Eliot Lewis (born March 10, 1962) is an American rock, and

soul The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...

singer, multi-instrumentalist and solo artist. He is best known for his work with

Average White Band The Average White Band (also known as AWB) was a Scottish funk and R&B band that had a series of soul and disco hits between 1974 and 1980. They were best known for their million-selling instrumental track " Pick Up the Pieces", and their alb ...

(1989–2002) and

Hall & Oates Daryl Hall & John Oates, commonly known as Hall & Oates, were an American Rock music, rock duo formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1970. Daryl Hall was generally the lead vocalist, while John Oates primarily supplied electric guitar and ba ...

(2003–2023). Lewis was the original featured musician on Live from Daryl's House, an Internet-based show hosted by

Daryl Hall Daryl Franklin Hohl (born October 11, 1946), known professionally as Daryl Hall, is an American rock, R&B, and soul singer. He is best known as the co-founder and principal lead vocalist of Hall & Oates, with guitarist and songwriter John Oa ...

that now can be seen on its popular YouTube channel. In addition, Lewis maintains his own successful solo career as well as a prolific output of music.

Early career

Lewis grew up in Norwalk, CT, the youngest of three children, in what he describes as a very musical environment. Although his mother was a classical pianist, Lewis’ first instrument was the drums, which he discovered at age 10. When he was 12 years old, he formed his first band, Take Off, with three childhood friends.Logan, Wendy (Fall 2013). "Eliot Lewis in the Hous

''FC CT Beat''. Retrieved March 27, 2014. Richard Totoian, the father of Take Off's bass player Kevin Totoian, worked for several major record labels and was instrumental in exposing young Eliot to many of the artists of the day, including

The Who The Who are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup (1964–1978) consisted of lead vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. Considered one of th ...

Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, songwriter and pianist. His music and showmanship have had a significant, lasting impact on the music industry, and his songwriting partnership with l ...

, and

Alice Cooper Vincent Damon Furnier (born February 4, 1948), known by his stage name Alice Cooper, is an American rock singer and songwriter whose career spans sixty years. With a raspy voice and a stage show that features numerous props and stage illusion ...

. He even arranged a jam session for the boys at his house with

Peter Frampton Peter Kenneth Frampton (born 22 April 1950) is an English-American guitarist, singer, and songwriter who rose to prominence as a member of the rock bands the Herd and Humble Pie. Later in his career, Frampton found significant success as a s ...

. At age 16, Lewis picked up the guitar and began writing his own songs. A few years later, recognizing technology's potential impact on music, he taught himself keyboards and bass, and learned to program synthesizers. Today, Lewis plays five instruments, and is a completely self-contained songwriter and musician.Lockwood, Rod (March 22, 2012). "Eliot Lewis brings his talents to the Village Idiot

''The Toledo Blade''. Retrieved June 9, 2014. In his early 20s, Lewis was introduced to

Dan Hartman Daniel Earl Hartman (December 8, 1950 – March 22, 1994) was an American pop rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, producer, singer, and songwriter and original frontman for several bands, including the Soploids, Mak and the Turnarounds, Our Wri ...

, a singer, songwriter, and record producer responsible for hits such as " Free Ride," "

Relight My Fire "Relight My Fire" is a disco song written and released by American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer Dan Hartman as the title track from his 1979 album of the same name. It was also performed by Costa Anadiotis' band Café Soci ...

," and "

I Can Dream About You "I Can Dream About You" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Dan Hartman on the soundtrack album of the film ''Streets of Fire''. Released in 1984 as a single from the soundtrack, and included on Hartman's album '' I Can ...

." Lewis began working with Hartman, collaborating on music for some of the day's top stars and working on albums like

Joe Cocker John Robert "Joe" Cocker (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English singer known for his gritty, bluesy voice and dynamic stage performances featuring expressive body movements. Most of his best-known singles, such as "Feelin' Alright ...

’s '' Unchain My Heart'' and

Tina Turner Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939 – May 24, 2023) was a singer, songwriter, actress, and author. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", her vocal prowess, raspy voice, and electrifyin ...

