Ezekiel Lewis

{{Short description|American songwriter and producer}} {{Infobox person | name = Ezekiel Lewis | image = Ezekiel Lewis.jpg | birth_place = Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. | education = Morehouse College | occupation = Record executive, songwriter }}

'''Ezekiel Lewis''' is an American record executive who has served since 2023 as President of Epic Records. Prior, he served as Senior VP of A&R at Motown from 2011 to 2017, and held a similar title at Epic from the latter year to 2023.<ref name=":02">{{Cite magazine |last=Mitchell |first=Gail |date=2023-06-01 |title=Ezekiel Lewis Promoted to President of Epic Records |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/ezekiel-lewis-promoted-president-epic-records/ |access-date=2024-03-31 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2018-01-23 |title=Ezekiel 'Zeke' Lewis named EVP of A&R at Epic Records in Los Angeles |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/ezekiel-zeke-lewis-named-evp-of-ar-at-epic-records-in-los-angeles/ |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=Music Business Worldwide |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=2023-06-01 |title=Ezekiel Lewis Named President of Epic Records |url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/epic-records-ezekiel-lewis-president-1235630112/ |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> He is also the founder of the music publishing company Bar Music Group, as well as the production collective the Clutch.<ref name=":02"/>

== Early life and education == Lewis grew up in Montgomery, Alabama.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Simon Glickman and Miles Marshall |title=A TASTE OF RAINMAKERS: EZEKIEL LEWIS |url=https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=334408&title=A-TASTE-OF-RAINMAKERS:-EZEKIEL-LEWIS |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=HITS Daily Double |language=en}}</ref> Lewis graduated from Morehouse College.<ref name=":02"/>

== Career == Lewis signed with David Foster’s 143 Records as a musician after graduating from college.^{<ref name=":02"/><ref name=":1" />} He served as a composer for Luther Vandross’s Grammy-winning album ''Dance with My Father,'' which was released in 2003.^{<ref name=":02"/>}<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Ezekiel Lewis Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ezekiel-lewis-mn0000634850 |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref>

In 2004, Lewis co-founded songwriting and production collective The Clutch, crafting songs for artists such as Mary J. Blige, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Omarion, Fantasia, Jennifer Lopez, Ciara, and Timbaland.^{<ref name=":2" />}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-04-10 |title=The Clutch Talks Songwriting at Emory University |url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/the_clutch_talks_songwriting_at_emory_university |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=BMI.com |language=en}}</ref> Notable credits from this period include Mary J. Blige’s Grammy-winning 2005 classic ''The Breakthrough,.''^{<ref name=":02"/><ref name=":3"/>} '' ''"Freakshow" and “Radar” from Britney Spears' 2007 opus ''Blackout'''',''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Mitchell |date=2023-06-18 |title=The history of a Britney Spears masterpiece |url=https://thespectator.com/book-and-art/history-britney-spears-masterpiece-blackout/ |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=The Spectator World |language=en-US}}</ref>'' ''and Justin Bieber's 2009 triple-platinum hit “One Less Lonely Girl.”^{<ref>{{Cite web |last=Benitez-Eves |first=Tina |date=2024-02-11 |title=3 Songs You Didn't Know Usher Wrote For, and With, Justin Bieber |url=https://americansongwriter.com/3-songs-you-didnt-know-usher-wrote-for-and-with-justin-bieber/ |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=American Songwriter |language=en-US}}</ref>}

He worked closely with R&B singer Trey Songz, contributing to his first album ''I Gotta Make It'' in 2005.^{<ref name=":2" />}<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Simon Glickman and Miles Marshall |title=A TASTE OF RAINMAKERS: EZEKIEL LEWIS |url=https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=334408&title=A-TASTE-OF-RAINMAKERS:-EZEKIEL-LEWIS |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=HITS Daily Double |language=en}}</ref>

Lewis founded the music publishing company Bar Music Group in 2010.^{<ref name=":02"/>}

