Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

'Round the World

The Ambassador is the stage name of singer-guitarist Stephen Gabriel Lewis. “I adopted the title because of the passion I have for travel abroad,” he says, “and because of something my mother used to say to me. She’d remind me to always be a positive representative and to act as an ‘ambassador’ for the people and places where I come from.”

Before arriving in California, Lewis hosted a series of acoustic and electric shows entitled “The Ambassador Presents” in Roanoke, Virginia. After serving several stints overseas as an English teacher in Korea, he returned stateside to tour, write, and record as front man and guitarist for the Seed, whose self-titled debut album was released in April 2008.

Later that year, Lewis moved to California, landing in Pacific Beach to launch a new career as a solo performer. “My music is a soulful mix of reggae, blues, and rock,” he says, “with influences that reflect many of the places I’ve lived and visited. Most of the songs are written with the purpose of inspiring and uplifting. That’s just the kind of thing that ambassadors are supposed to do.”

The Ambassador performs Friday, December 11, at the Loft in Point Loma.

WHAT’S IN YOUR CD PLAYER?

Clinton Fearon, Living Is an Art. “A true reggae ambassador, with one of the best combinations of messages and music, at least in current reggae.”

Al Green, Lay It Down. “I always loved the classic soul singers, and Al Green was one of my first vocal inspirations.”

Sponsored
Sponsored

John Brown’s Body, Pressure Points. “I just saw them at the Belly Up. Through the many lineup changes, JBB has continued to write good music, although I’m partial to the older, more rootsy tunes.”

B.B. King, Greatest Hits.“One of the most fun live shows I’ve ever seen, and his music is great to practice my blues scales to.”

BRUSH WITH FAME?

“My favorite vocalist is reggae great Beres Hammond, and meeting him was one of the coolest encounters.”

WORST MOVIE?

“So many to pick from, but the worst I’ve seen lately was Internet Dating. Not even Katt Williams could save this film, even though I’m a big fan.”

MOST VISITED WEBSITES?

ESPN.com, for sports news.”

BBC.co.uk, for world news.”

MySpace.com, for checking out San Diego bands.”

WHAT VIDEO GAME ARE YOU PLAYING?

“Although I used to love Halo, lightning struck my TV and Xbox during a storm and destroyed them a year ago, and I considered it a sign that I was wasting too much time on video games. Since then, I’ve only had the urge to buy a new system once or twice. I’m still resisting.”

ANY MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS?

“Now that I’m in San Diego, I like reading the Reader and CityBeat, but other than that I go to the internet for news and pretty much everything else. I don’t currently have any magazine subscriptions.”

WHERE DO YOU HANG OUT?

“I like going to spots where I can see up-and-coming musicians, like Portugalia and Gallagher’s in O.B. and Longboard in P.B. To check out established musicians, I go to the Belly Up. I also like to catch the Devastators on Sundays at Longboard when I can.”

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU COULD READ MINDS?

“Sometimes, ignorance is bliss. So I guess I would attempt to revert the process and instead hope that people will just say what’s on their mind instead.”

CARE TO RATE THE PRESIDENT’S FIRST YEAR ON THE JOB?

“So far, so good. I like the level of importance his administration has placed on transparency in policy making and the spending of public funds. I only hope he remains the same strong-willed idealist that we have seen thus far.”

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU FEW WOULD KNOW OR GUESS?

“People may not know that I’m a perfectionist and will work tirelessly on a project and still be unsatisfied. Most people wouldn’t think I’m so picky about details, because I’m generally laid back with friends and at parties. But when I’m alone on a project or a new song, I hide myself away for hours at a time. Or days.”

The latest copy of the Reader

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Operatic Gender Wars

Are there any operas with all-female choruses?
Next Article

Memories of bonfires amid the pits off Palm

Before it was Ocean View Hills, it was party central

The Ambassador is the stage name of singer-guitarist Stephen Gabriel Lewis. “I adopted the title because of the passion I have for travel abroad,” he says, “and because of something my mother used to say to me. She’d remind me to always be a positive representative and to act as an ‘ambassador’ for the people and places where I come from.”

Before arriving in California, Lewis hosted a series of acoustic and electric shows entitled “The Ambassador Presents” in Roanoke, Virginia. After serving several stints overseas as an English teacher in Korea, he returned stateside to tour, write, and record as front man and guitarist for the Seed, whose self-titled debut album was released in April 2008.

Later that year, Lewis moved to California, landing in Pacific Beach to launch a new career as a solo performer. “My music is a soulful mix of reggae, blues, and rock,” he says, “with influences that reflect many of the places I’ve lived and visited. Most of the songs are written with the purpose of inspiring and uplifting. That’s just the kind of thing that ambassadors are supposed to do.”

The Ambassador performs Friday, December 11, at the Loft in Point Loma.

WHAT’S IN YOUR CD PLAYER?

Clinton Fearon, Living Is an Art. “A true reggae ambassador, with one of the best combinations of messages and music, at least in current reggae.”

Al Green, Lay It Down. “I always loved the classic soul singers, and Al Green was one of my first vocal inspirations.”

Sponsored
Sponsored

John Brown’s Body, Pressure Points. “I just saw them at the Belly Up. Through the many lineup changes, JBB has continued to write good music, although I’m partial to the older, more rootsy tunes.”

B.B. King, Greatest Hits.“One of the most fun live shows I’ve ever seen, and his music is great to practice my blues scales to.”

BRUSH WITH FAME?

“My favorite vocalist is reggae great Beres Hammond, and meeting him was one of the coolest encounters.”

WORST MOVIE?

“So many to pick from, but the worst I’ve seen lately was Internet Dating. Not even Katt Williams could save this film, even though I’m a big fan.”

MOST VISITED WEBSITES?

ESPN.com, for sports news.”

BBC.co.uk, for world news.”

MySpace.com, for checking out San Diego bands.”

WHAT VIDEO GAME ARE YOU PLAYING?

“Although I used to love Halo, lightning struck my TV and Xbox during a storm and destroyed them a year ago, and I considered it a sign that I was wasting too much time on video games. Since then, I’ve only had the urge to buy a new system once or twice. I’m still resisting.”

ANY MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS?

“Now that I’m in San Diego, I like reading the Reader and CityBeat, but other than that I go to the internet for news and pretty much everything else. I don’t currently have any magazine subscriptions.”

WHERE DO YOU HANG OUT?

“I like going to spots where I can see up-and-coming musicians, like Portugalia and Gallagher’s in O.B. and Longboard in P.B. To check out established musicians, I go to the Belly Up. I also like to catch the Devastators on Sundays at Longboard when I can.”

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU COULD READ MINDS?

“Sometimes, ignorance is bliss. So I guess I would attempt to revert the process and instead hope that people will just say what’s on their mind instead.”

CARE TO RATE THE PRESIDENT’S FIRST YEAR ON THE JOB?

“So far, so good. I like the level of importance his administration has placed on transparency in policy making and the spending of public funds. I only hope he remains the same strong-willed idealist that we have seen thus far.”

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU FEW WOULD KNOW OR GUESS?

“People may not know that I’m a perfectionist and will work tirelessly on a project and still be unsatisfied. Most people wouldn’t think I’m so picky about details, because I’m generally laid back with friends and at parties. But when I’m alone on a project or a new song, I hide myself away for hours at a time. Or days.”

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Houston ex-mayor donates to Toni Atkins governor fund

LGBT fights in common
Next Article

Mary Catherine Swanson wants every San Diego student going to college

Where busing from Southeast San Diego to University City has led
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader