Steven Lewis, Ph.D.

Music Historian & Curator; Curator of Music & Performing Arts at National Museum of African American History and Culture; Founding Curator of National Museum of African American Music

Nashville, TN, USA
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Black Heritage, Black History Month, History, Music, Performing Arts
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Steven Lewis, Ph.D. Biography

Dr. Steven W. Lewis is a curator and scholar specializing in African American music in the United States. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Arts in jazz studies from Florida State University and a Master of Arts and doctorate in critical and comparative studies in music from the University of Virginia, where he was an Edgar Shannon Jefferson Fellow in Music. He began his education studying jazz saxophone and later shifted his focus to musicology, exploring the cultural impact of musicians and the evolution of African American music.

As a doctoral student, Lewis worked at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, contributing to several aspects of the museum, including the exhibit "Musical Crossroads," which explores the influence of African American music on the nation's history. He later became the founding curator of the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville, where he developed a collection of more than 1,500 artifacts and collaborated with exhibit designers and the curatorial team to establish a permanent music exhibition. In addition to his curatorial work, Lewis served as a visiting scholar at Vanderbilt University, partnering with faculty and library staff to build an archive of African American music.

Lewis serves as curator of music and performing arts at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. His research focuses on late 20th-century jazz history, 19th-century African American music, and African American intellectual history. He presents lectures on these topics in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Lewis has also worked as historian and curator for the Ed Johnson Memorial Project and as an advisory scholar for Carnegie Hall Corporation.

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture published the book "Musical Crossroads: Stories Behind the Objects of African American Music," featuring more than 200 images from the museum's music and performing arts collection, with Lewis contributing as a member of the curatorial team. The National Museum of African American Music emphasizes the role of social justice in music, with Lewis highlighting the longstanding connection between music and activism in African American culture. His work as a scholar and curator has been featured on television and in major publications including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/29/2026.
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  • What topics does Steven Lewis, Ph.D. speak about?

    Steven Lewis, Ph.D. is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Black Heritage, Black History Month, History, Music, Performing Arts

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Steven Lewis, Ph.D. is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Steven Lewis, Ph.D. for your event is available upon request. Steven Lewis, Ph.D. generally travels from Nashville, TN, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Steven Williams, Ben Vereen, Megan Piphus Peace, Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor and Michael W. Twitty. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Steven Lewis, Ph.D. for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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