About Kip Lewis

Kip has been performing professionally as a drummer and Percussionist since the age of 14. At the age of 16 he was simultaneously playing in seven different musical groups including rock, big band jazz, symphony orchestras, and concert and marching bands. While attending college Kip supported himself by performing, and by working as a drum specialist in full line retail music stores. He eventually owned and operated his own drum shop representing several major drum companies, and custom manufactured his own snare drum line.

He earned his B.A. in Music Education from CSU Fresno (Fresno State) and went on to perform in 27 countries and 47 states. He is still heard regularly on radio and television playing on radio and TV commercials for companies like Pepsi, Harley Davidson, Ford, Chevrolet, Save Mart and Orchard Supply Hardware.

He has performed or recorded with Ertha Kitt, Andy Gibb, Buck Owens, Jimmy Rogers, Crystal Gayle, The Four Tops, the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, the Fresno Philharmonic, the Tulare County Symphony, Son’s of the San Joaquin, Sierra On-Line Video games, and Fike. Worship Teams include Peoples Church in Fresno, California, Church for All Nations in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Saddleback Church in Torrance, California. Kip has been heard on a short-wave broadcast music ministry every day, in every country of the world. He played on over 100 music tracks for the Southern Baptist Convention for use by churches worldwide that have no Worship team.

 Kip was named “Most Outstanding Musician” at both the Las Vegas and Pacific Coast Jazz Festivals and was a 20-year member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), and therefore voted and nominated in the Grammy Music Awards. The journal for the National Association of Jazz Educators (NAJE) stated; “Drummer Kip Lewis is a Gas!”

Performance venues have included radio and television studios, recording studios, stadiums, theme parks, concert halls, hotels, convention centers, indoor & outdoor music festivals, schools, music academy’s, clubs, country clubs, banquet facilities, churches (over 500), back yards, city streets, and European city halls.

His drum styles include all forms of rock, big band, Latin big band, trio and fusion jazz, country, cowboy, recording studio work, worship teams, large church and secular musical productions, symphonic orchestra and concert/marching band.  Kip is also a membronic percussionist for all those styles.

Teachers include Peter Erskine, Ralph Humphrey, Baron John Von Ohlen, Jim Ganduglia, Sandy Schaefer, and Ramon Lopez. Kip himself has also almost always been a drum kit private instructor and mentor in Fresno, CA, Colorado Springs, CO, and Los Angeles, CA.

Kip has drum kits made for him personally by Noble & Cooley and Tama. His percussion battery includes most anything that will make a sound as well as congas, Djembe, box drum (Cajon), and electronic percussion.