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LISA Velez, known for Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, first became a household name in the 1980s and her big, curly hair quickly became iconic.
But the Can You Feel the Beat singer, who is making a major musical comeback, admitted that her signature hairstyle started out as a clever way to hide a bald spot.
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Lisa’s signature haircut wasn’t the result of a celebrity hairstylist, but rather a way to remedy the effects of a particular haircut fad.
The 57-year-old New Yorker, who still lives in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, shares how her humble origins led to her unique hairstyle, which is as iconic as she is.
“My family wasn’t well off, so I cut my own hair,” she told The US Sun.
It wasn’t long before she found herself in a difficult position.
“I was getting ready for a show and just started cutting. I just kept cutting and cutting and I ended up with a bald spot because I took a razor and went in and wanted it shorter,” she added.
“Because of that accident, I had to grow my hair to one side to cover that bald spot, and it stuck.”
She continues to embrace her hairstyle and so do her fans, many of whom have tried to copy it over the years.
“So if it’s a trend, fine,” she said.
And that’s not the only time Lisa has spearheaded a craze.
MAKE THE PATH SMOOTH
Several famous faces, including JLo, say Lisa has played a pioneering role as a Latin American singer.
“[Stars] “I talked about what I did for them,” she said.
“I will do everything I can to open doors for my people,” continued Lisa, who is of Puerto Rican descent.
After Lisa was introduced to Full Force and Cult Jam in 1980, her first single, I Wonder if I Take You Home, was released four years later.
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LISA3.0
Now that 40 years have passed, she is preparing to celebrate the anniversary with a major tour in 2025 and the writing of her memoirs.
Her fans can even enjoy a salsa version of her popular song All Cried Out.
This version of “Lisa 3.0” will also feature a number of star-studded collaborations on her upcoming Spanish-language album, due out next year.
As a little girl I always said I wanted to see my name in lights.
LisaLisa
“I was able to draw on my salsa roots. Everyone asks me why I’ve never made a Spanish music album before, but I wanted to make sure it was done right,” she said.
“I finally found the right people to produce it and now it’s my time,” she continued.
“It’s exciting, it’s great, because I miss it all.”
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WALKMAN FULL OF CHEMO
Lisa has faced many setbacks on her road to success, but she has never let them stop her.
When Lisa was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 21, she hid the diagnosis from everyone around her, including her own mother.
“I hid it from everyone,” she said.
“I was traveling with a Walkman with my chemo in it. It didn’t stop me from doing what I loved most.
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“I live to be on stage and perform. I kept it moving,” she continued.
And Lisa’s two children, ages 18 and 20, get the chance to see their mother in a whole new light — or the spotlight.
“They’ve known what I do since they were babies, but now they really understand it and know what I stand for,” she said.
A LITTLE BIT OF NOSTALGIA
Lisa remembers being in a store when she first heard her song on the radio. She wasn’t shopping, she was behind the counter.
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“I was working at Benetton, folding sweaters, and I got a call from a friend. She said, ‘You have to turn on the radio,’” she said.
“Then I heard I Wonder if I Take You Home,” she continued.
That moment changed her life in many ways, including the loss of her sense of privacy.
“I think it was obvious, but I was able to fulfill my dream of being on stage, enjoying it and having an audience,” she said.
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“The energy I get from the audience, that’s what made the difference for me,” she continues.
She always dreamed of making it, and the reality did not disappoint.
“As a little girl I always said I wanted to see my name in lights,” she said.
When she passed by on the bus and saw her name on the Radio City billboard, she got off and kissed the floor.
Although she has “met so many wonderful people,” one person stands out: Dick Clark.
“He had such an influence on me,” she said.
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