I first met Shirley Lewis in 1989, when I was judging a Battle of the Blues Bands at Harpers Ferry in Alston and was amazed to discover that Boston was home to a singer who was every bit as dynamic as any diva on the national circuit. She lived in Newburyport at the time but somewhere along the way she moved to Newton Corner and later Waban. She was a regular at the United Methodist Church in Newton every Sunday.
Though never a star, this woman could sing!
Lewis died of cervical cancer May 5 at her Waban home, the Globe reported this week. She was 76.
A service will be held at 3 p.m. June 9 in American Legion Post 440 in Newton, complete with a Dixieland band and the Rev. Charlotte Pridgen-Randolph presiding.
This video, made back in the ’80s is one of the few I could find online.
Sad news. Shirley was the lead singer in my uncle’s blues band, The Movers, in the late ’80s. I remember her as a classy woman. And man, could she wail.
Hey my friend, I listened to this Lewis clip. I am a blues/rock singer as well! Her daughter Angela is my FB friend and I jammed with her one night with the band in Salem MA…..Angela is very sweet and def. nice to sing with! If you’d like to do another band thing, let me know! I play occasionally around the North Shore and will be up in New Hampshire.
Blessings and Kind Regards to you!
-Lisa Landy
She was unique and New England is lucky to have her. Also, I have a special fondness for people from South Jersey. ***Who was the fabulous BASS PLAYER in that clip you found??? A great audio mix; the bass could not have blended in there more perfectly.
@Burnt – that would be the fabulous Lee Lundy on bass guitar!! One of the finest bassmen in the US!!
Shirley Lewis was a star. The people star the Regal Queen of the Blues Miss Shirley Lewis who left this world way too soon. But will always be remembered here in New England around the world and gold. Especially by her friends fans and families in the USA and Canada. Rip Shirley Lewis thank you for the Memories thank you for the Blues the smile the music and love and all the wonderful wonderful wonderful musicians better now with you in heaven the one to be with you in heaven. And all the ones you left behind continue on with the music that touches all of our souls on the Blues Cruise in Newburyport and share Fest and the Bull Run restaurants and all of the others I thought… you should have Moe and Joe getting it Down on video tape. While they are getting down to the music.