Lem began performing in 1980 at the Kansas Folklife Festival as a member of a folk ensemble led by the famed choral director Dr. Eva Jesseye. He was invited back the next year as a solist and has since gained recognition and earned awards from; state, regional and national folk and blues organizations.
He was selected by a congressional commitee to represent his home state on the Millennium stage at the Kennedy Center and he represented the United States at the Eistedfodd International Festival in South Africa. he was also chosen by the State Departmenrt to tour Brazil. Lem composed the sound track to the PBS documentary,"Black White & Brown," and contributed to the award winning documentary, I'm so Glad." on the Kansas City roots of gospel music.
