Biography

Vel Lewis can be found listed on many popular recordings and well-known TV shows The Sopranos, Mad About You, Friends, and Wife Swap USA, all of which feature music he composed.

“Colors of Soul” is a highly charged Jazz and Soul EP that is superbly produced by Vel, combined with the Midas touch of chart-topping producer Greg Manning who added his brand of magic to the mixes. Kevin Chokan on guitars, keeping it in the pocket and soulful. Master percussionist Lenny Castro brings his signature sound to the project. “Colors of Soul” is a mixture of rhythmic songs for the Groove Jazz listener.

His single, “Song For My Love” from his current 2014 EP “Colors Of Soul” is the follow up from his Smooth Jazz Adult Contemporary single “Maybe So”, which continues to chart and solidified his position as a professional jazz/soul/funk musician. “Song For My Love” ended up the year 2014 with a position on the Groove Jazz Music.com (http://groovejazzmusic.com/) “Top 100” chart with over 1,600 spins and 375,000 streams, and it is currently on the 58th Annual Grammy Awards ballot for consideration.

Vel received his second ASCAP Plus Award in November 2014; the first one awarded in 2013 after the release of his singles, “Vitamin D” and “Maybe So”. His jazz/soul/funk track entitled “Vitamin D” released in 2012 continues to be streamed daily while receiving numerous fan “likes” on Jango Radio and other social media sites.

Vel is an accomplished singer, producer, arranger, and Hammond organist, who composes his own music and also plays piano and drums. He has performed on the same stage with Funkadelic/Parliament, Al Green, The Spinners, The O'Jays, Earth, Wind, And Fire, and many other well-known stars at the Apollo Theater (NYC), Baltimore Civic Center (MD), the Hampton Coliseum (VA), and the Kennedy Center (D.C.), before capacity crowds.

Vel co-wrote The Delfonics’ hit song, “I Told You So” with lead singer William Hart, and co-wrote and sang lead vocal on The Life Group’s successful single, “Tell Me Why”. Vel continued performing around the world as a member of The Life Group sharing the stage with Phyllis Hyman, Stevie Wonder, Mandrill and numerous other guest stars.

In 2002, Dionne Warwick contacted Vel to perform on her World Tour, which he did for three years before the release of his solo debut CD/DVD project, “Shady Grady – All Wound Up”. During this tour, Vel performed on the stages of the Sydney Opera House (Australia), National Auditorium (Mexico), Suntec Center (Singapore), Hong Kong Convention Center and before dignitaries (the King and Queen of Norway), and notables Mr. Steve Forbes, Mr. Franco Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Andrea Bocelli, and many other well-known celebrities. All of Vel's live performances to date have been to sold out audiences.

The Jazz In M.E.E. Magazine published a two-page feature article on Vel in their Oct 2015 issue (http://www.vellewis.com/houston-spotlight), which is circulating across 180,000 subscribers, and jazz festivals and events worldwide.

Vel continues to deliver the kind of sultry, groove-laced music that catches the ears of his audience and soothes their hearts. From the moment the first note is heard and you feel the pulse of the rhythm, the ride begins – this is the perfect combination for the true music lover. For those around the world who have been requesting more Vel Lewis Music, this is for you… “Colors Of Soul” … ear candy for the heart!