Born and raised in St. Louis, Vincent Varvel started playing music early on, studying piano, clarinet, and organ. He began playing guitar at age 16 and attended college at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, where he had the opportunity to perform with jazz greats such as Michael Brecker, Peter Erskine, and Dan Gottlieb. He graduated in 1984 with a Bachelor's degree in Jazz Performance.
Varvel began his professional career while in college, freelancing with many different performers in the St. Louis area. Since then he has toured the United States and Europe with various ensembles in addition to leading his own jazz group performing his original compositions. Recently, he has perfromed with the Kingsbury Ensemble, Chamber Project St. Louis, and soprano Stella Markou. His original music has been heard on satellite radio and cable television. He is currently Instructor of Guitar at Washington University in St. Louis.