The company represents a number of artists, songwriters and producers including John “SK” McGee (Future, Trey Songz, Pusha T, Kevin Gates) and Najja McDowell (Trey Songz’ “2 Reasons” featuring T.I., “Simply Amazing” and “Dive In”). He started to climb the label ranks in 2011, when he was named Senior Vice President of A&R at Motown Records in 2011.^{<ref name=":02"/>}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-01 |title=Ezekiel Lewis Named President of Epic Records |url=https://deanemediasolutions.com/ezekiel-lewis-named-president-of-epic-records/ |access-date=2024-03-31 |language=en-US}}</ref> While at Motown Records, he worked on music by artists such as Ne-Yo, Lil Yachty, and T.I.^{<ref name=":02"/>}<ref name=":3" />

With a knack for sniffing out hits and lifting great artists to new heights, in 2017, Lewis was appointed Executive Vice President of A&R at Epic Records.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=bigced |date=2023-06-02 |title=Ezekiel Lewis Promoted to President of Epic Records |url=https://www.theindustrycosign.com/ezekiel-lewis-promoted-to-president-of-epic-records/ |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=The Industry Cosign |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Variety Staff |date=2018-01-23 |title=Epic Records Names Ezekiel Lewis EVP of A&R |url=https://variety.com/2018/music/news/epic-records-ezekiel-zeke-lewis-1202673845/ |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> In this capacity, he worked on music with artists such as 21 Savage, the Black Eyed Peas, Future, and Meghan Trainor.^{<ref name=":02"/>}<ref name=":4" /> He also contributed to Mariah Carey’s 2018 album ''Caution.''^{<ref name=":3" />}<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Leight |first=Elias |date=2018-11-21 |title=Mariah Carey Made Her Best Album of the Decade by Taking Back Control |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/making-of-mariah-carey-caution-album-757429/ |access-date=2024-03-31 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> He did production work on Kevin Hart’s Grammy-nominated 2018 comedy album ''What Now?''<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=IT'S OFFICIAL: ZEKE IS NEW EPIC EVP, A&R |url=https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=310177&title=ITS-OFFICIAL:-ZEKE-IS-NEW-EPIC-EVP-A |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=HITS Daily Double |language=en}}</ref>

Lewis also spearheaded major comebacks for the Black Eyed Peas and Meghan Trainor. The exec helped guide Black Eyed Peas on their 2020 album Translation, which included the smash hits “Ritmo (Bad Boys for Life)” and “Mamacita.” which were included in ''Billboard''’s Hot Latin Songs chart.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Flores |first=Griselda |date=2020-12-17 |title=Why Latin Music Couldn't Get Enough of Sampling In 2020 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/latin-music-2020-sampling-songs-9501035/ |access-date=2024-03-31 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>

Additionally, he shaped Meghan Trainor’s 2022 album ''Takin’ It Back'', which produced the viral smash "Made You Look."<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Ezekiel Lewis Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ezekiel-lewis-mn0000634850 |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref> During this period, he also A&R'd Giveon’s 2022 album ''Give or Take.''<ref name=":5" />

In 2023, Lewis was appointed President of Epic Records, shepherding the likes of rising pop stars Madison Beer and Zara Larsson to massive success.^{<ref name=":02"/>}<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Legrand |first=Emmanuel |date=2023-06-02 |title=Ezekiel Lewis promoted to President of Epic Records with a focus on A&R |url=https://creativeindustriesnews.com/2023/06/ezekiel-lewis-promoted-to-president-of-epic-records-with-a-focus-on-ar/ |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=Creative Industries News |language=en-US}}</ref> He was also named to ''Billboard’s'' Power 100 List<ref name=":4" /> and was honored at the Creative Community for Peace’s fifth annual Ambassadors for Peace event.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PEACE MAKERS |url=https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=337846&title=PEACE-MAKERS |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=HITS Daily Double |language=en}}</ref> The accolades continued in 2024, Lewis being named ''Billboard'' Executive of the Week for his work on Tyla’s song “Water.”<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Rys |first=Dan |date=2024-01-19 |title=How Tyla's 'Water' Flooded the Airwaves & Catapulted Its Star to the Global Stage |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/tyla-water-radio-hit-global-star/ |access-date=2024-03-31 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Select Discography == {| class="wikitable" !Year !Artist !Work !Credits |- |2001 |Ezekiel Lewis |Rider like me - on Osmosis Jones Soundtrack |Singer |-

