Singer, musician, writer, and comedienne Ms. Vee (Valyria Lewis) and her Badass Band marry soul, funk, and rhythm & blues to create the “Sound of Original Badass Music” as well as performing covers from soul greats like Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Rush, Bill Withers, Ray Charles, and Stevie Wonder.

A 2023 Muddy Awards Nominee for Best Female Vocalist, Ms. Vee was also a 2021 Band and 2019 Solo Granite State Blues Challenge Winner and International Blues Challenge Semifinalist. Born and raised in Forrest City, Arkansas, Ms. Vee began her musical journey as a piano student at Lorenzo’s School of Contemporary Music, founded by Lorenzo Smith and Jackie Toney Smith. Quickly realizing her ear for music, Lorenzo added Ms. Vee to his blues/jazz band when she was just 10 years old. Later serving as Minister of Music for several East Arkansas Churches, Ms. Vee went on to pursue a solo career in music and comedy.

Ms. Vee’s style is infused, she says, with “black southern gospel and a lot of soul!” and in 2018 she founded Ms. Vee and a Badass Band, focused on Mississippi Delta and Arkansas blues. Her latest, Pacific Northwest configuration of Ms. Vee and a Badass Band, formed in 2023 and features Jake Koprowski (bass), Chance Hayden (guitar), Ron Solomon (keyboards/organ), and Brian Foxworth (drums).