Mandré

Michael Andre Lewis, aka Mandré (? in Omaha, Nebraska – January 31, 2012 in Shreveport, Louisiana) was an American musician known for his synthesizer recordings at Motown.^[1] 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.^[2] He formerly played with his band Maxayn, named after the singer, and later his wife, Maxayn Lewis, (born Paulette Parker).^[3]

Discography

Albums

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

Singles

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

References

1. Obituary - ANDRE LEWIS The man behind Mandré
2. 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."
3. 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 the wife of Andre Lewis, "