According to The New York Times, Ramsey Lewis’ wife, Janet Lewis, confirmed that he had died but did not share a cause of death.
Lewis’ son, Bobby Lewis, also confirmed to The Associated Press that Lewis died in his sleep in his Chicago house on Monday.
According to the AP, he earned three Grammy awards and seven gold records over his career. He started out in the Ramsey Lewis Trio and his career spanned almost 60 years. Lewis became one of the most successful jazz musicians in the country.
Lewis became a pop star when his recording of “The ‘In’ Crowd” reached the Top 10 in 1965, according to the NYT.
Lewis performed with Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, Al Jarreau and Pat Metheney in his career. He had over 80 albums. Lewis also toured around the world and even performed at a state dinner in 1995 for former President Bill Clinton, who had hosted President Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil, according to the AP.
In the 1990s and 2000, Lewis hosted radio shows called “Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis,” and “The Ramsey Lewis Morning Show,” according to the AP. He hosted a weekly “Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis,” on public television stations nationwide in 2007.
Lewis was also known for his work with charities that worked to bring music like jazz to young people, said the AP.
Lewis is survived by his wife, Janet Lewis, daughters Denise Jefferies and Dawn Allain, sons Bobby Lewis, Kendall Kelly Lewis and Frayne Lewis, and his grandchildren plus great-grandchildren, according to the AP.
Photos: Ramsey Lewis through the years 1981: Ramsey Lewis performs during the third annual Ontario Jazz Festival on June 28, 1981, at the Forum in Toronto, Canada. (Ron Bull/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Photos: Ramsey Lewis through the years 1994: Singer Nancy Wilson poses for photos with musician Ramsey Lewis at WNUA-FM radio in Chicago in May 1994. (Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)
Photos: Ramsey Lewis through the years 2003: Jazz pianists Ramsey Lewis, Peter Cincotti and Ahmed Jamal join Henry Steinway, 87, the great-grandson of the founder of Steinway & Sons, at Steinway Hall on March 5, 2003. They were all on hand to help kick off the 150th anniversary celebration of the piano-making company, founded in New York in 1853. (Susan Watts/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
Photos: Ramsey Lewis through the years 2006: The 2007 NEA Jazz Masters Slide Hampton, Billy Taylor, Phil Woods, Barry Harris, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Ramsey Lewis, Jimmy Scott and Frank Wess pose for a photo during the 34th Annual IAJE Conference on January 12, 2006, in New York City. (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
Photos: Ramsey Lewis through the years 2006: Ramsey Lewis attends the Body & Soul celebration of the NFAA 2006 art winners at Baryshnikov Arts Center on April 24, 2006, in New York City. (Peter Kramer/Getty Images)
Photos: Ramsey Lewis through the years 2006: Ramsey Lewis and his wife attend the Body & Soul celebration of the NFAA 2006 art winners at Baryshnikov Arts Center on April 24, 2006, in New York City. (Peter Kramer/Getty Images)
Photos: Ramsey Lewis through the years 2007: Musician Ramsey Lewis speaks after accepting a NEA Jazz Master award during the 17th annual NEA Jazz Masters awards and concert January 12, 2007, in New York City. (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
Photos: Ramsey Lewis through the years 2013: Ramsey Lewis attends the Jazz FM Awards at One Marylebone on January 31, 2013, in London. (Eamonn McCormack/Getty Images)
Photos: Ramsey Lewis through the years 2016: Ramsey Lewis poses on the red carpet during 2016 Grammys on the Hill Awards at The Hamilton on April 13, 2016, in Washington, D.C. (Kris Connor/Getty Images)
Photos: Ramsey Lewis through the years 2017: Ramsey Lewis performs at the Long Beach Jazz Festival at Rainbow Lagoon Park on August 13, 2017, in Long Beach, California. (Earl Gibson III/Getty Images)