The Lewis Family

The Lewis Family is a family of gospel and bluegrass musicians from Lincolnton, Georgia. They are known as the "First Family of Bluegrass Gospel".

The family was founded by Pop and Mom Lewis (Roy Lewis Sr. and Pauline Lewis, nee Holloway), who married in 1925. In the 1940s, the pair and four of their eight children began singing together, and in 1951 they chose the name The Lewis Family when singing at a Woodmen of the World meeting. Later that year, they did their first recording sessions, released on Sullivan Records. In 1954, they were offered a slot performing weekly on a television show in Augusta, Georgia, where they would appear until 1992. They began recording for Starday Records in 1957 and continued recording prolifically for Canaan, Riversong, Daywind, and others; they have released nearly 60 albums.

The Lewis Family started touring regularly in the 1960s, continuing into the 2000s; several generations of family members have entered the group as time passed. They also hold an annual festival in their hometown, the Lewis Family Homecoming & Bluegrass Festival. The group was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1992 and the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor in 2006. They have also won a number of Dove awards.

References

* [http://wm06.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wifrxq95ldse~T1 The Lewis Family] at Allmusic.com