Born in Toronto, Ontario, Larnell Lewis was first introduced to drums in church at a very young age. This is where he began to learn to play a variety of styles including gospel music. He worked tirelessly to not only develop his understanding of rhythm, but also studied electric bass and piano to further his knowledge of the melodic and harmonic aspects of music making. During his time at Humber College, Larnell was the 2004 recipient of the Oscar Peterson Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music, the highest award given by the institution. Although his roots lay in gospel music, Larnell is known for his ability to accurately execute a variety of musical styles. As a result, over the last few years, he has been called upon to perform with a wide range of artists/musicians such as Fred Hammond, Michael Brecker, Dave Holland, Tim Ries (Rolling Stones), Salome Bey, Phil Dwyer, Sharon Riley and Faith Chorale, Glenn Lewis, Jully Black, Matt Dusk, and is currently playing with The Bacchus Collective, Laila Biali, Rinsethealgorithm and many others.
Larnell is sponsored by Yamaha Acoustic and Electronic Drums and Hardware, Vater Drumsticks, Evans Drum Heads, and Zildjian Cymbals.
