INTRODUCTION

Vel Lewis (Velbert Lewis, Jr.) is an American contemporary jazz artist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Best known for his expressive work on the Hammond organ, he is also an accomplished pianist, keyboardist, drummer, and bassist.

Lewis began his musical career at an early age as a first soprano soloist with the Philadelphia All-Boys Choir, performing internationally, including a featured appearance at Expo ’67 in Montreal. He later studied organ under radio and TV personality Milton Myers and Dr. E. Woodley Kalehoff, former White House pianist to President Harry Truman.

By his teenage years, Lewis was already active in professional recording and performance, appearing on televised jazz programs and contributing to gospel recordings for ABC/Peacock Records with renowned groups such as The Sensational Nightingales and The Dixie Hummingbirds. In 1972, he signed with Philadelphia International Records as a member of The Futures, and later performed with The Delfonics. He also co-wrote and performed lead vocals on a Warner Bros. label release entitled “Tell Me Why,” now ranked as a Top 100 Northern Soul classic.

In the 1990s, Lewis expanded into production and composition, collaborating with Tom Borton and contributing to albums as well as television music including a series of six (6) TV commercials for Chrysler-Plymouth Motors featuring Tina Turner as spokesperson, and contributed to a catalog featured in popular television series including Sex and the City, Friends, The Sopranos, Mad About You, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. From 2003 to 2005, he toured internationally with legendary vocalist Dionne Warwick.

As a solo artist, Lewis has released multiple projects showcasing his signature blend of melody, groove, and contemporary jazz sensibility. His releases have achieved international airplay and chart success, including “Song For My Love,” “Forever More” (featuring Larry Braggs), and collaborations with guitarist Michael Garvin entitled “PlayTyme” and “Bossaflowz.”

In 2024, he was honored with the Houston Black Music Award for Best Jazz Male Performer, recognizing his enduring contribution to the genre and his continued impact on audiences worldwide.

Vel is President and Founder of F2F Music Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, educational and performing arts organization, located in Fort Bend County. Visit F2FMusicFoundation.org for more information.

Award-winning Hammond ® organist/keyboardist Vel Lewis is an accomplished singer, producer, and arranger, whose music can be found on well-known TV shows The Sopranos, Mad About You, Friends, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and many more. Vel has performed on the same concert stages with Frankie Beverly and Maze, The O'Jays, Grover Washington, The Spinners, The Whispers, The Stylistics, and The Supremes, to name a few. He also toured with Dionne Warwick on her World Tour for three years before embarking on his own solo career.

Past Performances

Vel Lewis has headlined or shared the stage with legendary artists
in festivals and music venues around the world, including:

SXSW - Austin, TX
St. James LIVE - Atlanta, GA
Catalina Jazz Club - Los Angeles, CA
The Woodlands Jazz Festival - The Woodlands, TX
House of Blues - Houston, TX
Sydney Opera House - Sydney, Australia
Apollo Theater - New York, NY

Baltimore Civic Center - Baltimore, MD

Blue Note Rio - Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Mantiqueira Jazz Festival 2025 - Visconde de Maua, RJ, Brasil

“I have your new music “I Paid The Price” and I have listened to it. I did not know you are a vocalist. You did a nice job with the vocals! I like the arrangement of the instruments and the vocals, as they compliment each other. I hear your signature organ playing to tell me it is you. The track is more R&B than SmoothJazz, but I can and will add it to GSRN Jazz, GSRN F&S and it can even fit in GSRN Popular. Again, I will add it and I will air it live on Nov 17th. I will begin to talk it up after I play your older music on Sunday.

Have a good eve and keep up with the fine music!”

— Dwight "DJ Allan J" Jenkins - Global Sensations Radio Network

“Hammond organist Vel Lewis is yet another fine example of the synergy that sizzles between contemporary jazz and soul music from the golden age of Philadelphia. He is building a wonderful bridge from classic soul to smooth jazz.”

— Denis Poole - Smooth Jazz Therapy