American rhythm and blues (and soul) singer and songwriter, born November 19, 1939 in Itta Bena, near Greenwood, Mississippi, USA, died September 10, 2004 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Not to be confused with Jimmy "Baby Face" Lewis, who recorded between 1947 and 1955, or
the jazz bassist (born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA) artist (1918-2000).
In his youth Lewis traveled extensively, leading to doubts about his place of birth. Itta Bena, Mississippi, seems likely. While still young, he settled in Los Angeles. In the 1960s, he teamed up with Ray Charles to record a duet, "If It Wasn't For Bad Luck". Lewis' relationship with Charles was very successful and in 1969 he was co-composer and arranger for Charles' Grammy Award-nominated "Doing His Thing". Lewis also recorded several 45s for Charles' Tangerine Records and continued writing material for Charles into the 1990s.
Although Lewis recorded as a raw and emotional soul singer, he is best remembered as a writer of soul lyrics, collaborating with Cliff Chambers, Arthur Adams, Frank Johnson, Raymond Jackson and Rich Cason among several composers. Artists who have sung his songs, often on record, are Bobby Bland, Solomon Burke, Ry Cooder, Rita Coolidge, Leon Haywood, Z.Z. Hill, Albert King, Latimore (2), Denise LaSalle, Little Richard, Johnnie Taylor, Ted Taylor, and Bobby Womack.
In the early 1990s, Lewis started his own label, Miss Butch Records, on which he recorded Peggy Scott, "I'm Willing To Be A Friend" and "Bill", and Chuck Strong, as well as himself through into the year before his death in 2004.