Music is the soundtrack of his life

At the young age of 8 years, Eddie Lewis begged his folks for a small portable turntable as a Christmas gift. Since then, he turned his allowance money and other teenage earnings into an impressive record collection. He spun his first public gig at age 13 and has since travelled the globe and is known as a talented DJ who always “plays to please” the dancefloor in front of him.

 

Influences abound

Eddie grew up in the 70’s and 80’s listening to pop, rock, disco, funk and Caribbean soca and reggae sounds. In the mid-80’s when house music first appeared on the scene, Eddie soaked up the “new sound” and purchased most of the early hits that are now considered the “classics”, foundation of house. With his extensive knowledge of music, Eddie worked in various local indie record shops and even co-owned a few. It was while working at the first record store that his co-worker, Yves Richard, suggested the idea of doing a radio show. Together they produced a weekly Friday night show called “Noir et Blanc” on CISM 89.3FM. Deep, soulful house music was the essence of the show, but the music was not limited to one style. Acid Jazz, Hip Hop, Funk, Alternative, Tech and Rare Grooves were also an important part of the “Noir et Blanc” music mix. Before the afterhours scene became mainstream, DJ Eddie Lewis with a variety of promoters and was on the bill at many of the early warehouse parties in the city, playing his brand of deep, soulful house.

Today, most DJs are known for one style, but DJ Eddie Lewis loves music too much to be limited to one particular style.

 

Big Poppa was born

 In the late 90’s, DJ Eddie Lewis was given the nickname, Big Poppa, primarily because of the paternal role he played in coaching many younger DJs in Montreal’s Hip Hop music scene. Although he spun at various clubs around the city, when those clubs closed at 3am on Saturday night, DJ Big Poppa was on the decks at his next residency inside the hip hop lounge at Montreal’s legendary Club Sona Afterhours, where he blazed the dancefloor with new and classic joints. During the week, he worked in the offices of 514 Productions and was responsible for booking local and international hip hop DJs to play at Sona.

 

The Business of Music

When he wasn't busy coaching other DJs, spinning or promoting records, DJ Eddie Lewis produced beats at his home studio and also worked as a music buyer for Nice Music (now known as “Death Of Vinyl”). He mixed compilations for various Canadian and international labels, earning a few platinum sales plaques and awards to decorate his office wall. Eddie has also lent his considerable music expertise as a panelist at various seminars and music industry trade shows. He was asked to judge DJ competitions, select winners in the R&B and Hip Hop category for Canada’s Juno Awards, as well as, produce and contribute his influence to numerous Hip Hop concerts in Montreal.