REVIEWS
A Genius Pioneer in The Electronic Music Industry Tells His Story
Don Lewis is one of the chief American pioneers in the Electronic Music Field. Many look to Robert Moog as the creator of the Synthesizer, but Don Lewis not only built his own machines but also was a top flight musician in his own right and created the electronic sounds of most of the instruments of the modern classical orchestra as well as creating electronically the vocal sounds of choruses and melded them into musical styles from gospel and Rhythm & Blues right up through to some of the great classical works of Handel and Beethoven that he then performed himself on his machines for the public. A genius all around who had the respect of such musicians as Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson as well as his peer scientists who developed the electronic musical instruments along with him.
Don Lewis paved the way for artists in his field to be finally accepted by the skeptical musical unions that felt threatened at first by him and were slow to recognize this evolution of the art form.
Kudos to the people who put this documentary together so well to allow him to tell his story so beautifully. As a professional opera singer for 40+ years who in my early days nurtured my own career in the Bay Area, I treasure this film and the memories it brings back of a time dozens of classical musicians like myself from the SF Symphony and Opera came together to join patrons in a restaurant known as The Hungry Tiger in San Francisco in the late 1970's and early 1980's to marvel at what this genius performed night after night on his creation known as LEO to a completely filled room overlooking San Francisco Bay which was electrified with musical numbers that brought everyone to their feet until the wee hours of the morning. International musicians, singers, and conductors of the highest caliber were drawn to this restaurant in the Cannery in those days to listen to Don take musical standards from across the spectrum of styles and recreate them with his electronic wizardry.
This DVD gives musicians and fans of electronic music a chance to see how the art form was created and follow the remarkable story of a man who started out on a simple organ in a Dayton, Ohio church and followed his destiny to witness and contribute to the birth of electronic music and fuse his brilliant scientific talents into his musical gifts and create a genre that was subsequently used by Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson, and now is heard across the current pop music artists of our time as well as jazz artists such as Herbie Hancock and even into the classical field as well. A fascinating journey is told about a deeply talented individual who to this day still continues to explore and develop ever deeper into his art form.
Kevin J. Langan
AN AMAZING STORY "BEHIND THE SCENES"
I've known Don & Julie Lewis for many years. I've admired Don's musical talents since the day I first heard him perform at the NAMM Show back in Chicago. But, I never knew all the obstacles and challenges that he faced and successfully overcame. This documentary is more than a fascinating story behind one of the pioneers of electronic music which we all enjoy today. It's the story of overcoming prejudice, discrimination and an overt "hate" campaign. Through it all, Don stood tall and carried on. In the end, his determination, character, personal enthusiasm and joyful music prevails. Buy this DVD, watch it, and appreciate an enormous talent in a new and enlightened way.
Dennis Houlihan
Outstanding and true genius documentary
This film is outstanding and true genius. A gripping and intriguing story that weaved Don Lewis' life, settings, events, people, and plots in flashbacks tastefully done with Don, himself, narrating at times and with other key people who played an important role in his journey. This is an extraordinary story on the life of Don Lewis an electronic genius, gifted musician, and vocalist who was ahead of his time. He envisioned, initiated, and developed in collaboration with others to bring this instrument LEO, (Live Electronic Orchestra), into fruition. The travesty of a fruitful career was impeded when the musician's union stopped his journey.
But there's a twist to this story which makes the viewers want to learn more. A brilliant and ingenious documentary that keeps you on pins and needles.
His unbelievable performances on LEO are mindboggling.
It is amazing how many unique and distinctive level of sounds, mood changes, we as an audience, can see and experience in real time.
Don with LEO takes you on a magical voyage as he orchestrates, executes, sings and plays electrifying music with sounds like thunderstorms, birds chirping, choral vocals, and systematic rhythms that changes throughout his performance. His contributions in the early '70s made the broad spectrum of musical synthesizers that we hear today possible.
Rita and Henry Merrick
An epic chapter in American music history!
The Documentary highlights Don Lewis’ musical genius at an important time in American music history. Don is a gifted musician/entertainer and an engineer whose vision, like all creative geniuses, drove him to do almost the unimaginable with the creation of LEO. But unlike other music documentaries, this one goes a step further and chronicles the legal battles against his own SF Bay Area artists union, who stripped Don of his livelihood, only to later be vindicated in court. Every music fan must see this story.
Cal
5.o out of 5 stars
A great documentary for any music lover
This is a must see film for anyone interested in musical history or synthesizers! Don Lewis is the most charismatic and talented human, you can't help but smile watching him perform and talk about his work. Combine the fantastic subject matter with the 10/10 soundtrack and you have yourself a very entertaining film!
Sophie
5.o out of 5 stars
Highly Recommended
My DVD of the Don Lewis documentary just arrived!!
This is a brilliant and moving documentary about an amazing man. Highly recommended #DonLewis #NedAugustenborg
Robbie Puricelli