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With his full-length release “New Roots” nominated for “World Music Album of the Year” at the San Diego Music Awards and growing radio play from Oakland’s BigUp Radio, UC-Berkley Radio, San Diego’s 94.9fm and 91Xfm and L.A.’s own Reggae Connection with Chuck Foster to name a few, The Ambassador’s sound is on the rise. His recent endeavors as a solo artist continue to bring positive reviews from the likes of ThePier.org, MusicBailout.net, Nice Up’s Tom Orr, City Beat, The San Diego Reader and more. His latest full length studio album “Cali Love” is set for release in May, 2015 and is a product of his first 6 years living in coastal San Diego and the laid back beach culture, lifestyle, new friendships and music that made that period a memorable one for him. Once again, Lewis teams up with friend and co-producer Andrew Mencher of Wisdom and Sound (New Roots 2011, Live in Ocean Beach 2012) to create a polished and versatile set of tunes featuring top notch session players and guest vocalists that is sure to inspire loyal fans and new listeners alike. Whether seeking substantive lyrics and a meaningful message or simply craving a soulful vibe to groove to, stay tuned in for more positive works from The Ambassador.
“The Ambassador” is… Stephen Gabriel Lewis, born in Virginia in 1980. Much of his decision in choosing the performer title “The Ambassador” was based on his mother’s words to him throughout childhood encouraging him to be a leader rather than a follower and to be a peacemaker. As Webster defines it, “a diplomat…accredited as representative from one country to another; an ambassador of good will.” The moniker went hand in hand with his passion for traveling and learning from other cultures while sharing and shaping his own. He found what many others who have sought to quench their curiosity for questions on faith in humanity have found—“All of human nature shares a harmony no matter the geographical or political divisions. No matter the race or creed, we can all feel love, desperation, hope, fear and the struggle and joy that is life. Staying conscious of these concepts enables us to focus not on the unfamiliarity in our differences as individuals/cultures but on our similarities as people. We can revel in the fact that we don’t all wear the same clothes, eat the same meals or play the same music. It’s exciting to know there’s always more we can learn from each other” – S.G. Lewis. Throughout his songwriting, Lewis has made it a point to couple thought provoking lyrics with a positive message written with today’s youth in mind, to encourage, exhort and capitalize on the importance of family, community and relationships…
Gabe, as his friends know him, has been playing guitar and composing music and lyrics since age 14. The tunes he listened to from his older brothers music collection (John Lee Hooker, Hendrix, Muddy Waters, Zeppelin, U2, etc.) and the old Motown and beach hits that would play on his parents’ radio influenced his early musical tastes. Finding a love for reggae, hip hop and R&B early in high school, The Ambassador would never again be interested in limiting himself to any particular musical genre. Lewis has been both a student and a teacher overseas and professes the invaluable lessons of character building as a result of leaving one’s comfort zone and venturing out into the world. “Learning the ways of other cultures allows us to better reevaluate our own society and who we are as an individual” –S.G.Lewis. Finding friends both near and far has no doubt been influential in his music.
It was in 2004 that he returned to the U.S. from working as an English and Music teacher in Korea to begin work on a partnered project “The Seed ” (www.TheSeedSound.com) as well as hone his skills as a solo performer. Lewis toured, wrote and recorded with The Seed as their frontman/guitarist, releasing their self-titled debut album in April 2008. While living in Virginia from 2005 to 2008 he hosted live showcases entitled “The Ambassador Presents…” featuring various Blue Ridge valley musicians sitting in from show to show. It was also during these years that he continued to tour the east coast with The Seed, gaining valuable road experience and sharpening his song writing skills. In February 2009, The Ambassador decided to head west and plant new roots in sunny San Diego, California. Since relocating, he has performed and recorded with some of SoCal’s finest reggae/dub musicians, attributing to the “fuller sound” that is prominent on both the New Roots (2011) and Cali Love (2015) album releases.After releasing “The Ambassador Presents…” EP in 2009 and the Haiti Relief Benefit EP “Sunshine” in 2010, The Ambassador’s first full-length solo album entitled “New Roots” was released in 2011. It was nominated World Music Album of the Year at the San Diego Music Awards and Album of the Year at the Virginia Reggae Awards, receiving radio play from Oakland’s BigUp Radio, UC-Berkley Radio, San Diego’s 94.9fm and 91Xfm and L.A.’s own Reggae Connection with Chuck Foster and garnered positive reviews from the likes of ThePier.org, MusicBailout.net, Nice Up’s Tom Orr, City Beat, The San Diego Reader and more. Though Lewis continued to hone his song writing skills in the wake of New Roots, he performed only a handful of shows over the next two years choosing instead to focus on investing in his own studio and spending more time with his wife Kate and their newly born daughter Noelle. Since beginning work on a new album, he has had the itch to begin touring and performing more consistently once again.
