The present invention relates to an LED lighting system producing light having improved Color Rendering Index (CRI). The system includes a plurality of LEDs wherein the LEDs have at least a first and second characteristic wavelength, and a mixed phosphor layer overlying at least one of a portion of the plurality of LEDs, the phosphor layer absorbing at least a portion of the LED-emitted light and producing phosphor-emitted light, wherein the phosphors includes a third characteristic wavelength and a fourth characteristic wavelength, wherein the third characteristic wavelength and fourth characteristic wavelength are not the same.