MONROE - Master Sergeant Marva J. Lewis, a featured vocalist for the Jazz Ambassadors of The U.S. Army Field Band, will show off the voice that has taken her all around the world when the Jazz Ambassadors come to Monroe for a show at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27 in the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center. The free concert is sponsored by The Monroe Times.
Lewis is originally from Denison, Texas. She attended Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, on a choir scholarship, graduating in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in business administration.
In 1989, Lewis joined the United States Army as a Petroleum Supply Specialist. During the Persian Gulf War from 1990-1991, she served three campaigns in Saudi Arabia with the 15th Forward Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Hood, Texas.
After returning from the Middle East, she was reassigned to Camp Casey, Korea. While singing karaoke at a unit function, she was heard by the Republic of Korea head of Army Entertainment and recruited to tour throughout Korea. She was subsequently selected for the 1993 and 1994 Army Soldier Show, performing at more than 50 military installations throughout the United States, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Germany. She was chosen by the Sergeant Major of the Army to perform with the All Army Band at the 1994 opening of the Army's Shades of Green Hotel at Disney World, Orlando, Florida.
Later in 1994, she returned to Fort Hood, Texas, as vocalist with the 1st Cavalry Division Band. In December 1995, she was selected to be the featured vocalist with the Jazz Knights of the United States Military Academy Band and reassigned to West Point, New York. She joined the Jazz Ambassadors in September 1999.
Lewis's military awards include the Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Saudi Arabia Liberation Medal, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal.
Lewis is originally from Denison, Texas. She attended Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, on a choir scholarship, graduating in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in business administration.
In 1989, Lewis joined the United States Army as a Petroleum Supply Specialist. During the Persian Gulf War from 1990-1991, she served three campaigns in Saudi Arabia with the 15th Forward Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Hood, Texas.
After returning from the Middle East, she was reassigned to Camp Casey, Korea. While singing karaoke at a unit function, she was heard by the Republic of Korea head of Army Entertainment and recruited to tour throughout Korea. She was subsequently selected for the 1993 and 1994 Army Soldier Show, performing at more than 50 military installations throughout the United States, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Germany. She was chosen by the Sergeant Major of the Army to perform with the All Army Band at the 1994 opening of the Army's Shades of Green Hotel at Disney World, Orlando, Florida.
Later in 1994, she returned to Fort Hood, Texas, as vocalist with the 1st Cavalry Division Band. In December 1995, she was selected to be the featured vocalist with the Jazz Knights of the United States Military Academy Band and reassigned to West Point, New York. She joined the Jazz Ambassadors in September 1999.
Lewis's military awards include the Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Saudi Arabia Liberation Medal, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal.