Chicago jazz great Ramsey Lewis has died. According to Lewis’ official Facebook page: “Ramsey’s passion for music was truly fueled by the love and dedication of his fans across the globe. He loved touring and meeting music lovers from so many cultures and walks of life. It was our family’s great pleasure to share Ramsey in this special way with all those who admired his God-given talents. We are forever grateful for your support,” his wife Jan said. He was 87.

Lewis was born in Chicago in 1935 and got his start in the Ramsey Lewis Trio. They released their debut album in 1956. By 1966, Lewis had become one of the country’s most sought-after jazz pianists, topping charts with songs like “The In Crowd,” “Hang On Sloopy,” and “Wade In The Water.” All three singles each sold over one million copies and went gold. Over the course of his career, Lewis won three Grammy Awards and recorded more than 80 albums.

Later in his career, Lewis was artistic director of Jazz At Ravinia (part of the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park) and helped organize Ravinia’s Jazz Mentor Program. In 2005, Lewis launched the Ramsey Lewis Foundation, which helped connect at-risk children with music creation. Lewis was also an Honorary Board member of the Chicago Jazz Orchestra.

In 2008, Lewis received an honorary doctorate from Loyola University Chicago and delivered the keynote address at the undergraduate commencement ceremony. His final album was 2021’s Manha de Carnaval.