Dates

• Existence: 1927 - 2009

Biography

Carroll Carson Lewis was one of four children born to Walter and Topsy Lewis. Lewis was a 1944 graduate of Sarcoxie High School. After briefly touring with the Don Strickland Orchestra, he married his wife Eleanor and entered the United States Army. A 1949 graduate of Missouri State University (formerly Southwest Missouri State University), Lewis worked his way through school writing musical arrangements for the Jerry Petit and Forrest Wasson big bands. After attending the University of Southern California to pursue a master’s degree, Lewis and Eleanor returned to Missouri where Lewis taught in Blue Eye, served a second tour of duty in the United States Army and taught two years at Willow Springs before returning to the University of Southern California to complete his Master of Music degree in 1954.

Lewis taught band, orchestra and choir in Lexington, Missouri, before assuming the position of band and orchestra director at Raytown High School in 1959. In 1964 he became band and orchestra director at the then new Raytown South High School. A one-year leave of absence allowed Lewis to begin work on a doctorate degree which he earned from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1969. He was appointed music coordinator for the Raytown C-2 School District in 1974. Lewis retired from teaching in 1983, after an illustrious 30-year career.

Lewis was a highly respected and very successful music educator. A 54-year member of the Music Educators National Conference, Lewis received Hall of Fame Awards from the Missouri Association of Jazz Educators, the Missouri Bandmasters Association and the Missouri Music Educators Association. He was recognized by Missouri State University as an Outstanding Alumnus.

Lewis had been a Kansas City professional musician since 1954, performing as a single piano player, as a member of the Carroll Lewis Trio, or with the Tony DiPardo bands. A member of the Kansas City Federation of Musicians, he served as vice president for 20 years. Prior to his death, Lewis had been performing at Skies at the Hyatt.

Carroll Carson Lewis passed away on January 17, 2009, at the age of 81.

Source: Lewis obituary on the Raytown South High School Band Reunion’s website

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