Herbie Lewis

LEWIS-Herbie Lewis, Lifelong Jazz Bassist, passed away May 19, 2007 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was born in Pasadena, California to Herbert and Sara Lewis. After graduating from John Muir High School, he began playing in Hollywood jazz clubs and cut his first record "The Fox" with Harold Land. During this time, he married Judith Hawk and h ad two children, Jeffrey and Kendall Lewis. In the early 60's Herbie left for the East Coast when he was hired by Chico Hamilton. Herbie spent ten years in New York, returning occasionally to the West Coast. He performed with lifetime friend, Bobby Hutcherson, worked and toured with Les McCann, Gerald Wilson, Stanley Turrentine, Jackie McLean, Freddie Hubbard, Bill Evans, Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner and recorded with Cannonball Adderley. After Herbie's decade in New York and traveling to play with jazz groups in many different countries, he returned to the San Francisco Bay Area of California. In the Bay Area, he played and taught music. As the director of the Music Department, at the New College of California, he developed an alternative learning program for students of all ages. Herbie spent his later years in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he married Ruth Austad, and recorded a new CD "Just a Lucky So and So". Herbie was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Sara Lewis, and a son, Jeffrey Lewis. In addition to his loving and caring wife, Ruth, Herbie Lewis is survived by a daughter, Kendall Carter, a granddaughter, Jha?nee Carter, two brothers, Clifford and Jon Lewis, nieces, Michele Lewis, Arleen Johnson, and April Adams, a nephew, Eric Lewis, aunts, Mila and Alice, cousins and many loving friends. A memorial service will be held at 7:00 p.m. June 3 at Christ Church Lutheran, 3244 34th Ave. South, Minneapolis, Minnesota. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Herbie Lewis to New College of California, 766 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110. Herbie, we will miss you, your music, and Big Mama!