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.
Respect
Ramsey Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"So, respect the architect."
"So, respect the architect."
"So, respect the architect as I begin to build."
[Bahamadia]
I'm mystical; don't be deceived by the visual
Visible preference is pure; patent it back to metaphors
Analyze my memoirs, runnin' on eight, four poetic meter
Soarin' way beyond
Iambic pentameter or juvenile flam
Unsyncopated soul, piercin' earlobes and egos
My vocals read these thoughts - am I hardcore?
To the grain
[Guru]
Lame-game, plain-Jane emcees can't approach these
I shake chumps like fleas; I hold the keys
To drive you, guide you, provide you
With the real joints; ahem, I clear my throat of phlegm
The architect, selecting the blueprints
To rid the game of nuisance
Sucker reducin' with the fusion
Rhymes solid like cement in my musical solution
Stackin' concrete flows; look out below
"So, respect the architect."
"So, respect the architect as I begin to build."
[Guru]
Rhymes get all up in your grill like freckles
Most emcees couldn't see me with bifocal spectacles
There's no protectin' you; with realness, I'm wreckin' you
I'm beggin' you - take a look into the cipher
You're dirt on my windshield, so I'm turnin' on my wipers
And I can see clearly now
No other rapper is near me
And all you perpetrators shall fear me now
[Bahamadia]
Never flip folklores, only realness
Coincide with the rhythm like I did with Total Wreck
Respect the architect in this division
Rhymes written to be hittin' like anti-proton collisions
Rap newest edition, bringin' the feminine in renditions
In rare form, defined as optimal for my pedigrees
In skill three like three-sixty degrees as in well-rounded
Leavin' the competition dumb-founded
For when I catch wreck, I astound
"So, respect the architect."
"So, respect the architect."
"So, respect the architect."
"So respect the architect... as I begin to build."
[Guru]
Floor to ceiling, constantly building
With power to construct towers of rap cream, kid; what?
Dreamin' you're lyrical, physical, mystical?
Your concept's mediocre, plus you're way too typical withcha
Corny delivery and crazy, whack voice
Mad corny image; that's why I give you jitters
It figures I'd have to dust you off the scene
Like a wiseguy, with my New York lean
[Bahamadia]
Lines that I supply fortify the nuclei of mindstate
From state to state, universal, be the orals that I create
Top notch and on lock like Sentry; opponents could never tempt me
Samplin' my style like an Akai S-950, and still can't get with me
While I spread this verbal plague like bubonic
Conductin' phonics like the Philharmonics
I make in measured melody; kids praise me like the crucifix
So place Bahamad' amongst your top ten of emcees
"So, respect the architect."
"So, respect the architect."
"So, respect the architect."
"So respect the architect... as I begin to build."
[Guru]
Yeah, neverending, knah I'm sayin? Always buildin'
My homegirl Bahamadia in the hidouse, yeah, yeah
And of course, my man the legend
Ramsey Lewis
So respect the architect, knah I'm sayin?
One love
The lyrics of Ramsey Lewis's song "Respect" featuring Bahamadia and Guru focuses on the importance of respecting architects and their creative process. The lyrics of the song take the metaphor of building and construction as a representation of the creative process of architects. The opening line of the song, "So, respect the architect" is repeated several times throughout the song, resembling a chant or a call to action. The song's message is to honor the work of architects as they lay the foundation for greatness, and their contributions should be valued and celebrated.
The song features a back-and-forth exchange between the two rappers, Bahamadia and Guru, who use their lyrical prowess to bring attention to the importance of architects. They both reference their creative process and style by using the metaphor of buildings, porches, and blueprints. They both emphasize the significance of architecture to the rap industry and how it has helped create new sounds and ideas that are still relevant today.
Overall, the song "Respect" by Ramsey Lewis featuring Bahamadia and Guru is a reminder that paying respect and honoring the process of architects is essential to acknowledging their creative talent and intellectual property.
Line by Line Meaning
So, respect the architect.
The architect is the person in charge of creating music and building something new, so we must show respect and appreciation for their work.
So, respect the architect as I begin to build.
As the architect starts to create something new, it's important to respect their work and give them the space and freedom to build without interruptions or skepticism.
I'm mystical; don't be deceived by the visual
Don't let appearances fool you, as I am a mysterious and complex individual who cannot be understood simply from what you see on the surface.
Visible preference is pure; patent it back to metaphors
My visible preferences are authentic and genuine, and I express them through metaphors and similes that are unique to my own personal style of writing and storytelling.
Rhymes get all up in your grill like freckles
My rhymes and lyrics infiltrate your thoughts and consciousness like freckles on your skin, leaving you unable to ignore or forget them.
There's no protectin' you; with realness, I'm wreckin' you
When I bring my authenticity and realness into my music, I am overpowering and unstoppable, leaving no room for protectiveness or resistance from others.
Floor to ceiling, constantly building
Just like a building, my music is constructed from the ground up, with every lyric and beat contributing to the overall structure and sound that I create.
Dreamin' you're lyrical, physical, mystical?
Are you dreaming of being a rapper with a unique and awe-inspiring combination of lyrical talent, physical presence, and mystical aura? Because that requires more than just a dream to achieve.
Conductin' phonics like the Philharmonics
I approach my rhyming and flow as if I were conducting the instruments of a prestigious orchestra, with precision and skill that commands attention and respect.
One love
In the end, it's all about love and respect for one another, and coming together to appreciate and enjoy the art of music.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KEITH ELAM, ANTONIA REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Darryl Owens
My mom loved this album!
John Benn
WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From a mad keen 75yo Aussie fan.