The Lewis Family
LINCOLNTON, GA - Organized in 1951, The Lewis Family has achieved world wide recognition as an icon of bluegrass gospel music: the genre's "First Family" in every respect. From a modest but proud beginning in it's hometown, Lincolnton, Georgia, the group continues today as it began; made up entirely of family members. Now encompassing three generations, the show offers a broad appeal to all ages.
Working more than 200 dates per year, the enormous popularity of the group is evidenced by the fact that it receives more repeat booking than any other band on the bluegrass festival circuit, where most events are held annually or semi-annually. Other venus played each year include fairs, special events and concerts in school auditoriums, civic centers and on college campuses.
For 38 years, 1954 till 1992, the Lewis Family hosted it's own weekly television show on WJBF - TV Channel 6 in Augusta, Georgia. The telecast went into syndication for a time and held a record for longevity when discontinued, a casulty of increasingly heavy travel schedule. Guest appearances on broadcast and cable network television have been frequent and include video tapings on the ten-volume "Grassroots to Bluegrass" series and the currently popular Bill Gaither shows on TNN. Awards from trade organizations are too numerous to list. Induction of The Lewis Family into the prestegious GEORGIA MUSIC HALL OF FAME on September 26, 1992, was a special highlight for the family members.
"Little Roy" Lewis, Youngest of Pop's children, ranks among the top instrumentalists in bluegrass music. Primary instruments are banjo and guitar but he also features several songs on the autoharp. His comedic antics are legendary and have made him unquestionably the best known and most popular entertainer in bluegrass music. He is also mostly responsible for the band's song arrangements. Sisters, Miggie, Polly and Janis blend their voices in beautiful and often spine - tingling harmony in various arrangements that frequently feature Little Roy. Polly Lewis Copsey is MC for the show, patiently enduring Little Roy's frequent outbursts, spoofing her very serious remarks. Janis and Earl Phillips' son, Lewis Phillips, was - like his uncle, Little Roy -, a child prodigy and played banjo on a CBS-TV special at the age of six in the mid- 1970's. He is featured as a vocalist and plays banjo, guitar and resonator banjo in specialty arrangements with Little Roy. One of his featured songs, "He Still Looks Over Me," brought a coveted 1999 Dove Award to The Lewis Family.
Recording for the Daywind Music Group label since 1995, the band's 60-plus career albums and six videos have carried The Lewis legacy to virtually all parts of the world. Each year the family is honored by the annual LEWIS FAMILY HOMECOMING BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL, held the first weekend in May. Fans from as many as two dozen states come to the small northeast town of Lincolnton for the Thursday through Saturday shows that feature THE LEWIS FAMILY as well as other top names in the industry.
The 'down home' openness and friendliness of the members of THE LEWIS FAMILY belies their poise and professionalism on stage, developed during thousands of TV and personal appearances. The amazing, still all-family group's 50 year performing career is one of the very most distinguished and most meaningful in the entire spectrum of music. THE LEWIS FAMILY is truly an American original and "The FIRST FAMILY OF BLUEGRASS GOSPEL MUSIC."
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