The best advice Huey Lewis says ever received came from his former mother-in-law.
While moving the aging woman into an assisting living facility, she looked Lewis dead in the eye and told him, “Don’t get old,” he recalled Friday night during a press conference prior to his induction into the People’s Music Hall of Fame.
Lewis is 74 years old now. His hair and beard have gone gray. The majority of his hearing has been lost to Meniere’s disease. But his catalog of Huey Lewis and the News hits haven’t lost any of their vigor — even among young audiences.
On Friday night, Lewis became the inaugural inductee into the People’s Music Hall of Fame. He was honored in a ceremony at Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City, which included performances of Lewis' hits from 200 young, local musicians.
“When I see young people performing music that was written before they were born, it’s very gratifying. It feels great,” Lewis said.
“I love the fact that the music lives. ... It’s very interesting. It’s kind of a spiritual thing,” he added. “You never know if (a song) is going to resonate with anybody or not, and sometimes you’re very surprised.”
In his decades-long career, the “Power of Love” singer has received limited accolades. The People’s Music Hall of Fame, which is based in Utah, aims to recognize artists, like Lewis, who have been overlooked for awards in the music industry.
Co-founders of The People’s Music Hall of Fame Caleb Chapman and Adam “The Professor of Rock” Reader selected Lewis as an inductee largely because his music is “timeless,” Chapman said.
The musicians who performed Lewis' music on Friday night were all between the ages of 10 to 18, but none of them required an introduction to his enduring tracks.
“They love his music. It’s timeless. It’s great music,” said Chapman. “They already knew all these tunes, and they were already connected with them. I think (that is) a real testament to the staying power of this genius right here.”
Late in his career, Lewis formed his own reasoning for why his music has maintained a lasting appeal.
When he starting writing music, Lewis said he wanted to “write songs that were not time-sensitive ... old school type stuff.”
“I realized sometime late that, curiously, the songs that I’d written in my 20s were actually more appropriate for somebody in their 30s or 40s, oddly enough.”
He continued, “I’ve always sort of written from that perspective ... but maybe that has something to do with why they’ve endured a little bit.”
Lewis says losing his hearing had been ‘frustrating’
Nearly 30 years ago, Lewis completely lost his hearing in his right ear. It “freaked” him out, but he eventually came to terms with it and adapted to relying solely on his right ear.
“And then seven years ago, my left ear failed right before a gig in New Orleans, and it was a horrible thing. I just went on a stage and I couldn’t hear anything,” Lewis recalled. “It was devastating.”
He was diagnosed with Meniere’s disease, a condition of the inner ear that causes severe vertigo and hearing loss.
For six months, Lewis tried anything he was told could improve his hearing. Renowned ENTs. Acupuncture. Chiropractic treatments. Low salt and organic diets. He exhausted all his options, and nothing cured his condition.
“I can’t identify pitch anymore. It’s very frustrating. Tonight, I’ll have a hard time recognizing the songs that are played. I will be able to, because I know the tempos, I know the beat, you know, but it’s (been) a tough pill to swallow.”
Now, when music is playing, Lewis only hears “noise distortion.”
After his diagnosis, Lewis said he “pretty much stayed in bed for six months,” until his son told him it was time to “get on with life.”
“So I try to stay busy, but I miss music,” Lewis said. “It’s one thing not to be able to perform. ... I’ve done plenty of that, but I can’t even enjoy music.”
In April, Lewis is scheduled to receive Cochlear implants. He hopes it will help his hearing.
“A lot of things have changed. Obviously, I have a different life now. I’m not on the road. I don’t do 130 shows a year. It’s given me plenty of time,” he said.
“But I’m still a very lucky guy. Years zero through 60 were fantastic, and so I’m still thankful, there’s lots of people worse off than me, so I’m still happy”