Lewis began taking piano lessons at the age of four. As a young man, Lewis played with a number of local ensembles, such as Edward Virgil Abner's Knights of Music. Lewis would eventually join a jazz group called The Clefs.
He formed The Ramsey Lewis Trio in 1956 with Eldee Young and Isaac Holt. They started as primarily a jazz unit but after their hit, "The In Crowd", in 1965 (the single reached fifth place on the pop charts, and the album second place) the trio concentrated more and more on pop material. Young and Holt left in 1966 to form the Young-Holt Trio and were replaced by Cleveland Eaton and Maurice White. White was replaced by Maurice Jennings in 1970. In the late 1970s an additional keyboard player was frequently added to the lineup. A contemporary version of "The In Crowd" was recorded for Lewis' 2004 album, Time Flies.
His 2005 album "With One Voice" pays homage to his gospel roots with the help Smokie Norful, Darius Brooks, and Donald Lawrence and the J.W. James Memorial A.M.E. Church Combined Choir.
In addition to recording and performing, he was a radio host on Chicago's Smooth Jazz station, WNUA (95.5 FM). His syndicated show Legends of Jazz, featuring classic jazz recordings from artists such as Charlie Parker and Miles Davis), could be heard in 60 cities in the United States and other countries as well. His Legends of Jazz television series on PBS, was first aired in April 2006.
From December 2006, the Ramsey Lewis Morning Show became a part of Broadcast Architecture's Smooth Jazz Network, simulcasting on other Smooth Jazz stations across the country for the first time.
Lewis was artistic director of Jazz at Ravinia (an annual feature at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Illinois) and helped organize Ravinia's Jazz Mentor Program.
My Funny Valentine
Ramsey Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sweet, comic valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable, unphotographable
yet your my favorite work of art
Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
are you smart?
don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine
Stay
Each day is valentine's day
Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak,
Are you smart?
don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine
Stay
Each day is Valentine's Day
The Ramsey Lewis Trio's "My Funny Valentine" is a beautiful and classic jazz standard that is deeply introspective and emotionally rich. The song is based on a dichotomy between humor and melancholy, with the lyrics describing a person who is not conventionally attractive, but whose unique qualities make them beautiful and special to the singer. The opening verse sets the tone for the song, with the singer exclaiming to their funny valentine that they make them smile with their heart. This line reveals the depth of the singer's feelings towards their valentine, and how they are more interested in their inner beauty than their outer appearance. The second verse poses a question to the valentine, asking if their figure is less than Greek or if their mouth is a little weak. These questions are followed up with a reassurance from the singer that they do not want their valentine to change a single thing about themselves because they are perfect just the way they are. The song ends on a romantic note, with the singer asking their valentine to stay and acknowledging that every day feels like Valentine's Day when they are together.
One of the most interesting things about "My Funny Valentine" is that it was originally written for the 1937 Broadway musical "Babes in Arms" by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. The song was included in the show as a romantic ballad, but it has since become one of the most popular jazz standards of all time, with countless recordings by artists like Chet Baker, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra. Another interesting fact is that the song's lyrics have a playful and ironic edge to them, with the singer comparing their valentine to a funny valentine, which is a reference to a type of novelty greeting card that was popular in the 1930s. Additionally, the song's melody is hauntingly beautiful, with a descending chromatic melody that perfectly captures the bittersweet emotions of the lyrics. The song has also been featured in numerous films and TV shows, including "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Glee."
Chords:
The chords for "My Funny Valentine" typically follow a basic AABC structure, with the first A section beginning on the ii chord (Am7), followed by the V7 chord (D7), the ii-7b5 chord (Gm7b5), and the V7 chord again. The B section begins on the IV chord (Eb), followed by the ii-7 chord (Fm7), the V7 chord (Bb7), and the I chord (Eb6). The second A section is typically the same as the first, and the song typically ends on the iii chord (Bm7b5) before looping back to the first A section.
Line by Line Meaning
My funny valentine
You, my amusing and charming sweetheart
Sweet, comic valentine
You are lovely yet funny and unpredictable
You make me smile with my heart
You make me feel love so deeply that it moves me emotionally
Your looks are laughable, unphotographable
Your physical appearance may be unconventional or unusual, but I find it endearing and special
yet your my favorite work of art
You are my most beloved masterpiece
Is your figure less than Greek?
Does your body deviate from the idealized proportions of a classical statue?
Is your mouth a little weak?
Do you have any speech limitations or difficulties?
When you open it to speak,
Whenever you talk or express yourself,
are you smart?
do you demonstrate intelligence and wit?
don't change a hair for me
I accept and love you just as you are, without requiring any changes
Not if you care for me
Making changes for my benefit should not be necessary if you truly love and care for me
Stay little valentine
Please remain by my side, dear Valentine
Stay
Stay with me forever
Each day is Valentine's Day
Every day with you feels like Valentine's Day because of the love we share
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind