Dave Lewis (American musician)
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Dave Lewis | |
---|---|
R&B | |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) | Keyboards, vocals |
Years active | 1956–69 |
Labels | Jerden, A&M |
David Eugene Lewis (1938 – March 13, 1998) was an American rock and
Life and early career
The Texas-born Lewis came to the Pacific Northwest with his family during World War II. There was music in his background: his father, David Lewis Sr., was an accomplished amateur guitarist, and his mother Bertha Lewis was similarly talented on piano. The family moved first to seek work in the navy town of Bremerton, Washington, across Puget Sound from Seattle, where they settled in the segregated Sinclair Heights housing projects. One of their neighbors was the young Quincy Jones, who took some music lessons from David Sr.[3]
The Lewis and Jones families both eventually moved to Seattle, where they lived about five blocks apart from one another in the
Lewis's first performing group was a
As a student at Seattle's
In the summer of 1956, Lewis still had one more year to complete at Seattle's
.In summer 1957, Lewis and his combo settled in for a long tenure as the house band at the leading Seattle R&B club, Birdland (22nd and Madison), where they popularized the song Louie Louie, which would become strongly associated with the region. By this time, Al Aquino and Jack Grey had left the band, replaced by Bud Brown on guitar and Chuck Whittaker on electric bass (replacing Grey's upright acoustic). On several occasions the teenaged Jimi Hendrix—then "Jimmy" Hendrix—sat in on jam sessions there, but Lewis's audience found him undanceable.[2][3]
Later members of the Combo were Jerry Allen (guitar) and Carlos Ward (saxophone).[3]
Role in desegregation
Lewis's broad popularity played a significant role in the desegregation of the Seattle music scene. At the time Lewis began his professional career, Seattle still had two musician's union locals, AFM No. 76 for whites and AFM No. 493 for blacks. Lewis's combo became the first African-American band to play frequently on traditionally white turf, including downtown clubs, University of Washington fraternities, and even suburban venues. When Local 76 complained about Lewis getting a gig at the popular Parker's Ballroom on Aurora Avenue, owner Dick Parker told them that if they made him choose between booking Lewis's combo and being able to book Local 76 bands, he'd choose Lewis. On January 14, 1958, the two Seattle locals merged.[3]
1960s success
In 1962, taking advantage of the opportunity offered by the Century 21 Exposition (the Seattle world's fair), Lewis put together a new band.[3] J. B. Allen remained from the old group; the new band members were guitarist Jim Manolides and drummer Don "Candido" Mallory. The new group took over from Manolides' old group the Frantics as the house band at Dave's Fifth Avenue near the fairgrounds.[3]
Shortly after the end of the fair, Lewis switched from piano to Hammond B-3 organ, and formed a new trio with guitarist Joe Johansen and drummer Dickey Enfield (who would be replaced in 1966 by Dean Hodges).[3] His new trio scored minor hits with "David's Mood (Part 2)" (1963) and "Little Green Thing" (1964), both of which were heavily covered by other Pacific Northwest bands.[2] By the mid-1960s, though, Lewis pretty much gave up touring, settling instead into a long series of local club gigs that lasted into the early 1970s.[3]
Declining years
Although Lewis in his years of success was not known to be a drug user "beyond an occasional
Lewis did some performing in his later years, including playing in a 1987 Northwest Rock reunion concert at the
Discography
Singles
- "Barney's Tune" / "How Deep Is The Ocean" (Northgate 1002, 1959)
- "Candido" /(R .C.) "Untwistin"' (Seafair 105, 1961)
- "David's Mood – Part 2" / "David's Mood – Part 3" (Jerden 711, 1963)
- "David's Mood – Part 2" / "David's Mood – Part 3" (A&M 724, 1963)[a][b]
- "Lip Service" / "Little Green Thing" (A&M 735, 1964)
- "Swim Thing" / "Mr. Clyde" (A&M 749, 1964)
- "Lonely Bull" (A&M 756, 1964)
- "House of the Rising Sun" / "Three Dots" (A&M 765, 1965)
- "Feel Alright" / "Givin' Gas" (A&M 772, 1965)
- "Trees" / "Dave's Fifth Avenue" (Jerden 785, 1966)
- "Searchin'" / "When My Dreamboat Comes Home" (Panorama 51, 1966)
- "Searchin'" / "When My Dreamboat Comes Home" (Piccadilly 230, 1966)
- "MMM-MMM-MMM" / "Hold On, I'm Comin'" (Piccadilly 235, 1967)
- "Hi Heel Sneakers" / "Jack Daniel's Green" (Panorama 1003, 1968)
- "Lip Service" / "Little Green Thing" (A&M 1068, 1969)
EP
- Givin' Gas (Pye International NEP.44057, 1964), UK release.[c]
Albums
- Little Green Thing LP (A&M LP 105/SP 4105, 1964)
- Dave Lewis Plays
- High Heel Sneakers LP (Panorama 107S, 1967)
Reissues and compilations
- Los Organ LP (Piccadilly PIC-3355, 1980)[f]
- MMM-MMM-MMM. LP (First American FA-7799, 1980)[g]
- The Godfather of Northwest Rock & the King of Seattle R & B CD (Jerden JRCD 7026, 2006)
Other appearances
- Bolo Bash (Bolo BLP 8002, 1964) – "Candido", "Untwistin'"
- Original Great Northwest Hits Vol. 1 (Jerden JRL/JRS 7001, 1964) – "David's Mood, Pt. 2"
- Original Great Northwest Hits Vol. 2 (Jerden JRL/JRS 7002, 1964) – "Little Green Thing", "Lip Service"
- Discography Notes
- Music VendorNovember 30, 1963 chart.
- ^ Also released in Canada on Quality 1587X.
- ^ EP tracks: "Givin' Gas", "Little Green Thing", "David's Mood", "Little Joe"
- ^ Production credits: Producer - Jerry Dennon; Arranger - Dave Lewis; Engineer - Kearney Barton; Studio - Audio Recording, Seattle, Washington; Album Design - Peter Whorf Graphics; Musicians - Dave Lewis, organ; Joe Johanson, guitars; Dean Hodges, drums.
- ^ Also released in Japan (ABC-Paramount SH 263, different cover) and Australia (W&G WG255068).
- ^ Same track list as Dave Lewis Plays Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass.
- ^ Same track list as High Heel Sneakers except "No Name #2" is substituted for "Jack Daniels Green" as track B3.