Ray Lewis

The Legendary Former Lead Singer of The Drifters

Event Has Passed

Last Show: Friday 10 th January 2020

PizzaExpress Live (Holborn)

In the mid-late 1970's, a talented young singer named Ray Lewis joined one of the world's biggest bands, The Drifters. The existing lead singer, Johnny Moore, was leaving the band, and the group's management, the Treadwell family, decided that Ray was the ideal person to replace him. Ray was born in Los Angeles, and grew up singing in church. One of his first jobs as lead singer was to re-record all of the original Drifters' hits, so the public would recognise him as the voice of The Drifters. He performed alongside the late Bill Fredericks and Johnny Moore as well as Ben E King and went on to become one of the longest serving members of the band, finally leaving in the late 1980's to pursue a solo career. Since then he has performed around the world as an artist in his own right. 

Read more ...

" Ray Lewis is in the Top 100 Best Male Vocalists in the World"

Ray settled in the UK 20 years ago, and is still in high demand, touring throughout the year and performing Drifters' hits. Ray enjoys world-wide fame thanks to his own unique voice and professional and charismatic aura. He has performed to sell out theatres and audiences in venues around the world, having been associated with great names like Carole King, Whitney Houston, Lionel Ritchie, Paul McCartney and Diana Ross. Without doubt, he is one of the world’s greatest entertainers and enjoys a large following.

After leaving the Military – Ray was invited to audition for the role of Lead Singer of The Drifters …initially due to Johnny Moore leaving the group (later returning to perform alongside Ray and the other members). The audition was successful and after signing on the dotted line so to speak – a new Drifter was born. His first role was to re-record many of The Drifters hits so as to be a recognisable voice for the group. Ray enjoyed many  years with the group working alongside Johnny Moore, Bill Fredericks, Ben E King, Joe Blunt, Clyde Brown – to name a few.

Iitching to spread his wings and try new pastures as a solo artist – Ray finally left to pursue a new path. He settled in the UK – enjoyed taking time to start slowly with his solo career. It took some time to build a new audience as people had always been accustomed to watching Ray perform with a group – adjusting to a solo performer was quite new but Ray worked tirelessly to win over those who may have thought he was ONLY a great vocalist with The Drifters and maybe couldn’t ‘cut it’ on his own ….his hard work paid off and Ray won himself a whole new fan base based simply on Ray Lewis!

Alongside his solo shows – touring extensively around the world …. He then formed a group called ‘STILL DRIFTING featuring RAY LEWIS’ in which he performs with 3 other talented vocalists and pays tribute to the hits he enjoyed with the Treadwell’s Drifters. The group pay homage to those still with us and those whom have passed away.

Ray enjoys world-wide fame thanks to his own unique voice and professional and charismatic aura. Besides his role in the group, he is still concentrating on a solo career and has performed to sell out theatres and audiences in venues around the world, having been associated with great names like Carole King, Whitney Houston, Lionel Ritchie, Paul McCartney and Diana Ross. Without doubt, he is one of the world’s greatest entertainers and enjoys a large following.

2009 saw Ray finally step out and make the decision to record a solo album – it has taken 4 years, there have been tears and laughter, joy and some misery but after much work ‘DID YOU EVER’ was released on March 4th 2013 – a new era for Ray has followed with rave reviews following a huge round of press & media publicising the album

This energetic and vibrant vocalist is second to none …he is now embracing a new generation and just as excited now as when he began all those years ago.

raylewismusic.com

Steve Allen

Joe Britton

Kevin Keating

Lee Beards