Huey Lewis: Music No Longer Part of My Life

Singer Huey Lewis has shared that music is no longer a part of his life due to severe hearing loss. The 76-year-old revealed on a podcast that he has been profoundly deaf for approximately nine years, a condition stemming from Ménière's disease. This inner-ear disorder has drastically changed his daily existence, making music, which was once central to his identity, now inaudible. Lewis explained that while modern technology like cochlear implants and hearing aids helps him understand spoken words, the complex sound of music is distorted, causing frustration rather than enjoyment.

The hearing collapse, which first impacted his right ear about 35 years ago before affecting his left, forced Huey Lewis and the News to cease touring in 2018. His band canceled performances, including a set at San Francisco's Outside Lands festival, as he could no longer accurately hear pitches to sing. Lewis’s final album with the News, "Weather," released in 2020, was completed using recordings made before his hearing deteriorated to this extent.

Despite the loss, Lewis has found solace in outdoor activities like fly fishing, appreciating nature where hearing is not a requirement. He expressed a hope for future technological advancements but is currently focusing on the positives in his life. Lewis remains connected to the arts through his 2024 Broadway jukebox musical, "The Heart of Rock and Roll."