Ed Lewis

Ed Lewis (January 22, 1909 – September 18, 1985) was an American jazz trumpeter.

Born in Eagle City, Oklahoma, Lewis played early in his career in Kansas City with Jerry Westbrook as a baritone hornist, then switched to trumpet in 1925. He played with Paul Banks and Laura Rucker before joining the Bennie Moten Orchestra, where he played from 1926-1932 and was the primary trumpet soloist until Hot Lips Page became a member. In the 1930s he worked with Thamon Hayes (1932–34), Harlan Leonard (1934-37), and Jay McShann (1937). In 1937 he joined the Count Basie Orchestra, where he remained until 1948; he recorded frequently with Basie but almost never soloed.

In the 1950s Lewis led his own band in New York City for strictly local gigs, and worked for a period as a taxicab driver. He returned to play with The Countsmen in Europe in 1984, shortly before his death. Lewis never led his own recording session.

Harry "Sweets" Edison considered Ed Lewis and Snooky Young "the two greatest first trumpet players" he ever played with.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 22, 1909 (Eagle City), Died September 18, 1985

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1939

Roles Represented in DAHR: trumpet, cornet, composer, vocalist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 102 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-38667 10-in. 6/11/1927 Sugar Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-38668 10-in. 6/11/1927 Dear heart Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-38669 10-in. 6/11/1927 The new Tulsa blues Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-38670 10-in. 6/11/1927 Baby dear Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-38671 10-in. 6/11/1927 12th Street rag Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-38672 10-in. 6/12/1927 Pass out lightly Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-38673 10-in. 6/12/1927 Ding-dong blues Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-38674 10-in. 6/12/1927 Moten stomp Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-42924 10-in. 9/6/1928 Justrite Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band composer, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-42925 10-in. 9/6/1928 It's hard to laugh or smile Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-42926 10-in. 9/6/1928 Slow motion Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-42927 10-in. 9/6/1928 Tough breaks Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-42928 10-in. 9/7/1928 Sad man blues Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-42929 10-in. 9/7/1928 Kansas City breakdown Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-42930 10-in. 9/7/1928 Trouble in mind Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-42931 10-in. 9/7/1928 Hot water blues Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-42932 10-in. 9/7/1928 When life seems so blue Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-42933 10-in. 9/7/1928 Get low-down blues Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band, with vocal effects vocalist, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-42934 10-in. 9/7/1928 She's no trouble Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-42935 10-in. 9/7/1928 South Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BRC-53012 10-in. 4/15/1931 Ya got love Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten ; Jimmy Rushing Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, cornet, trumpet  
Victor BVE-55420 10-in. 7/16/1929 Terrific stomp Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-55421 10-in. 7/16/1929 Let's get it Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BVE-55422 10-in. 7/16/1929 Kansas City squabble Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet, composer, cornet  
Victor BVE-55423 10-in. 7/17/1929 Rite tite Kansas City Orchestra ; Bennie Moten Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
(Results 1-25 of 102 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Lewis, Ed," accessed March 29, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112503.

Lewis, Ed. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 29, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112503.

"Lewis, Ed." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 29 March 2023.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112503

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