INTRODUCTION

VEL LEWIS
Hammond Organist • Vocalist • Multi-Instrumentalist • Songwriter • Producer • Entertainer

Vel Lewis is an award-winning American Hammond organist, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer and entertainer whose career spans more than five decades of soul, funk, R&B, jazz, blues, gospel and groove-driven music.

From Philadelphia soul and Britain's legendary Northern Soul movement to international touring with Dionne Warwick, television music placements and contemporary radio success, Lewis brings an unusually broad musical history to the stage. At the center of his sound is the Hammond organ—an instrument he uses as a powerful lead voice alongside his vocals, incorporating the soulfulness of the church, the rhythmic drive of funk and R&B, the expression of blues and the improvisational freedom of jazz.

Lewis began his musical journey as a first soprano with the Philadelphia All-Boys Choir, performing at Expo '67 in Montreal, and later studied voice and piano at Settlement Music School. By his teenage years, he was already entering Philadelphia's professional music scene. In 1972, as a member of The Futures, he signed with Philadelphia International Records and later toured with The Delfonics.

In 1974, Lewis co-wrote and sang the opening lead vocal on Life's Reprise Records single “Tell Me Why.” The recording became an enduring favorite within Britain's Northern Soul movement and is documented on the playlist of the legendary Blackpool Mecca in September 1974. Decades later, Warner/Rhino included the recording in its After Hours Northern Soul collections, and Warner Music Group selected it for the 2019 compilation 100 Greatest Northern Soul Classics.

Lewis later expanded into composition and production, with music appearing in television productions including Friends, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Mad About You, Sex and the City and The Sopranos. From 2003–2005, he toured internationally with legendary entertainer Dionne Warwick.

His solo career has produced recordings including All Wound Up, “Forever More” featuring Larry Braggs, “PlayTyme,” “Bossaflowz” and “I Paid The Price.” In 2024, Lewis received the Houston Black Music Award for Best Jazz Male Performer.

In 2026, Lewis released “Smoovee” featuring acclaimed saxophonist Marion Meadows. Written and produced by Lewis and mixed by two-time GRAMMY Award winner Paul Brown, the Hammond-driven single became a #1 Most Added recording and earned chart and radio recognition in the United States and internationally.

Today, Vel Lewis is bringing the complete scope of that musical journey to audiences—not as an artist confined to a single genre, but as a Hammond-driven, groove-centered entertainer whose performances move naturally through soul, funk, R&B, jazz, blues and gospel.

From a soul record spinning at Blackpool Mecca in 1974 to “Smoovee” reaching international radio audiences more than 50 years later, one element has remained constant:

The groove.

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 - Visconde de Maua, RJ, Brasil

REVIEWS

“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