SHAM LEWIS

LAS VEGAS BLACK ENTERTAINER SPOTLIGHT

BY KIMBERLY BAILEY-TUREAUD

Sham Lewis has been entertaining in Las Vegas for six years. With a soulful R&B sound, he has become a mainstay at top Strip properties.

Where are you originally from?

I am from Chicago, and came to Las Vegas eight years ago looking for a change of pace. Also, I have a lot of family in Vegas and wanted to be closer to them.

How did you get into the music business in Las Vegas?

I kind of fell into the business of music in Las Vegas. My first job when I came to Las Vegas was with OfficeMax, and the manager, who was also saxophonist, invited me out to an open mic one night. I sang, the crowd loved me and I met local promoter Anthona McNeil — who took me around town and introduced me to people. I continued to perform at open mics around town, and eventually people started to hire me and my band. Now, I perform for a living and it was a natural progression.

Do you write your own songs?

Yes, I do write my own songs. My first original album in 2011 was called, “My Love, My Lyrics.” It is also available on iTunes. I have over 100 original songs that I have written, and I’m still adding to my catalog. I started writing music first, before I became a performer.

How do you describe your music?

I guess you can call it R&B music and songs that are about love. I also perform Top 40 hits with my band, but I really want to perform my original music when I get the opportunity. Music masters like Marvin Gaye, R. Kelly, Donny Hathaway, Michael Jackson and Kem have all had a tremendous musical influence on me.

What do you look forward to for 2014?

This year is about creating opportunities and avenues that expose my talent to the world. I will release another original album in 2015 that will feature songs along with music video interpretations for every song. I have a great group of musicians that work along with me, and a great brand development team. I am excited about taking the Sham Lewis brand to another level. I will be performing at Diablo’s Cantina, in the Monte Carlo Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, [from March] until November.