American jazz bandleader, entertrainer, singer and clarinetist. Played with "Earl Fuller's Jass Band" (first recorded in 1917 after the "Original Dixieland Jass Band"). In his band included jazz musicians as : Muggsy Spanier, George Brunies among others. Born : June 06, 1890 in Circleville, Ohio. Died : August 25, 1971 in New York City, New York.
His career lasted 62 years, concluding in the lounge of the Desert Inn in Las Vegas.
Veteran dance band leader, former vaudevillian. Lewis set up his first orchestra in 1910. After working at the College Arms Cabaret in New York, he formed another group ("Ted Lewis & His Nut Band") on Coney island in 1916, initially intending it to be a vaudeville novelty act. By the early 1930s this four-piece unit had developed into a bigger show band, which headlined at the Orpheum Circuit and toured theaters and vaudeville houses both in the US and in Europe. Lewis was able to attract many top-flight musicians, including Jimmy Dorsey , George Brunis and Mugsy Spanier.
Uncle of Ted Jordan..
Son of actor Al Lewis and brother to Paul Lewis and David Lewis.
