Warrior Instruments Founder J. Dran Lewis Has Passed Away
We’re sad to share that Warrior Instruments founder J. Dran Lewis has passed away. His family shared the news on the Warrior Facebook page.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our dad, J. Dran Lewis—the artist, designer, and founder of Warrior Instruments. He was anointed and appointed by God, and he built this company from the ground up with his own hands, vision, and faith,” they wrote. “We always knew how special he was… but we didn’t fully realize the depth of his impact until now. The outpouring of messages, memories, and stories has been such a gift to our family during this time. His legacy will live on through all of you—his Warrior family. Through the instruments he built that continue to play on stages around the world… and through the ones that will still be created for those who join the family in the years to come. More than anything, his legacy lives in the music, the craftsmanship, and the lives he touched. Thank you for the love, prayers, and support you’ve shown our family. It means more than we can put into words. We’re taking things day by day, with hope for the future, and deep gratitude for the community he built.”
Lewis spent five decades in the music industry. He and his father opened a music store called The Sound Post in 1976, where he started by selling strings and gear. Eventually, he began to take on repair work for bands like Alabama.
“I developed a deep love for working on instruments and a fascination with sound,” he told Troy Edgar on the Ameritocracy Show.
He founded Warrior Instruments in 1993 with a focus on original designs. Always family-focused, the models are named after his children and grandchildren. His sons, Dran and Gabriel, eventually joined and now run the business.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of J. Dran Lewis.
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
