Al Lewis

Musician

1902 – 1992

52

Who was Al Lewis?

"Father" Al Lewis Born:1902 - Died: April 12, 1992 was a jazz banjoist with some of the greatest New Orleans jazz bands in the Dixieland Jazz style of the music. He said he picked up his nickname trying to copy the piano solos of Earl "Fatha" Hines on the banjo. He is significant not only for his artistic abilities, but in his role as a preservationist of lost music.

In his youth, Lewis was a big, imposing performer with a joyous personality. He played by ear, as many in his day did, and worked from around 1918 in both New Orleans and on the riverboats that ferried passengers up and down the Mississippi and offered diversions like gambling and music to up-river audiences.

Lewis worked with band leader Joe "King" Oliver early in his career along with a string of New Orleans bands. As the Jazz Age moved to Chicago, the banjo became a dated sound in the American jazz scene outside of New Orleans, a relic of Plantation culture that "modern" musicians shed as the music integrated with white dance music into what became known as Big Band.

Banjo work declined, and by the 1950s Lewis had left New Orleans and was working for an insurance company in Memphis. He remained out of professional music until someone from the Preservation Hall in New Orleans recognized him on a tour date around 1979 or 1980 and an invitation was extended for him to come and play with the Hall, teach a new generation of musicians the music, and work with musicians who tapped his knowledge base to transcribe tunes that would be all but lost.

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Born
1902
Profession
Died
Apr 12, 1992
Galliano

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

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