Biography
Lem began his career in graduate school as a guitarist and vocalist in Paradise Lost and Regained a work created by Dr. Eva Jessey—the acclaimed choral director for George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Lem also appeared with Dr. Jessey in a CBS Special Segment and became a soloist in the Dr. Eva Jessey Choir before embarking on his solo career.
Drawing upon his academic experience and his background in contemporary music, Sheppard created a unique performance style and a vibrant brand of traditional music. He moves seamlessly from a wide range of traditional American music—spanning from early African American spirituals to the Harlem Renaissance, the Jazz Age and beyond. Lem intersperses folklore, storytelling, history, and song to create an engaging show for all ages.
Lem is a member of the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame, was a national finalist in the Telluride Acoustic Blues Challenge, a recipient of the Kansas Folklore Society’s Joan O’Bryant award, and has received the Meritorious Achievement Award from Pittsburg State University.
Lem was selected by a congressional committee to represent Kansas at the Kennedy Center on the Millennium Stage, he composed the soundtrack to the PBS documentary Black, White & Brown which was nominated for a regional Emmy. in 2024 Lemuel contributed to the sound track of I'm so Glad which won Best Documentary Feature at the Kansas City Film Festival. Lem performed in South Africa at the International Eisteddfod, and toured Brazil under the auspices of UNESCO and the US Embassy.
The Kansas Humanities Speaker Bureau will include Lem on its roster of presenters
Kansas City Kansas and Kansas City Missouri School
Fee support avaiable for MO. NE. AR. TX. Through MAAA
Coming soon, Lem will be producing new mini programs for online audiences. They will be updated monthly and you can feel free to download and share them. You can also support these efforts through paypal.me/lemlive Just click on the VIDEO menu
Thanks
Funding for Kansas and MAAA touring
2017 Received the Meritorious Achievement Award from Pittsburg State University
2007 Received the Joan O’Bryant Award from the Kansas Folklore Society
2005 Governor of Kansas appoints Lemuel to serve on the State’s Arts Commission
2004 Self produced CD featured on NPR’s online music show
2004 Inducted into the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame for educational contributions
2004 composed the soundtrack to PBS documentary” Black, White & Brown”
2001-2013 National tour of public schools
1999 Congressional Committee selects Lemuel to represent Kansas in a solo performance at The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.
1998 Heartland Artist Fund National Touring
1997 Arts Midwest Regional Touring
1996 UNESCO sponsored performance at the International Eisteddfod in Johannesburg, South Africa. Lemuel was the first American to perform there after the lifting of Apartheid.
1994 United States Embassy Funded tour of Brazil
1993 Arts America International
1992 Kansas City Chapter of Young Audience
1990 State Arts Council of Oklahoma's Artist in Residence
1989 Mid-America Arts Alliance Regional Touring
1985 Artist on the Kansas Arts Commission's Artist in Residence
1983 Joined NACA and began performing on College campuses
1983 MM in Theory and Composition from Pittsburg State University
1982 BMS in Saxophone from Pittsburg State University
Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration guest speaker and Artist
Kansas City Young Audiences
Rentisville Ok
Nifong Park
Kansas City Kansas community College , Kansas City Kansas
Diamond Missouri
Arrow Rock Missouri
Columbia Missouri
Kansas City Missouri
Fort Scott Kansas
Arrow Rock Missouri
Arrow Rock Missouri
Lawrence Kansas
La Cygne Kansas
Kansas City Missouri
Kansas City Missouri
Kansas City Missouri
Kansas City Missouri
Kansas City Missouri
Kansas City Missouri
Bonner Springs KS
Goodland Kansas
Reintisville Oklahoma
Columbia MO
Arrow Rock MO.
Arrow Rock MO
Shilo School Sesquicentennial
Crawford County Museum Pittsburg Kansas
Coffeyville Kansas
Manhattan KS
Parsons Kansas
Prairie V illage KS
Kansas City MO
Kansas City Missouri
Independence KS
Junction City Kansas
Emporia Kansas
Overland Park KS
Overland Park Kansas
Leaventhworth KS
Topeka KS
Park City KS
George Washington Carver National Monument
Museum
Lawrence Kansas
Diamond MO
Mercy Park
3002 St Johns Blvd
Joplin, MO 64804
Mercy Park
Reintisville Oklahoma
Reintisville Oklahoma
Reintisville Oklahoma
Columbia Missouri
Arrow Rock MO
Arrow Rock Missouri
Arrow Rock MO
Arrow Rock Festival
Independence KS
Franklin Kansas
Kansas City MO
Nevada Missouri
Diamond Missouri
Reintiesville Oklahoma
Reintiesville Oklahoma
Reintisville Oklahoma
Osawatomie Kansas
Joplin Missouri
Columbia Missouri
Topeka Kansas
Olathe Kansas
Arrow Rock Missouri
Arrow Rock Missouri
Kansas City Missouri
Tulsa Oklahoma
Lenexa Kansas
Wichita Kansas
OverlandPark KS
Pittsburg State University Jazz Concert
Hutchison KS
Private Event
First Friday Art Walk Tulsa Oklahoma
101 Archer Tulsa Oklahoma (downtown)
Kansas City Missouri
Matfield Green KS
Diamond Missouri Carver Days
Matfield Green
Rentiesville Oklahoma
Rentiesville Oklahoma
Rentiesville Oklahoma
Bradley Square Wichita Kansas
Wilson Kansas
Arrow Rock Missouri
Arrow Rock Missouri
Tulsa
Liberal Kansas
Children's Mercy Hospital KCMO
Black History Month Program
KCMO
KCMO
Concert Series
Roadside Park performance
Lyons Kansas
Diamond MO
Dusk Till Dawn Blues Festival
Rentiesville Oklahoma
Rentiesville OK
Rentiesville Oklahoma
Rentiesville Oklahoma
Wilson KS.