Lewis Family
Bands / Ensembles
The Lewis Family (1951–2009) was a bluegrass gospel group from Lincolnton, Georgia. It was founded by Roy "Pop" Lewis and Pauline "Mom" Lewis with the family adopting the name and an all-gospel repertoire in 1951. The original lineup was Pop Lewis on bass, sons Wallace (guitar), Talmadge (mandolin and fiddle) and Roy "Little Roy" (banjo), and daughters Miggie, Polly and Janis, who sang trio harmony. Esley Lewis also briefly performed with the band. In April 1954 the family began appearing on WJBF television in Augusta, Georgia. Grandsons Travis Lewis and Lewis Phillips later joined. The family toured regularly from the 1960s on and hosted an annual Lewis Family Homecoming & Bluegrass Festival in Lincolnton. They were inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1992, the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2005, and the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2006. Mom Lewis died in 2003, Pop in 2004 and Wallace in 2007. The band announced its retirement in May 2009. Polly Lewis Copsey died in August 2018. After the family retired, Little Roy Lewis formed the Little Roy & Lizzy Show with Lizzy Long. Janis Lewis formed the Lewis Tradition with Lewis Phillips, Travis Lewis and Travis's son Jameson.