Raymond Lewenthal was born on August 29, 1923, in San Antonio, Texas, to Russian-French Jewish parents. A former child actor in Hollywood, he later studied piano with Lydia Cherkassky and at Juilliard with Olga Samaroff. After winning major competitions in 1945, he debuted with the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1948. His rising career halted in 1953 after a violent assault in Central Park injured his hands. He withdrew from the stage and focused on researching French Romantic composer Charles-Valentin Alkan. In 1963, Lewenthal re-emerged with a radio broadcast and a 1964 Town Hall recital, sparking his role as a leading figure in the Romantic Revival. He revived neglected 19th-century composers and taught at institutions like Mannes College and the Manhattan School of Music. His discography includes recordings for RCA and Columbia, and he published several music editions. Plagued by heart issues, he spent his final years in Hudson, New York, and died in 1988 at age 65.
