SHREVEPORT, LA (CelebrityAccess) – Shreveport, Louisiana legend and early rock ‘n’ roll icon, Stan “The Record Man” Lewis, has passed away at the age of 91.
Lewis became a staple of the Shreveport music scene when he opened up Stan’s Music Shop located at 728 Texas Street in Shreveport in 1948. The local establishment, which became known for selling hard to find independent records, appealed to a dedicated customer base, which happened to include a young Elvis Presley.
Lewis, who also booked shows and produced and recorded bands, later expanded his enterprises and founded three record labels, Jewel Records (est. 1963), Paula Records (named for his wife and est. 1965), and Ronn Records (est. 1967). His roster included the likes of Big Joe Turner, John Lee Hooker, Ike & Tina Turner, the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, and Lightinin’ Hopkins among countless others. Early Jewel and Paula LPs were manufactured by Lewis’ good friend, Leonard Chess.
But, Lewis’ impact on early rock ‘n’ roll didn’t stop there. His daughter Susan inspired one of the era’s biggest hits, “Susie Q,” by Dale Hawkins.
Lewis was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2009.
