Life & Work with Crystal Lewis of Orange County

Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Lewis.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I began singing very young in the church that my father pastored. My mother was a brilliant musician who accompanied and encouraged my voice. I began my professional career at the age of 15 and I’ve never looked back. I married at 19 and my then husband and I started a record label a couple of years later. When I was 21 I was on the Nickelodeon show ROUNDHOUSE, adding acting to my resume. I had 2 children a few years after that and continued to tour and record… it was a very busy but fulfilling season! Throughout the 90s and early 2000’s I received several Dove Awards and as of 2026 I have 3 Grammy nominations.

I was, and continue to be, dedicated to writing in addition to singing. So much so that I wrote and self published my first children’s book in 2025! Claire Clementine Finds Her Voice is a story of great significance to me and it’s something I’m extremely passionate about. I also wrote and recorded a 5 song EP to accompany the book. I have always been a fan of kids books, I still have several from my own childhood as well as many from my kids when they were little. I now have 3 grandkids! So you can imagine that children’s books have taken on an even deeper importance to me.

After having performed and recorded throughout my 4 decades long career with many of the absolute best and most beloved musicians and artists in the world (Donna Summer, Mary J. Blige, Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, Cece Winans, Bono, Michael Omartian, Abe Laboriel (Sr. and Jr), Vinnie Colaiuta, Tori Kelly, Eden Espinosa, Arturo Sandoval, Tony Guerrero) and having been around long enough to have Katy Perry and Tori Kelly, among others, consider me an inspiration, I can say with so much love that I’m beyond grateful for every single experience because they’ve led me right here. And at 56 I’m so very excited to see what comes next!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In the beginning of my career I’d say it felt somewhat smooth. However as a woman in a male dominated industry there were always obstacles. And as an independent artist those are multiplied.

In addition I divorced after 28 years of marriage. Finding my way as a 46 year old single woman and independent artist was the absolute most challenging uphill climb I’ve experienced. AND I chose that moment to drastically shift gears musically and creatively. I didn’t just change lanes, I leapt into oncoming traffic and got on a whole new road!
From Gospel/Christian music to Jazz, which honestly felt like my first language.

Still, I found myself in territory that was simultaneously foreign and familiar. I was a veteran of the music industry while at the same time, a new artist in a new genre.

But with the help of a vibrant jazz community and producer/co writer Tony Guerrero, I found my feet and continue to make my way down this beautiful new path. I have recorded, with the help of a couple of crowdfunding campaigns, 3 full length albums, an EP and a handful of singles within the last 10 years.

I’m grateful for the struggles and lessons as I truly believe I’m a better artist because of them.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a singer/songwriter based in Orange County… born and raised here. Though I lived in Montana for 10 years, I’m back in CA and LOVE performing and traveling. I suppose I’m best known for my decades long career in CCM music as well as my time on Nickelodeon’s ROUNDHOUSE in the early 90s… always and forever one of my favorite things to have ever done! You can currently catch me at various Jazz clubs around the country… the world actually! Paris and London were recently on my schedule and I can’t wait to go back!

I’ve recently self published a children’s book called Claire Clementine Finds Her Voice and I’m having the best time reading it wherever I can and singing songs from the accompanying EP to groups of kids and adults alike.

What makes you happy?
So many things make me happy! Being around my (adult) kids, my 3 grand kids, my family, my friends. Just exchanging voice memos with any and all of them brings me joy. The freedom to choose gigs that light me up makes me endlessly happy. Going on walks makes me happy. Seeing all the living things on my walks makes me happy. Other peoples pets make me happy. Meeting and talking to people I’ve inspired through music/stories makes me happy. Vintage shopping and wearing beautiful vintage makes me very happy! I’m an eternal optimist and all that hope gets me into trouble sometimes because it has led to disappointment more than i’d care to admit…however, I really do have the nerve to see the positive side of life and that serves me oh so well.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.crystallewis.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecrystallewis/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecrystallewis
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@officialcrystallewis

Image Credits
Jeremy Ryan; Brienne Michelle; Marianne Weist