A keyboard player residing in Detroit, Michigan, Van Cephus demonstrates his unique abilities performing in a variety of contexts including as a solo pianist, non-sequenced electric one man band featuring Van playing bass lines, chords, melodies and solos simultaneously with a drum machine, in a duo with a live drummer, in a trio with a guitarist or saxophonist, or depending on availability, a musician who plays guitar and saxophone, or a quartet with drums, guitar and sax. Van can add other musicians to the band and any type of instrumentalist. Van can add male and female vocalists for occasions when dancing is desired. Whether providing background/dinner/cocktail music, music for listening, or music for dancing or any occasion, Van is well versed in many styles of music including “Smooth” Jazz (instrumental Pop and Rhythm and Blues), Straight-Ahead Jazz, Blues, and Traditional and Contemporary Gospel music. Van Cephus is available for
acting
emceeing
modeling
voiceovers
athletic events
banquets
bar mitzvahs
bat mitzvahs
birthday parties
church programs
class reunions
concerts
conventions
corporate events
cruises
dances
dinners
family reunions
festivals
fish fries
fund raisers
graduation ceremonies
grand openings
ground breaking ceremonies
house parties
jam sessions
luncheons
meetings
office parties
open houses
parties
political events
pool parties
prayer breakfasts
rehearsal dinners
retirement parties
seasonal sales events
street parties
wedding receptions
weddings
casinos
church services
nightclubs
restaurants
recording sessions
tours
and all events. Please sign Van's guestbook so you may be informed of the latest developments in his career. This website will be updated regularly (including more videos), so please visit this website regularly. Van knows how to create moods for all occasions, whether playing for a small intimate gathering such as a house party, or a concert entertaining thousands. His music enhances any event. People say that Van's background music is loud enough to enjoy, yet soft enough to allow conversation. During an engagement at the Detroit Historical Museum the late Detroit Mayor Coleman Young told Van (on keyboards and drum machine), Bob St. Thomas (vocalist), and Spence Beamon (saxophone), "You guys sound like 5 or 6 (expletive deleted). I'm going to have you guys play at the mansion Sunday". Van has also played at the Mayor's mansion during the Dennis Archer administration. Enjoy the artistry of Van Cephus at your next event. Special thanks to God, my mother; the late Mrs. Ruth Cephus who in 1967 bought me a new Hammond B3 organ instead of a new car, my father Mr. James T. Cephus who paid for my music lessons, taught me to say "Yes Sir, No Sir, Yes Ma'am, No Ma'am" and let me "smile and style" in his Jaguar XKE 2+2 and Mark 3 in 1972 (when I was 17), my other family members and friends, the late Mrs. Betty Williams, Mr. H.Daniel Mujahid, the late great Mr. Jimmy Smith (my biggest musical influence), Mr. Rod Lumpkin Sr., Mr. Ted Brannon for hiring me for my first engagement, Minister Velma Ree Smith and Mr. John Smith my former website designer.