Bobby Lewis

Bobby Lewis (born February 17, 1933 in Indianapolis, Indiana) is an African-American rock and roll and R&B singer.

Raised in an Indianapolis orphanage [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp?JSESSIONID=GBdNGK2QJzdN7Mh215fyQJQ6vtZLT0fjmGphKyyQLPRrSkvS77X2!1256792535&pid=80306&aid=36324] , he learned to play the piano by age six. Adopted at age twelve, he moved to a home in Detroit, Michigan, growing up with the influences of the pioneer blues musicians until the advent of rock and roll. Lewis began to build a musical career in the 1950s and in 1960 appeared at the Apollo Theatre in New York CityFact|date=July 2007. He recorded a 45rpm single called "Tossin' and Turnin'" that went to No.1 on the Billboard charts in July of 1961. Later that year, he had a second Top Ten song, "One Track Mind," which would be his only other major hit record.

Tossin' And Turnin'

Bobby Lewis' song, "Tossin' And Turnin'", composed by Ritchie Adams and Malou Rene, has become a recognized piece of American popular culture.Fact|date=July 2007 The record reached #1 on both the Billboard pop and R&B charts, and has since become a standard on oldies compilations and was featured in the soundtrack for the 1978 film, Animal House. The song would also be covered by artists as diverse as folk singer Steve Goodman, KISS drummer Peter Criss on his 1978 solo album entitled Peter Criss, and polka star Jimmy Sturr.

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/shakin_stacks/bobbylewis.txt Bobby Lewis article]
* [http://www.tsimon.com/bobbylewis.htm Bobby Lewis article on Rock-and-Roll Page]
*musicbrainz artist|id=34092bf3-c768-4781-9933-97b210e35441|name=Bobby Lewis