His father, Richard Lewis, who played saxophone and mother, Camille, a pianist-vocalist were both classically trained musicians who performed with many of the "territory bands" that toured the midwest in the forties.
In addition to Williams, he was greatly influenced by the jazz combo styles of Art Blakey, Kenny Clarke, Max Roach and Philly Joe Jones.
In 1974 Lewis moved to Manhattan, Victor's first gig there was a night at Boomer's with bassist Buster Williams, where he met trumpeter Woody Shaw.
Quickly adapting, the drummer was soon recording with Joe Farrell, Earl Klugh, Hubert Laws, Carla Bley and David Sanborn.
With John Abercrombie, Arthur Blythe, and Jeff Palmer With George Adams With Don Alias With Franco Ambrosetti With Kenny Barron With Gary Bartz With Roni Ben-Hur and Nilson Matta With Andy Bey With Carla Bley With Paul Bley With Anthony Braxton With George Cables With James Carter With Cyrus Chestnut With Marc Copland With Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis With Art Farmer With Barry Finnerty With Stan Getz With Dexter Gordon With G.org featuring Randy Brecker and Chuck Loeb With Steve Grossman With Mark Helias With John Hicks With Bobby Hutcherson With J. J. Johnson With Jonny King With Oliver Lake With the Hubert Laws Group With Dave Liebman With Abbey Lincoln With Carmen Lundy With Charles McPherson With Helen Merrill With Karlheinz Miklin With Ralph Moore With David Murray With New York Rhythm Machine With Judy Niemack With Jeanfrançois Prins With Charlie Rouse With George Russell's New York Band With Joe Sample With David Sanborn With Woody Shaw With Lew Soloff With John Stubblefield With Charles Sullivan With Steve Swallow With Harvie Swartz With Lew Tabackin With Charles Tolliver With Steve Turre With Tom Varner With Jack Walrath With Cedar Walton With Bobby Watson & Horizon With Randy Weston With Larry Willis