The Ballad of Don Lewis
The Ballad of Don Lewis is the story of an electronic music pioneer whose musical genius and technological vision personified both the creative freedom and institutional fears within the music industry. In the 1970s and 80s, Don gained iconic status throughout the San Francisco live music scene while performing with a revolutionary instrument of his own design – LEO (Live Electronic Orchestra) - an innovative cohesion of synthesizers and sound modules which proved to be a decade ahead of its time.
But while his popularity continued to grow, the Musicians Union publicly protested his performances - claiming that Don Lewis was a threat to the future of the Musicians Union. This ultimately ended his career with the instrument to which he was so inextricably tied.
Twenty years after Lewis left the limelight and placed LEO in storage, the two would be reunited and recognized for their historical contributions at the Museum of Making Music – now the home to LEO.
This exclusive film screening is followed by a Q&A with Don Lewis and film director Ned Augustenborg.