Career Highlights

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With more than 80 albums recorded, Ramsey has won three Grammy’s and has seven Gold records.

Recording Artist

With more than 80 albums recorded to date

Colors

World premiere at The Blue Note Jazz Club Tokyo — September 2010

Proclamation of Hope

Commissioned by Ravinia Festival to compose a new work to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth
Premiere performance at Ravinia — June 2009

Muses and Amusements

World premiere of new music composed for and performed with trio and the Turtle Island Quartet at Ravinia Festival — June 2008

“To Know Her...” 

World premiere of new music composed for and performed with the Joffrey Ballet at Ravinia Festival
Choreographed by Donald Byrd — June 2007

On-Air Personality

“The Ramsey Lewis Morning Show”
WNUA 95.5 FM, Chicago, IL
from 1997-2009

“The Ramsey Lewis Morning Show”
Nation-wide syndication
from 2007-2009

“The Jazz Masters”
Host of hour long national PBS special entitled “The Jazz Masters” featuring five winners of the NEA Jazz Masters Award: Nancy Wilson, James Moody, Jon Hendricks, Paquito D’Rivera and George Wein, as well as young vocalist Renee Olstead — June 2005

“Legends of Jazz”
Hosted "Legends of Jazz" with Ramsey Lewis, a weekly two hour jazz radio program syndicated in numerous cities throughout the U.S. — 1990-present

“Jazz Central”

Host of a weekly one hour interview and performance program on “Jazz Central,” for B.E.T. (Black Entertainment Television) cable television nation-wide.
Nominated for 2 ACE awards, 1991 and 1992 — 1990-1999

Lecturer

Music related topics at civic functions and universities including: University of Tennessee, Indiana University, Northeastern University, etc. — 1990-present

Artistic Director

Ravinia Festival “Jazz at Ravinia” — North America’s oldest music festival
Chicago, IL — 1992-present

“Art Tatum Professor in Jazz Studies”

Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL — 1999-2001

Co-founder

Ravinia Mentor Program for Ravinia Festival that cultivates jazz in city high schools — 1995