Lem began his career in graduate school as a guitarist and vocalist in Paradise lost and Regained a work created by Dr. Eva Jessey—the acclaimed choral director for George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Lem also appeared with Dr. Jessey in a CBS “Special Segment” and became a soloist in the Dr. Eva Jessey Choir before embarking on his solo career.
Drawing upon his academic experience and his background in contemporary music, Sheppard created a unique performance style and a vibrant brand of traditional music. He has the ability to move seamlessly from music spanning the discovery of the spiritual to the jazz age. Audiences of all ages engage with Lem’s modern take on traditional music interspersed with folklore, storytelling, and history.
Lem is a member of the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame, was a national finalist in the Telluride Acoustic Blues Challenge and a recipient of the Kansas Folklore Society’s Joan O’Bryant award. He has performed at the Kennedy Center, and also composed the sound track to the PBS documentary on the 50th anniversary of the Brown vs. The Topeka Board of Education, "Black, and White & Brown.”
Lem performed in South Africa at the Interational Eisteddfod, toured Brazil under the auspices of the US Embassy and a Congressional Committee selected him to represent Kansas at the Kennedy Center on the Millennium Stage. From 2001 to 2013 lem performed school shows across the United States. In 2017 Lem received the Meritorious Achievement Award from his Alma Mater, Pittsburg State University.
In his latest concert series, Lem collates years of research into a sweeping musical journey through African American music during the reconstruction era. Sheppard sings the history of the black string bands that once flourished across small towns throughout the country; however, their influence and impact to American music has largely been overlooked. Lem brings these stories to life through storytelling and song.