’s '' Simply the Best''. A few years later, Lewis signed his first publishing deal with Sony Tunes, where he collaborated with many other songwriters, including Porter Carroll Jr. of the band

Atlantic Starr Atlantic Starr is an American R&B band based in White Plains, New York. They are best known for the hits " Always", " Secret Lovers", "Circles", " Silver Shadow", and "Masterpiece". History Atlantic Starr began in Greenburgh, New York, with tr ...

. After several years with Sony, Lewis signed with Warner Chappell Music, then produced a number of releases for RCA.

Average White Band

In the late 1980s, Lewis met Alan Gorrie, one of the founders of the Scottish R&B group Average White Band. AWB had disbanded in 1983, but Lewis and Gorrie began writing together. Lewis wrote a number of songs, including "Spirit of Love," and when AWB reformed in 1989 to record ''AfterShock'', Gorrie asked Lewis to play on the album and co-produce it. Lewis became an official member of AWB when the record was complete. He spent 13 years in AWB, playing guitar, bass, and keyboards, and singing lead vocals on hits including "School Boy Crush" and "

Walk On By "Walk On By" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for singer Dionne Warwick in 1963. Warwick's recording of the song peaked at number 6 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number 1 on the Cash Box Rhythm and Blues Chart In June 19 ...

". Lewis left AWB in 2002 to focus on his own music.

Hall and Oates

A little more than a year after leaving AWB, Lewis got a call from singer and songwriter Daryl Hall, whom he'd met through Gorrie. Hall needed a keyboard player for a short tour supporting some new solo material, and Lewis agreed to join him. At the end of the tour, Lewis was invited to be a permanent member of both Hall's solo band and the Daryl Hall and John Oates band. He has been with both groups longer than any member except Hall, Oates, saxophonist Charlie DeChant, and bassist/guitarist T-Bone Wolk. As a member of the Hall & Oates band, Lewis has played some of the world's most famous venues, including the Hollywood Bowl and Japan's Budokan Arena. He has also performed on popular television shows such as "The Voice," "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," and "Jimmy Kimmel Live." Lewis appeared with the Hall & Oates band in the 2010 feature film

You Again ''You Again'' is a 2010 American comedy film directed by Andy Fickman and written by Moe Jelline. The film stars Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver, Odette Yustman, James Wolk, Victor Garber, Billy Unger, Kyle Bornheimer, Krist ...

He played with the ''Live From Daryl's House'' band on the anchor float in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade in 2014, and with the Hall & Oates band at the 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. In April 2023, Lewis announced his departure from both bands to focus on his own music.

''Live from Daryl's House''

'' Live from Daryl's House'' is a critically acclaimed webcast started by Hall in late 2007. The show features Hall and his band, including Lewis, playing live, unrehearsed songs with guest artists such as veterans

Smokey Robinson William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. He was the founder and frontman of the pioneering Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he ...

Todd Rundgren Todd Harry Rundgren (born June 22, 1948) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who has performed a diverse range of styles as a solo artist and as a member of the bands Nazz and Utopia. He is known for his sophistica ...

, and Rob Thomas, and new acts like Fitz and the Tantrums,

the Dirty Heads Dirty Heads is an American reggae rock band from Huntington Beach, California. Their debut album, '' Any Port in a Storm'', was released on September 23, 2008, by Executive Music Group (Fontana/Universal). Their latest album, ''Midnight Control ...

, and

JOHNNYSWIM Johnnyswim is an American folk, soul, blues, and pop music duo consisting of singer-songwriters Amanda Sudano and Abner Ramirez, formed in 2005 in Nashville, Tennessee. Origin Ramirez trained as a musician at Douglas Anderson School of the Art ...

