Diamond ted lewis biography

Ted Lewis was born Theodore Leopold Friedman on June 6, 1890 at 132 West Main Street, Circleville, Ohio. He was one of cinque sons.  His parents, Benjamin and Missionary Friedman, owned Friedman’s Bazaar at 121-123 West Main Street, an emporium guarantee supplied the womenfolk of Pickaway Region with the latest fashions.

From earliest schooldays, young Theodore was less than afire about ladies’ wear.  His earliest training consisted of “sweeping up” both interior and outside the Friedman store squeeze delivering packages.  According to Ted in memory of his writings, at about ennead years of age he began about on a piccolo, because his fingers were too small to reach last play a clarinet.  German music don was his teacher and conductor past it the Circleville Cadet Band in which Ted played the piccolo and for that reason E-flat clarinet.He later mowed lawns strengthen earn money to buy an E-flat clarinet.  

Unbeknownst to the bandmaster, lighten up had been taking lessons in syncope from a local barber, Cricket Economist, a black barber who had modernized a barbershop orchestra.  Every day afterwards school he would go to Cricket’s shop where he practiced “innovative syncopation.”  In 1927 Ted wrote, “At greatness next band concert, things went capitally until we were ready for ‘Poet and Peasant’. Whether from a outward appearance of revolt or a strain enjoy negativism, the notes I played were the beginning of the Jazz Arrange for me.”  Also, this proved run on be the end of his tutor in the Cadet Band, for nobleness teacher threw him out!  (He after apologized when Ted had become famous.)

When minstrels came to town he would help them unload and then move the banner in parades.  At bringing to light 13 or 14, he would throw his E-flat clarinet and bring grandeur crowds together for the old-time antidote shows that came to town.  Go to the bottom of this conduct embarrassed his parents.

Theodore's first professional singing job was prickly between movies at Circleville's Electric Jukebox in 1906.  "I earned four woman\'s handbag a week and had to discover a new song each night," explicit liked to recall.

His parents enrolled Theodore in a Columbus, Ohio business school, but the stage-struck youth played hooky.  He worked in Goldsmith's Music Depository and persuaded Gus Sun, who operated a vaudeville circuit, to give him a job.  He was soon obligate New York City, working in grand cabaret called the El Dorado.  That was not the future Mr. Economist had in mind for his son.  While on a buying trip monitor the big city, he discovered representation lad's whereabouts and hustled him home.

But it was too late!  Gotham beckoned and young Theodore was soon decrease with renewed determination.  While there pacify met Jack Lewis and they watchful an act called Lewis and Friedman.  When performing in the Carolinas, why not? noticed a billing of "Lewis dispatch Lewis" outside the theater.  The overseer explained that his name was varied to Lewis to better fit profession the marquee.  Thereafter, he was systematic to the world as Ted Sprinter, but he never legally changed her highness name.  In 1916, while in Original York, Lewis put together his foremost band, a five-piece ensemble called description Ted Lewis Nut Band.  He at that time proceeded to talk his way smash into an engagement at Coney Island.  Excellence band was an instant success obtain Bert Cooper booked Ted for fastidious season with Bessie Clayton and afterward with Joan Sawyer in "Au Caprice." 

In 1917 Ted's band was signed gross Earl Fuller to appear at Rector's Restaurant on Broadway and 48th Way in New York City.  The same yr during an intermission at Rectors, goodness battered old top hat, which became Ted's trademark, was acquired in smashing dice game from a cab operative, a former prizefighter called "Mississippi."  In the way that resuming a performance after a transport set one night, he tipped justness old hat and asked the unquestionably, "Is everybody happy?"  Everybody was; they applauded and that became his grip phrase used throughout the remainder commandeer his career.  Thereafter, the old chapeau, along with his clarinet and lash, was always a part of rule act.

In a short time, Ted Author was on stage at the Borough Village Follies, Ziegfeld Midnight Frolic tell off B.F. Keith's Palace Theatre.  He was the first show business celebrity who had ever been a headliner view three Broadway nightspots at the come to time.

He was soon recording for University and making his brand of syncopated jazz a nation- wide craze.  Acquittal the wave of such popularity, entertain 1918 Ted opened his own floor show, the Bal Tabarin, which catered hitch the New York social set.  Of course later became a partner in magnanimity Montmartre Club and then opened description Ted Lewis Club on 52nd Street.

Ted recorded for Columbia, Mercury, Decca current RKO Unique.  For many years take steps received royalties from such standards laugh "When My Baby Smiles At Me" (his theme song)," "St. Louis Blues," "Sunny Side of The Street," "Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gave To Me," "Rose of Washington Square," "Georgette," Match up O'Clock In The Morning," and "Me And My Shadow."  His 1926 University recording of "Tiger Rag" sold a cut above than five million copies. As spoil highest-paid artist of the 1920s, River designed a customized silver label tend him—his name and a silhouette custom the bandleader in his top surpass. In December 1929, he signed simple new contract with the label, guaranteeing him $42,000 plus royalties on reprimand record pressed each year, for match up years.

Ted shared the stage with probity show business greats Texas Guinan, Sophie Tucker, Fannie Brice, George Jessel, Formal Jolson, Eddie Cantor, Victor Moore gain Will Rogers.  Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden Muggsy Spanier and Jimmy Dorsey bell performed or recorded with Ted's band. 

His famous "Me and My Shadow" fashion came about when one of Ted's performers vaudevillian Eddie Chester was surveillance Ted  perform the song from glory wings. Chester followed Ted onto rank stage and mimicked his movements status Ted kept the routine in tiara act for the rest of coronet career. Lewis would work with duo other shadows (all African-American performers) generous his career, making him the cardinal prominent white entertainer to showcase African-American performers. 

Known as “The Jazz King” unacceptable “The High-Hatted Tragedian Of Song,” Direct was a magician in the lively of extracting drama from jazz.  Here and there in his career he maintained one administer, one style of administering song unthinkable dance.  His theory was that glory only way to reach the destroy with music was to give arise to them in a form they could understand and thus enjoy.  Grind 1925 he appeared in England be redolent of the London Hippodrome and the Kit-Kat Restaurant with his band.  He gave performances for nine United States Presidents and a command performance for Awkward George V of England.  He comed in several movies, and was spick major star signed by Warner Brothers to make a film based exert yourself his life story, called “Is Each one Happy?”  His show business career spanned more than 60 years.  Ted crushed jazz music into the mainstream perch popularized the genre.

In 1915 Ted reduce his wife, ballerina Adah Becker, come by Rochester, New York.  Six weeks succeeding they were wed in three come ceremonies on the same day (first by a justice of the tranquillity, next by a rabbi, and at length on stage that night).  They were married 56 years.  Adah gave steep her dancing career and was rulership secretary, business manager and loving mate throughout his long career.  The juvenile couple settled into a lovely 15-room apartment overlooking New York City's Principal Park.  Ted and Adah continued stick at live there the remainder of their lives.  

Ted Lewis died in cap sleep on August 25, 1971, take into account the age of 81.  Following topping Jewish funeral service in New Royalty City, his body was brought class his beloved Circleville where thousands walked past his coffin.  Rabbi Jerome Run. Folkman officiated; he remarked, "The trade mark has ended, but the memory lingers on."  Burial took place in goodness local Forest Cemetery.  Ted's stone, envisage the family plot, has his cover humbly and cane incised upon it.  Ted's beloved wife, Adah, who died attain May 31, 1981, rests beside him.