Glenn Lewis

Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, R&B singer and songwriter Glenn Lewis has strong musical roots. His father, Glenn Ricketts, was the lead singer of Crack ov Dawn -- a band signed to Columbia in the mid-'70s -- and the catalyst for Lewis' love of Stevie Wonder, as he frequently played the Motown artist's records around the house. With his mother also a musician, he'd accompany his parents to recording studios. He didn't really consider music his calling until his teen years, when he began writing songs. On a whim, Lewis entered a talent show at his high school and won the audience over by performing Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You." After graduating from high school, Lewis began recording demos with musician friend Alex Greggs while holding down day jobs. After work, he would go to clubs to check out other performers. Eventually, he became a respected performer on the Toronto club scene. A demo helped him get a deal to issue his first single, "The Thing to Do," a 1998 Beat Factory/BMG release that earned a Juno Award in the category of Best R&B Recording. His second single, "Bout Your Love," garnered another Juno nomination. Lewis then signed to Epic, where he teamed with songwriting and production duo Dre & Vidal. They assisted Lewis with World Outside My Window, released in March 2002. As "Don't You Forget It" began climbing the charts, Lewis experienced an unexpected pleasure. After hearing the single, Stevie Wonder invited the young vocalist to his Los Angeles radio station. Finishing up an on-air interview, Lewis met the Motown legend, who told him he loved the song and began singing it right then and there. The album peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 chart, and Lewis picked up another Juno Award. After that, his career hit a series of snags. Although his duet with Amel Larrieux on a cover of the Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway classic "Where Is the Love," featured on Stanley Clarke's 1, 2, To the Bass, was nominated for a 2004 Grammy (in the category of Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals), he recorded two albums that were shelved. Lewis was finally able to make a full return in October 2013, when he released Moment of Truth, his second proper album, for the Ruffhouse label. ~ Ed Hogan & Andy Kellman