His Eight Finest

Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1935, Ramsey Lewis began taking piano lessons at the age of four. Lewis would eventually join local jazz group The Clefs, and he later formed the Ramsey Lewis Trio with drummer Isaac "Red" Holt and bassist Eldee Young. They eventually signed with Chess Records. During 1956, the trio issued their debut album, Ramsey Lewis and his Gentle-men of Swing. Following their 1965 hit 'The In Crowd' (the single reached No. 5 on the pop charts, and the album No. 2) they concentrated more on pop material. Young and Holt left in 1966 to form Young-Holt Unlimited and were replaced by Cleveland Eaton and Maurice White. White left to form Earth, Wind & Fire and was replaced by Morris Jennings in 1970. Later, Frankie Donaldson and Bill Dickens replaced Jennings and Eaton; Felton Crews also appeared on many 1980's releases. Ramsey Lewis has recorded over 80 albums and has received five gold records and three Grammy Awards so far in his career. Apart from his hit with, 'The In Crowd' he has also troubled the charts with 'Wade In The Water' and his inimitable version of The McCoys, 'Hang On Sloopy'. This compilation features Ramsey Lewis and his Trio's most revered and highly praised albums, from the period when they were one of the hottest jazz tickets on the scene, all recorded prior to the point at which the original trio split. Providing a perfect starting point for beginners to The Ramsey Lewis Trio's finest work, and a dynamic reminder for those already well versed, this new 4CD set will surely become the go-to collection for fans old and new.