|- |2003 |Luther Vandross |Dance With My Father |Composer |- |2005 |Trey Songz |I Gotta Make It |Composer |- |2005 |Mary J. Blige |Take Me As I Am |Composer |- |2006 |Jagged Edge |Jagged Edge |Composer |- |2006 |The Isley Brothers / Ronald Isley |Baby Makin' Music |Producer, Vocal (Background), Voice Arrangement, Vocal Producer, Composer |- |2006 |Omarion |21 |Composer |- |2007 |Kevin Michael |Kevin Michael |Composer |- |2007 |Mario |Go |Composer |- |2007 |Omarion |Ice Box |Composer |- |2007 |Britney Spears |Freakshow |Co-writer |- |2007 |Britney Spears |Radar |Co-writer |- |2007 |Keke Palmer |So Uncool |Composer |- |2008 |Amerie |Because I love You |Composer |- |2008 |Danity Kane |Anonymous Hit Pack |Composer |- |2008 |Danity Kane |Welcome to the Dollhouse |Composer |- |2008 |Donnie Klang |Just A Rolling Stone |Composer |- |2008 |The Pussy Cat Dolls |Doll Domination |Composer |- |2008 |Tiffany Evans |Tiffany Evans |Composer |- |2008 |Britney Spears |Circus |Composer |- |2008 |Jesse McCartney |Departure |Drum Programming, Vocals (Background), Songwriter, Composer |- |2009 |Ginuwine |A Man'sThoughts |Vocal Producer |- |2009 |Keril Hilson |In a Perfect World |Composer |- |2009 |Justin Bieber |My World |Composer, Producer |- |2009 |Chris Cornell |Part of Me |Composer |- |2009 |Various Artists |Punk Goes Pop, Vol. 2 |Composer |- |2009 |Chris Cornell |Scream |Vocals (Background), Composer |- |2009 |Noel Gourdin |After My Time |Composer |- |2009 |Britney Spears |Circus |Composer |- |2009 |Justin Bieber |One Less Lonely Girl |Composer |- |2010 |Justin Bieber |My Worlds Acoustic |Composer |- |2010 |Justin Bieber |My Worlds |Composer |- |2010 |Trey Songz |Passion, Pain & Pleasure |Composer |- |2010 |Piano Tribute Players |Piano Tribute to Justin Bieber |Composer |- |2010 |Jaheim |Another Round |Composer |- |2010 |Ronald Isley |Mr. I |Composer |- |2011 |Britney Spears |B in the Mix: The Remixes, Vol. 2 |Composer |- |2011 |Justin Bieber |Chartbuster Karaoke Gold : Justin Bieber |Composer |- |2011 |Various Artists |Clubbers Guide 2011 |Vocal Producer |- |2011 |Various Artists |Ibiza Annual 2011 |Vocal Producer |- |2012 |Trey Songz |Chapter V |Composer |- |2012 |The OMG Girlz |Where the boys At |Composer |- |2012 |Britney Spears |Femme Fatale/Circus |Composer |- |2013 |Britney Spears |In the Zone/Circus |Composer |- |2013 |Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas Album |The Florida Files |A & R composer, Producer |- |2013 |B. Smith |The Florida Files |Composer |- |2014 |Trey Songz |Trigga |Composer |- |2015 |Kevin Ross |Dream |Composer |- |2016 |Kevin Ross |Push It On Me |Composer |- |2017 |Kevin Ross |Look Up |Composer |- |2018 |Chris Cornell |Chris Cornell |Composer, Backing Vocals |- |2020 |Black Eyed Peas |Translations |Composer |}

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Ezekiel}} Category:American songwriters Category:American male songwriters Category:American record producers Category:21st-century American composers Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Morehouse College alumni Category:Songwriters from Alabama Category:Businesspeople from Alabama Category:Record producers from Alabama Category:Musicians from Montgomery, Alabama Category:21st-century American male composers