. Lewis is the only member of the Live from Daryl's House band (besides Hall himself) who has played on every episode. While he generally is on keyboards, Lewis has played guitar on several songs; LFDH episode 63, with

ZZ Top ZZ Top is an American rock band formed in Houston, Texas, in 1969. For almost 56 years, it consisted of vocalist-guitarist Billy Gibbons, drummer Frank Beard (musician), Frank Beard, and bassist-vocalist Dusty Hill prior to his death in 2021. ZZ ...

’s

Billy Gibbons William Frederick Gibbons (born December 16, 1949) is an American rock musician, best known as the guitarist, primary vocalist, and only constant member of ZZ Top. He began his career in Moving Sidewalks, who recorded '' Flash'' (1969) and op ...

, features several guitar solos by Lewis. He played bass on episode No. 18 with

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and

Ray Manzarek Raymond Daniel Manzarek Jr. ( Manczarek; February 12, 1939 – May 20, 2013) was an American keyboardist. He is best known as a member of the rock band the Doors, co-founding the group in 1965 with fellow UCLA School of Theater, Film and Te ...

. Along with his departure from the Hall & Oates band, Lewis announced his plans to depart ''Live from Daryl's House'' to pursue his solo career.

Solo artist

In addition to working with other artists, Lewis has recorded and independently released seven solo CDs. Lewis plays all the instruments and sings backup and harmonies. The title song from his first CD, "Get Back What You Give," released in 2000, earned Lewis an award in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. His CD, "Live And Up Front," released in November 2013, is his first live recording, and includes songs played during solo dates in Ohio. In August 2014, Lewis debuted his latest studio CD, an EP titled "Crusade.” Lewis frequently takes his one-man act on the road, playing clubs, festivals, and intimate venues around New England and parts of the Midwest. His performances focus mostly on his own material, but include tunes from AWB and Hall & Oates, plus some of his favorites songs from artists he has worked with on ''Live From Daryl's House.'' While touring the country with Hall & Oates, Lewis occasionally plays solo gigs after the band's shows, with bandmates sometimes joining him on stage. In January 2015, Lewis released his first music video, "Crusade," directed and produced by Jay Johnson and Ronald Michael, from the CD "Crusade." In 2022, Lewis collaborated with

Big Scenic Nowhere Big Scenic Nowhere is an American rock supergroup from California. History Demo album (2009–2012) Big Scenic Nowhere dates back to 2009 when demo recordings of the one-off project were recorded and released under the moniker; some being ins ...

for their cover of the Hall & Oates song "

Sara Smile "Sara Smile" is a song written and recorded by the American musical duo Hall & Oates. It was released as the third single from their album '' Daryl Hall & John Oates''. The song was the group's first top 40 and first top ten hit in the US, reachi ...

Influences

Lewis describes his current style as influenced by classic rock, soul, funk, and blues. Musicians who influenced his musical style include

Jeff Beck Geoffrey Arnold Beck (24 June 1944 – 10 January 2023) was an English musician. He rose to prominence as the guitarist of the rock band the Yardbirds, and afterwards founded and fronted the Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. In 1975, ...

Jimmy Page James Patrick Page (born 9 January 1944) is an English musician and producer who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of the Rock music, rock band Led Zeppelin. Page began his career as a studio session musician in Lo ...

John Bonham John Henry Bonham (31 May 1948 – 25 September 1980) was an English musician who was the drummer of the rock band Led Zeppelin. Noted for his speed, power, fast single-footed kick drumming, distinctive sound, and feel for groove, John Bonh ...

Jack Bruce John Symon Asher Bruce (14 May 1943 – 25 October 2014) was a Scottish musician. He gained popularity as the primary lead vocalist and ‍bassist ‍of Rock music, rock band Cream (band), Cream. After the group disbanded in 1968, he pursued a ...

Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris (; Judkins; born May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American and Ghanaian singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th c ...

, and

Billy Preston William Everett Preston (September 2, 1946 – June 6, 2006) was an American keyboardist, singer, and songwriter whose work encompassed R&B, rock, soul, funk, and gospel. Preston was a top session keyboardist in the 1960s, backing Little Richa ...

