Leon Lewis

American composer, conductor, band leader, teacher and pianist. Father of singer/actress Monica Lewis. Born on March 30, 1890 in Kansas City, Missouri, Died October 5, 1960 Los Angels, California. Raised in Chicago. At age 14 he won a scholarship to study with Theodor Leschetizky at the Royal Conservatory in Vienna. In 1910 he returned to the United States and gave piano concerts throughout the country. Lewis eventually turned to theatrical work and scored silent films. Lewis began composing concert music about 1940. At least one of his works, the Israeli Suite, received a number of performances between 1956 and 1961, including performances by the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and over CBS television. During the 1920s he was musical director of radio station WBBM in Chicago. Some time later he became a program director, conductor and consultant at CBS. He had a radio program with him and his orchestra in 1934 on WNER in New York. Beginning in 1942, he had a show called "Music & the Child", a Tuesday morning educational series on WFAS in White Plains, NY. He directed the program with the theory that appreciation of wholesome music may be inculcated in children at an early age. The Chicago American of April 12, 1913, at the time of his engagement by the College, said: "A. Leon Bloom, young Russian pianist of phenomenal local following and romantic antecedents, has been added to the faculty of the Chicago Musical College. His grandfather was banished from Russia to Siberia after his property had been confiscated and Bloom was reared in closest economy. He studied under Leschetitzky and then toured Europe, appearing with Kocian, Kubelik and Elman, and gave concerts in Europe in association with Salander, the violin virtuoso. He also toured with Mme. Rosa Olitzka, the operatic contralto. He has a personality as well as the comprehension and technique of his art."