Andre Lewis (musician)

Andre Lewis
Andre Lewis
Birth name	Michael Andre Lewis
Also known as	Mandré; The Masked Marauder
Born	December 7, 1948
Origin	Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Died	January 31, 2012 (aged 63); Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
Genres	Funk, rock; rhythm and blues, blues; electronic music
Occupations	Musician, record producer
Instruments	synthesizer, keyboards, bass
Years active	1970s - 1980s
Labels	Motown Records; Rush Hour ; Mirror's Cage Records
Formerly of	Johnny Guitar Watson; Frank Zappa; Maxayn; Buddy Miles; Roky Erickson and the Aliens

Michael Andre Lewis, aka Mandré, (December 7, 1948 in Omaha, Nebraska – January 31, 2012 in Shreveport, Louisiana) was an American musician known for his synthesizer recordings at Motown.^[2] As Andre Lewis he also contributed to Labelle's Moon Shadow and Whitney Houston's Just Whitney. He toured or recorded with Grant Green, The Who, Labelle, Buddy Miles Band, Maxayn, Rufus, White Chocolate, Earth Wind and Fire and Frank Zappa. He was also band leader for Johnny Guitar Watson.

His debut single as Mandré "Solar Flight (Opus I)", was a hit from a self-titled debut album Mandré.^[3] He formerly played with his band Maxayn, named after the singer, and later his wife, Maxayn Lewis, (born Paulette Parker).^[4]

Discography

Albums

Mandré - 1977
Mandré Two - 1978
M3000 - 1979
Mandré 4 - 1982

Singles

"Solar Flight (Opus 1)" 1977
"Keep Tryin'" 1977
Opus III 1978
"Fair Game" / "Light Years" (Opus IV) 1978
"Spirit Groove" 1979
"Freakin's Fine" 1979

References

^ "Mandré - Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
^ "Andre Lewis - Wax Poetics". Waxpoetics.com. 26 February 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
^ Ben Watson, W. C. Bamberger - Honesty Is Explosive!: Selected Music Journalism 2010- Page 49 "not since the albums Mandre cut for Motown in the mid-' 70s had black pop been so keyboard-based and hi-tech. This was dance music by someone who understood New Wave starkness and minimalism."
^ The Gangster of Love: Johnny Guitar Watson Vincent Bakker - 2009 Page 88 "In fact, this was an existing band, formed by Emry Thomas and Andre Lewis, called Maxayn. Watson became a member, Andre is still the leader. The band was named after Maxayn Lewis, singing member and then companion of Andre Lewis, "

[1] "Mandré - Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 July 2018.

[2] "Andre Lewis - Wax Poetics". Waxpoetics.com. 26 February 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2018.

[3] Ben Watson, W. C. Bamberger - Honesty Is Explosive!: Selected Music Journalism 2010- Page 49 "not since the albums Mandre cut for Motown in the mid-' 70s had black pop been so keyboard-based and hi-tech. This was dance music by someone who understood New Wave starkness and minimalism."

[4] The Gangster of Love: Johnny Guitar Watson Vincent Bakker - 2009 Page 88 "In fact, this was an existing band, formed by Emry Thomas and Andre Lewis, called Maxayn. Watson became a member, Andre is still the leader. The band was named after Maxayn Lewis, singing member and then companion of Andre Lewis, "

[2]