Awards & Recognition
Ramsey has received multiple honorary doctorates, performed at the White House, won Grammy’s and lifetime achievement awards spanning five decades.
Awards
National Endowment for the Arts
Jazz Masters Award — January 2007
Landmarks Illinois
Legendary Landmark Award — March 2007
Stellar Award
Best Gospel Instrumental Album, "With One Voice" — 2006
NAACP Image Award
Outstanding Jazz Artist — 2004
Records & Radio Award
R&R Industry Achievement Award — 2003
Records & Radio Award
R&R Industry Achievement Award
Radio Personality of the Year — 1999 and 2000
NARAS
Recording Academy Governor’s Award — 2000
The prestigious Lincoln Academy of Illinois
“Laureate” Award
Springfield, IL — April, 1997
“Citizen of the Year”Award (21st annual)
Gateway Foundation (Chicago, IL) — May 1996
Lifetime Achievement Award
Roosevelt University (Chicago, IL) — May 1996
3 Grammy® Awards
"Hang on Sloopy" — 1973
"Hold It Right There" — 1966
"The In Crowd" — 1965
7 Gold Records
"Sun Goddess" album — 1976
"The Sound of Christmas" album — 1968
"Wade in the Water" album/single — 1966
"Hang on Sloopy" album — 1966
"The In Crowd" album/single — 1965
Recognition
The Sword of Loyola
For achievements of outstanding leaders for contributions in a field other than medicine — 2012
Ravinia Festival
Elected Lifetime Trustee — May 2010
Elected Trustee — December 2002
Artistic Director for Jazz Series — 1992-Present
Smithsonian Institution
Personal memorabilia inducted into the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. — May 2008
Honorary Doctorate
Doctor of Humane Letters
Loyola University, Chicago, IL — May 2008
Grammy Hall of Fame
Induction of “The In Crowd” jazz single by the Ramsey Lewis Trio (Argo 1965) — 2009
Olympic Torch Runner
Carried the Winter 2002 Olympic Torch for the Ravinia segment during its journey to Salt Lake City — 1/2002
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Gave commencement address and received award
St. Xavier University, Chicago, IL — 1/2001
Honorary Doctorate Degree
Gave commencement address and received award
University of So. Carolina at Spartanburg — 5/2000
CBS Sunday Morning-Billy Taylor Jazz Segment
CBS network television — November 16, 1997
City of Chicago honors Ramsey Lewis Week
Celebrated many events — May 25-29, 1998
Honorary Doctorate of Arts Degree
Gave commencement address and received award
University of Illinois at Chicago — May 1995
White House Performance
State dinner President Bill Clinton held for President Fernando Henrique & Mrs. Cardoso of Brazil
April — 1995
“Person of the Week”
ABC Nightly News (network) — February 1995
Honorary Doctorate Degree
Gave commencement address and received award
DePaul University, Chicago, IL — June 1993