Lewis, Leon

Leon Lewis was born and raised in Hyde Park on Chicago's South Side. He attended the University of Chicago and graduated in 1928. A pioneer in the advertising industry, Leon Lewis was an advertising executive for 50 years. Lewis represented the French Company, Selmer Musical Instruments and he worked with Benny Goodman and Andres Segovia. Through his work with Selmer, Lewis met Louis Armstrong, one of his favorite musicians.

Surrounded by the jazz music of Chicago's South Side, Lewis became quite a jazz enthusiast. In high school, he formed his own jazz band, which included a young Gene Krupa. Later in life, Lewis composed a map of Chicago's earliest jazz venues: "Jazz Map of the South Side: 1915-1930." The map is a compilation of original jazz venues, locations, musicians, and bands

Lewis died in 2003 at the age of 95.

From the guide to the Lewis, Leon. Papers, 1939-1998, (Special Collections Research Center University of Chicago Library 1100 East 57th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.)

Leon Lewis was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 30, 1890, though he grew up in Chicago. At age 14 he won a scholarship to study with Theodor Leschetizky at the Royal Conservatory in Vienna. In 1910 he returned to the United States and gave piano concerts throughout the country.

Lewis eventually turned to theatrical work and scored silent films. During the 1920s he was musical director of radio station WBBM in Chicago. Some time later he became a program director, conductor and consultant at CBS.

Leon Lewis died while on a visit to his daughter in Los Angeles, October 5, 1960.

From the guide to the Leon Lewis scores, 19--, (The New York Public Library. Music Division.)