published fee to hire Ramsey Lewis for a private or corporate event. The performance fee is negotiated for the specific engagement and can vary based on the date, location, event type, performance format, travel requirements, current touring activity and other circumstances surrounding the event.
Celebrity Direct can obtain current availability and pricing from the appropriate artist representative for a specific event.
What total budget should I expect when hiring Ramsey Lewis?
The total cost of presenting Ramsey Lewis can be higher than the negotiated artist performance fee. Depending on the engagement, additional expenses can include airfare or private aviation, hotels, local transportation, sound, lighting, staging, backline, labor, hospitality and other requirements contained in the artist’s rider.
For this reason, event buyers should evaluate the all-in cost of the performance, not simply the artist fee, before making an offer.
How can I find out if Ramsey Lewis is available for my event date?
Ramsey Lewis’ availability for a private or corporate event must be confirmed through the appropriate authorized representative. Availability can depend on touring and recording commitments, personal scheduling, event location, travel requirements and whether the artist is interested in the particular engagement.
Celebrity Direct can submit the event details, check availability and determine whether an offer is appropriate.
How do I contact Ramsey Lewis’ booking agent about a private performance?
A corporate, nonprofit or private-event buyer generally does not need to locate Ramsey Lewis’ booking agent personally. An experienced talent buyer can identify the appropriate authorized representative, present the event professionally and manage the inquiry and offer process on the buyer’s behalf.
Celebrity Direct handles this process for its clients and represents the event buyer rather than the artist.
How do I contact Ramsey Lewis’ manager about hiring them for an event?
Artist management is not necessarily the appropriate first contact for negotiating a private performance. Celebrity engagements are generally handled through the artist’s authorized booking representation, management or another designated representative depending on the circumstances.
Celebrity Direct determines the appropriate contact for the proposed engagement and handles the communication and negotiation for the event buyer.
Will Ramsey Lewis perform at a corporate event, convention, nonprofit gala or private party?
Whether Ramsey Lewis will consider a particular private or corporate performance depends on their availability, the nature and location of the event, the proposed performance, the financial offer and artist approval. Celebrity artists are not simply available for every event at a published price.
A legitimate inquiry should therefore include enough information about the event for the artist’s representatives to evaluate the opportunity.
What information do I need before asking about hiring Ramsey Lewis?
Before requesting availability or pricing for Ramsey Lewis, an event buyer should ideally know the event date, city and venue, type of event, expected attendance, desired performance format and approximate entertainment budget.
Providing these details allows the artist’s representatives to evaluate the engagement and allows an experienced talent buyer to recommend the most effective offer strategy.
Does the quoted artist fee include travel and production?
Usually, the artist’s performance fee should not be assumed to represent the complete cost of the engagement. Travel, hotels, ground transportation, production, equipment, labor and hospitality requirements may be additional obligations of the buyer depending on the negotiated contract and rider.
The contract and rider should be reviewed before the event buyer determines the final entertainment budget.
Can Celebrity Direct handle the complete Ramsey Lewis booking and production process?
Celebrity Direct can represent the event buyer throughout a celebrity entertainment engagement, including determining availability, developing the offer, negotiating with the artist’s authorized representative, reviewing contracts and riders, coordinating production requirements and assisting with the performance through event day.
Unlike an artist’s agent or manager, Celebrity Direct works on the buyer’s side of the transaction, helping the event planner understand the financial, contractual and production obligations involved in presenting celebrity talent.
The Celebrity Booking Process
How Do I Hire a Celebrity for a Corporate or Private Event?
Submit a request
Submit our website form. We’ll ask you to provide a few key event details and budget goals
Consultation call
We’ll schedule a call to discuss your event goals, offering our expert guidance on expectations
Talent Curation
We Identify a shortlist of available talent, factoring in tour schedules, to ensure accurate recommendations
Narrow it Down
We’ll help you rank and narrow down your top 3 priority picks
The Firm Offer
We craft a formal offer and present it to the Artist
Contract + Deposit
If the offer is accepted, we issue your agreement. If declined, we move to your next preferred choice.
Why Work With Us
Not Just a Booking. A Full-Scale Production.
- Artist negotiation and contracting
- All production: staging, lighting, sound, technical riders
- Event logistics and show advancement
- VIP coordinators, security, and confidentiality
- A seasoned producer and booking advisor in one
- A direct line to the decision-makers behind the artist
- A one-stop solution from inquiry to showtime
- Peace of mind knowing every detail is managed














