Mel Lewis Audiovisual Collection Finding Aid (PDF)
Marr Sound Archives Miller Nichols Library University of Missouri, Kansas City The Mel Lewis Collection SIZE: DATE RANGE: 1939-1989 ACQUISITION: ACCESS: This is a non-circulation collection. Listening stations are available in the archives. COPYRIGHT: Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Special Collections Librarian or other authorized agent. ACCEPTED BY: Chuck Haddix PROCESSED BY: Andrew Hansbrough/Cody Kauhl SUPERVISING ARCHIVIST: Kelley Martin BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: http://library.umkc.edu/spec-col-collections/lewis-mel Mel Lewis (May 10, 1929-February 2, 1990) was born Melvin Sokoloff in Buffalo, New York, to Russian immigrant parents. His father was a drummer in the Buffalo area who inspired his son to follow in his footsteps from an early age. Still in his mid teens, Lewis played with nationally known jazz musicians Harold Austin and Lenny Lewis. Early credits also include stints with Bernie Burns (1946), Boyd Raeburn (1948), Alvino Rey (1948-9), Ray Anthony (1949-50, 1953-54), and Tex Beneke (1950- 53). In 1954 he joined Stan Kenton's band, playing alongside such musicians as Jimmy Giuffre, Maynard Ferguson, Laurindo Almeida, Vido Musso, and vocalist June Christy. During his three-year tenure with Kenton, Lewis also worked and recorded with the Frank Rosolino quintet and the Hampton Hawes Trio. In 1957, Lewis settled in Los Angeles where he led a quintet with another ex-Kenton sideman, saxophonist Bill Holman. He worked with the big bands of Gerald Wilson and Terry Gibbs, recording with the latter between 1959-62. The early 1960s saw Lewis in New York with the Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band, in Europe with Dizzy Gillespie, and in Russia with Benny Goodman.
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