Huey Lewis Biography Quotes 9 Report mistakes

Early Life and Education
Hugh Anthony Cregg III, known worldwide as Huey Lewis, was born on July 5, 1950, in New York City and grew up in Marin County, California. Drawn early to rhythm and blues and the communal spirit of the Bay Area scene, he balanced academic promise with a mounting passion for music. After graduating from boarding school, he enrolled at Cornell University to study engineering, then left to travel and busk across Europe, sharpening his harmonica chops on streets and in hostels. By the time he returned to Northern California, he had a seasoned ear and a clear sense that his future lay in performance.

Finding His Sound: Clover and the Bay Area
Back in the Bay Area, Lewis became part of the fertile local club circuit. He joined Clover, a versatile country-rock and R&B-leaning band that included Sean Hopper and John McFee. The group relocated to the United Kingdom in the mid-1970s, chasing a record deal and soaking up the pub-rock ethos then animating London. While Clover members famously backed Elvis Costello on his debut album, Lewis himself did not appear on those sessions. He nonetheless emerged as a charismatic frontman and harmonica player, occasionally performing under the name "Bluesy Huey Lewis" and sitting in with friends; he contributed harmonica to Thin Lizzy's live performances, forging a memorable connection with Phil Lynott. When Clover dissolved, Lewis returned to San Francisco with the lessons of a hard-working band and the instincts of a bandleader.

Huey Lewis and the News: Formation and Breakthrough
By 1979, Lewis had formed American Express with Sean Hopper, Bill Gibson, Johnny Colla, Mario Cipollina, and later Chris Hayes. After signing to Chrysalis Records, the group adopted the name Huey Lewis and the News. Their early singles built momentum, and the album Picture This (1982) carried "Do You Believe in Love", penned by Robert John "Mutt" Lange, into the U.S. Top 10. The chemistry of the core lineup, Lewis's soulful vocals and harmonica, Hopper's keyboards, Colla's sax and guitar, Hayes's deft lead lines, Cipollina's bass, and Gibson's crisp drums, was immediate and distinct.

Global Pop Stardom and Cultural Reach
Sports (1983) vaulted the band to multi-platinum success on the strength of radio-dominating singles like "The Heart of Rock & Roll", "I Want a New Drug", "Heart and Soul", and "If This Is It". Their blend of sharp songwriting, punchy rhythms, and polished hooks translated effortlessly to MTV, aided by collaborators such as engineer-mixer Bob Clearmountain. In 1985, "The Power of Love" from Back to the Future became a No. 1 hit and earned an Academy Award nomination, while Lewis made a cheeky cameo in the film. The follow-up album, Fore! (1986), extended their chart reign with "Stuck with You", "Hip to Be Square", "Doing It All for My Baby", and "Jacob's Ladder", the latter written by Bruce Hornsby and John Hornsby. The band's horn-driven arrangements, often steered onstage by Colla and augmented by close ties to Bay Area horn players, helped define their signature. During these years, Lewis also appeared with the all-star USA for Africa ensemble on "We Are the World", reflecting the era's spirit of communal pop philanthropy.

Craft, Collaboration, and Range
The band followed with Small World (1988), which showcased broader influences and featured a cameo by jazz great Stan Getz, and Hard at Play (1991), whose singles kept the group present on radio as musical fashions shifted. Four Chords & Several Years Ago (1994) honored the R&B and early rock that shaped Lewis, while Plan B (2001) and Soulsville (2010), the latter a lovingly cut tribute to Stax Records, underscored the group's durability and roots literacy. Across decades, essential collaborators included manager Bob Brown and a later-era lineup featuring bassist John Pierce and touring guitarists who stepped in after Chris Hayes's departure, keeping the band's live spirit intact.

Film, Television, and Pop Culture
Lewis's profile widened beyond the band. He acted in the film Duets (2000) and recorded a warmly received version of "Cruisin' " with Gwyneth Paltrow. His music threaded through television and film, from comedies to dramas, while "Hip to Be Square" became a pop-culture touchstone. A long-running, amicable rapport with peers, from Bruce Hornsby to members of Tower of Power and Thin Lizzy, testified to his standing as a musician's musician.

Adversity, Advocacy, and the Stage
In 2018, Lewis revealed that he was suffering from Meniere's disease, a disorder affecting the inner ear that severely limited his ability to hear and sing onstage. Concerts were canceled, but he remained active in the studio and as a public voice for hearing health. Weather (2020), a concise late-career release recorded before his diagnosis worsened, was praised for its warmth and craftsmanship. He also helped shepherd The Heart of Rock & Roll, a jukebox musical built from the band's catalog, which opened on Broadway in 2024 after an earlier run at The Old Globe in San Diego. The project brought together theater collaborators, while reaffirming his music's durability and intergenerational appeal.

Personal Life and Legacy
Lewis married Sidney Conroy in the 1980s, and they have two children; though the marriage ended, the family remained a private anchor amid public success. A longtime outdoors enthusiast, he has split his time between the Bay Area and rural life, valuing community, fly-fishing, and quiet away from the road. His circle, bandmates like Sean Hopper, Johnny Colla, Bill Gibson, Chris Hayes, and Mario Cipollina; producers and engineers; friends such as Phil Lynott and Bruce Hornsby; and managers like Bob Brown, helped shape a career that bridged bar-band grit and chart-topping polish.

Huey Lewis's legacy rests on sturdy, good-humored songs, crisp musicianship, and a voice that carried both blue-eyed soul and barroom camaraderie. He and the News turned classic American R&B and rock instincts into arena-sized singalongs without losing their club-band heart. Even as health challenges curtailed touring, he remained a symbol of craft, optimism, and the enduring power of a great hook paired with a generous spirit.

Our collection contains 9 quotes who is written by Huey, under the main topics: Witty One-Liners - Motivational - Music - Sarcastic - Aging.

Other people realated to Huey: Bruce Paltrow (Producer)