Vic Lewis
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Vic Lewis (b. July 29, 1919) is a British jazz guitarist and bandleader.
Lewis began on guitar at age three, and dabbled with cornet and trombone. One of his early bands included George Shearing, then a teenager, among its members. Lewis first toured the United States in 1938, where did recording sessions with a band that had among its members Bobby Hackett, Eddie Condon, and Pee Wee Russell. He served in the Royal Air Force from 1941-44; during this time he recorded with Buddy Featherstonhaugh. He worked with Stephane Grappelli during 1944-45 and with Ted Heath soon after.
Lewis put together his first big band in 1946 to play swing jazz, but soon after its formation Lewis began to direct the ensemble toward the sound of Stan Kenton. Kenton provided Lewis with some of his arrangements by Pete Rugolo, Gerry Mulligan, and Bill Holman. Lewis's pianist, Ken Thorne, also made arranging contributions. Lewis toured the U.S. with the band at various intervals between 1956 and 1959, and recorded extensively for Parlophone, Esquire, Decca, and Philips.
After 1959 Lewis went into semiretirement, though he has occasionally recorded. He continued to write about jazz and champion its worth for the next several decades.
