Smooth and sophisticated, pianist Ramsey Lewis is the very definition of ‘cool’. He’s also a living legend, with more than 50 years in the music business and well over a decade in radio.

Ramsey, a native of Chicago, has been playing the piano since he was four years old, but it wasn’t until his teenage years that he was fully exposed to jazz.

His early classical training and experiences playing in church have helped to shape his distinctively elegant touch.

Ramsey released his first record in 1956 and has never looked back.

He’s probably best known for the hits “The In Crowd”, “Wade In The Water” and “Sun Goddess”. Along the way he’s won three Grammy® awards and earned seven gold records. Although the bulk of Ramsey’s music is made with his longtime trio, he’s also led the Urban Knights supergroup on four successful smooth jazz projects.

Ramsey’s also enjoyed a long career in radio. Since 1990 he’s hosted a weekly traditional jazz show, now known as “Legends Of Jazz” and heard around the world. He’s co-hosted mornings on WNUA in Chicago since the fall of 1997 with Karen Williams, a longtime Chicago radio personality originally from Little Rock, Arkansas.

In 2007, Ramsey Lewis will receive the Jazz Master award from the National Endowment of the Arts, and he will be crowned a ‘Living Landmark’ of the state of Illinois.

After nearly a decade together, Ramsey and Karen have developed an easy rapport to go along with their shared passion for music. Informative and engaging, they provide just the right amount of information to get you out of bed and motivated for a great day.