. He also lists the late musician

Tom Wolk Tom "T-Bone" Wolk (December 24, 1951 – February 28, 2010) was an American musician and bassist for the music duo Daryl Hall & John Oates and a member of the ''Saturday Night Live'' house band. Early life Wolk was born and raised in Yonkers ...

as a personal influence. Lewis describes Wolk, longtime band member and musical director for Hall and Oates, as "an amazing person to be around, and not just a very nice guy, he was a masterful musician."

Photography

Besides being an accomplished musician, Lewis is recognized as a talented photographer. He has documented his travels with Hall & Oates, shooting landscapes of places the band has played, backstage scenes, and portraits of band members and audiences. His work has been showcased in several New England galleries, and featured on album covers and in Hall & Oates’ promotional materials. Lewis became interested in photography as a teen and worked in a photo-processing lab before breaking into the music business. He shot occasionally while with AWB, but took up photography again in earnest when he joined Hall & Oates. In 2003, Hall invited Lewis to bring his camera to a video session for the duo's album

Our Kind of Soul ''Our Kind of Soul'' is the seventeenth studio album by Hall & Oates, released in 2004. The album contains three original tracks and 14 covers of soul hits of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. It is mostly acoustic with some electric guitar and synth ...

. Lewis took a few candid shots, one of which became the cover of the album. Since then, Lewis has taken photos for the band's promotional materials and shot the cover of Hall's 2010 solo release

Laughing Down Crying ''Laughing Down Crying'' is the fifth solo album by American recording artist Daryl Hall. It was released on September 27, 2011, on Verve Records. Co-producer and bandmate Tom "T-Bone" Wolk, T-Bone Wolk died during early recording sessions for th ...

Brazil

In June 2014, Lewis gave his first international interview to Brazil, for the journalist Brina Guglielmo. The interview was given and published in the newspaper "Tribuna Popular," a local newspaper of the city of Pinhalzinho, São Paulo, Brazil.

The White House

In March 2015, Lewis was in The White House with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. In his own words: "This is definitely one of the highlights of my career. Thank you Daryl & John for giving me this experience and so happy to have shared it with this amazing band.""At The White House with President and First Lady."
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Solo albums

Standing On Top of the World (2006)

# Standing On Top of the World # Cloud No. 9 # Never Tell Me # Innocent (Instrumental) # Hello It's Me (Todd Rundgren cover) # History # The Island (Instrumental) # I'll Try # Future Plans (Instrumental) # Over And Out

6 and One (2010)

# Galaxy Quest # Adventure # Jetstream (Instrumental) # She's Gone (Hall & Oates cover song) # Truth (Instrumental) # Love Don't Lie # Lost # Helpless (Instrumental) # Get Back What You Give # Go Ahead (Instrumental)

Enjoy The Ride (2012)

# Determination # One Life # Dirty (Instrumental) # Start to Finish # Enjoy The Ride (Instrumental) # Soul of the City # House on the Corner of the Block # Innocence (Instrumental) # Highway # Earth And Back (Instrumental)

Live And Up Front (2013)

# Introduction (featuring Corrie Lewis) # Never Tell Me # Determination # Adventure # Enjoy The Ride (Instrumental) # Live And Learn # One Life # Soul of the City # Helpless (Instrumental) # Get Back What You Give # Lost

Crusade (2014)

# Crusade # Soundtrack # Sonic Soldier (instrumental) # History # Back to Basics

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Eliot American rock musicians 1962 births Living people Hall & Oates members American soul singers American pop rock singers Musicians from Norwalk, Connecticut 20th-century American singer-songwriters 21st-century American singer-songwriters American male singer-songwriters 20th-century American guitarists 21st-century American guitarists 21st-century American keyboardists 20th-century American drummers American male drummers Singer-songwriters from New York (state) Guitarists from Connecticut Guitarists from New York (state) American male guitarists 21st-century American drummers 20th-century American male singers 21st-century American male singers Singer-songwriters from Connecticut Daryl Hall and the Daryl's House Band members Drummers from Connecticut Drummers from New York (state)