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Lewis Records 502 62nd Place, NE Washington, D.C. Paul O. Richardson, proprietor By Jay Bruder with assistance from Kip Lornell
The Lewis label is still a mystery. In "The American 45 and 78 Record Dating Guide; 1940-1959" Galen Gart lists Paul O. Richardson as the proprietor. In a July 1951 city directory his address was given as 502 62nd Place, NE Washington DC. The street no longer exists. But a Billboard ad from16 September 1950 p. 45. lists Lewis Records at P. O. Box 565, Benjamin Franklin Station, 1833 S Street NW, No. 22 Washington 4, DC. It is tempting to link the Lewis name to the backing artist on Number 116, "Prof. William H. Lewis, Hawaiian Guitarist," but this is only speculation. The series appears to date from the early 50's. Specifically, Bill Daniels dates number 111 to October 1950. "The Cash Box" magazine for this period does not have any advertisements for Lewis records. As normally follows when record companies did not advertise in the trade magazines there is no editorial coverage of Lewis Records in The Cash Box. There were probably 21 releases in the Lewis 100 series. Who knows what gems might turn up with a little luck!
LEWIS 102 Mary Johnson Davis and Her Gospel Singers Come Ye Disconsolate A Have You Any Witness In Your Heart B Doug Seroff has kindly suggested this would be Mary Johnson Davis who recorded for Coleman in 1949 for Atlantic in 1949-50. This fits because the Lewis side would probably have been released in the early 1950's.
LEWIS
103 LEWIS 111 circa September 1950 THE MELLONAIRES AND STAN FORD VOCALIST WON'T BE LONG BEFORE XMAS A THE MELLONAIRES, TOM SINGLETERRY GUITARIST, JAMES DENDY PIANO JUST A MELLOW RIFF B a. Silver on dark blue. 78 rpm copy confirmed. Date from Bill Daniels American 45 and 78 Record Dating Guide; 1940-1959. "Won't Be Long Before Xmas" is a routine Christmas number. The flip of 111, "Just A Mellowriff," is a very tame shuffle boogie instrumental. The late Tom Singleterry was the guitarist for the Progressive Four during their stay at DC records. James Dendy was a pianist much more steeped in the Swing and Bop traditions than in R&B. I talked to him in 1987. At that time he was playing the cocktail lounge circuit in North East Washington. He absolutely did not remember making the record. He did not know anything about the label. He had no recollection of the mysterious Prof. Lewis. Mr. Dendy died in 1988.
LEWIS 114 SILVER LEAF GOSPEL SINGERS, Prof. W. SIMS PIANO (FEMALE DUET) ONLY A LOOK HAPPY IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD From Hayes and Laughton, 1993 edition, p.639 Joel Slotnikoff Auction 32, 15 June 2006
LEWIS 115 September 1950 MELLONAIRES YOU ARE A PART OF ME unknown a. Copy not confirmed. Ad Billboard Magazine Sep. 9, 1950 p. 45.
LEWIS 116 MAURICE C. HILL, PROF. WILLIAM H. LEWIS (HAWAIIAN GUITARIST) IF JESUS BORE HIS CROSS, SO CAN I A WE'LL UNDERSTAND IT BETTER BY AND BY B a. Silver on dark blue. 78 rpm copy confirmed.
LEWIS 117 GENERAL FOUR QUARTET MOVE UP A LITTLE HIGHER Part 1 A MOVE UP A LITTLE HIGHER Part 1 B (Arr. by General Four) a. Silver on dark blue. 78 rpm copy confirmed.
LEWIS 119 ELDER C. S. WILLIAMS, L. F. FOY, Pianist HE'S MY KING A EVERYBODY THAT'S LIVING GOT TO DIE B a. Silver on dark blue. 78 rpm copy confirmed.
LEWIS 120 Mary Johnson Davis Come Ye Disconsolate A What Do You Need B a. Silver on dark blue. 78 rpm copy confirmed.
LEWIS 121 MARY J. DAVIS And Her National Gospel Singers, Bobby Crosson, soloist JESUS STEPS RIGHT IN A MARY J. DAVIS And Her National Gospel Singers, Bernice Johnson, soloist Beams of Heaven B a. Silver on dark blue. 78 rpm copy confirmed.
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