Inducted 2000

The patriarch of the famous "First Family of Bluegrass Gospel Music," Pop Lewis led the Lewis Family from relative obscurity in their north Georgia hometown groups in Southern Gospel.

Beginning in the early 1950s, Pop began promoting his talented sons and daughters traveling and singing with them at gospel and bluegrass concerts across the nation. Versatile stage performers, the Lewises chose to sing and play an all-gospel repertoire of songs. Their sincere presentation and down-home humor won them legions of fans. Under Pop's leadership, the family achieved success and established and identity that would endure into the next century. 

Among his many accomplishments was oversight of the Family's incredible run on Augusta television station WJBF, where the "Lewis Family Television Show" ran for 38 years and was ultimately syndicated in 25 separate markets.