His latest full length studio album “Cali Love” is set for release in May, 2015 and is a product of his first 6 years living in coastal San Diego and the laid back beach culture, lifestyle, new friendships and music that made that period a memorable one for him. Once again, Lewis teams up with friend and co-producer Andrew Mencher of Wisdom and Sound (New Roots 2011, Live in Ocean Beach 2012) to create a polished and versatile set of tunes featuring top notch session players and guest vocalists that is sure to inspire loyal fans and new listeners alike. Whether seeking substantive lyrics and a meaningful message or simply craving a soulful vibe to groove to, stay tuned in for more positive works from The Ambassador.
“The Ambassador” is… Stephen Gabriel Lewis, born in Virginia in 1980. Much of his decision in choosing the performer title “The Ambassador” was based on his mother’s words to him throughout childhood encouraging him to be a leader rather than a follower and to be a peacemaker. As Webster defines it, “a diplomat…accredited as representative from one country to another; an ambassador of good will.” The moniker went hand in hand with his passion for traveling and learning from other cultures while sharing and shaping his own. He found what many others who have sought to quench their curiosity for questions on faith in humanity have found—“All of human nature shares a harmony no matter the geographical or political divisions. No matter the race or creed, we can all feel love, desperation, hope, fear and the struggle and joy that is life. Staying conscious of these concepts enables us to focus not on the unfamiliarity in our differences as individuals/cultures but on our similarities as people. We can revel in the fact that we don’t all wear the same clothes, eat the same meals or play the same music. It’s exciting to know there’s always more we can learn from each other” – S.G. Lewis. Throughout his songwriting, Lewis has made it a point to couple thought provoking lyrics with a positive message written with today’s youth in mind, to encourage, exhort and capitalize on the importance of family, community and relationships…
Gabe, as his friends know him, has been playing guitar and composing music and lyrics since age 14. The tunes he listened to from his older brothers music collection (John Lee Hooker, Hendrix, Muddy Waters, Zeppelin, U2, etc.) and the old Motown and beach hits that would play on his parents’ radio influenced his early musical tastes. Finding a love for reggae, hip hop and R&B early in high school, The Ambassador would never again be interested in limiting himself to any particular musical genre. Lewis has been both a student and a teacher overseas and professes the invaluable lessons of character building as a result of leaving one’s comfort zone and venturing out into the world. “Learning the ways of other cultures allows us to better reevaluate our own society and who we are as an individual” –S.G.Lewis. Finding friends both near and far has no doubt been influential in his music.
It was in 2004 that he returned to the U.S. from working as an English and Music teacher in Korea to begin work on a partnered project “The Seed ” (www.TheSeedSound.com) as well as hone his skills as a solo performer. Lewis toured, wrote and recorded with The Seed as their frontman/guitarist, releasing their self-titled debut album in April 2008. While living in Virginia from 2005 to 2008 he hosted live showcases entitled “The Ambassador Presents…” featuring various Blue Ridge valley musicians sitting in from show to show. It was also during these years that he continued to tour the east coast with The Seed, gaining valuable road experience and sharpening his song writing skills. In February 2009, The Ambassador decided to head west and plant new roots in sunny San Diego, California. Since relocating, he has performed and recorded with some of SoCal’s finest reggae/dub musicians, attributing to the “fuller sound” that is prominent on both the New Roots (2011) and Cali Love (2015) album releases.After releasing “The Ambassador Presents…” EP in 2009 and the Haiti Relief Benefit EP “Sunshine” in 2010, The Ambassador’s first full-length solo album entitled “New Roots” was released in 2011. It was nominated World Music Album of the Year at the San Diego Music Awards and Album of the Year at the Virginia Reggae Awards, receiving radio play from Oakland’s BigUp Radio, UC-Berkley Radio, San Diego’s 94.9fm and 91Xfm and L.A.’s own Reggae Connection with Chuck Foster and garnered positive reviews from the likes of ThePier.org, MusicBailout.net, Nice Up’s Tom Orr, City Beat, The San Diego Reader and more. Though Lewis continued to hone his song writing skills in the wake of New Roots, he performed only a handful of shows over the next two years choosing instead to focus on investing in his own studio and spending more time with his wife Kate and their newly born daughter Noelle. Since beginning work on a new album, he has had the itch to begin touring and performing more consistently once again.
His latest full length studio album “Cali Love” is set for release in May, 2015 and is a product of his first 6 years living in coastal San Diego and the laid back beach culture, lifestyle, new friendships and music that made that period a memorable one for him. Once again, Lewis teams up with friend and co-producer Andrew Mencher of Wisdom and Sound (New Roots 2011, Live in Ocean Beach 2012) to create a polished and versatile set of tunes featuring top notch session players and guest vocalists that is sure to inspire loyal fans and new listeners alike. Whether seeking substantive lyrics and a meaningful message or simply craving a soulful vibe to groove to, stay tuned in for more positive works from The Ambassador.
From Virginia, United States
Roles Group
Jamaican Genres Played Reggae, Roots Reggae
Roles Group
Jamaican Genres Played Reggae, Roots Reggae
