Lisa Coleman (musician)
| Lisa Coleman | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 17, 1960 |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | Rock, funk, pop, new wave, Minneapolis sound, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, arranger, composer, songwriter, record producer |
| Instruments | Piano, keyboards, synthesizer, guitar, violin, vocals |
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Labels | Columbia, SME Records, Virgin, EMI, World Domination |
| Associated acts | The Revolution, Wendy & Lisa |
| Website | www |
Lisa Coleman (born August 17, 1960) is an American musician and composer. Coleman plays piano and keyboards. She was a member of Prince's backing band The Revolution from 1980 to 1986. She is one half of the musical duo Wendy & Lisa, formed with Wendy Melvoin in 1986.
Coleman was born the middle of three children in Los Angeles, California. Her mother was Mexican-American visual artist Marylou Ynda-Ciletti (April 4, 1936 — November 17, 2013). Coleman's father, Gary L. Coleman (born 1936), is a German-American session musician in the 1960s and 1970s as part of the collective The Wrecking Crew and formed a friendship with fellow musician Mike Melvoin. Their families became close with each other and often played and recorded music together. Lisa Coleman formed a close relationship with Melvoin's daughter Wendy Melvoin, saying once "we've been familiar with one another since we were in diapers".
At age 12, Coleman got her professional start as a keyboardist in the bubblegum pop band Waldorf Salad. The band, which also featured her siblings and Jonathan Melvoin, was signed to A&M records in 1973.
In 1975, Coleman played a small role as a high school pianist in the Linda Blair made-for-TV film Sarah T. – Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic.
Coleman was 19 years of age when one of her good friends, Niki Yoergler, who was working as a secretary for Prince's personal manager, Steve Fargnoli, brought her to the attention of Prince. After some convincing on both ends, Yoergler got Coleman an audition and she was hired as part of Prince's backing group in 1980 for his Dirty Mind album and tour. Before being so recruited, she had been working as a shipping clerk and teaching piano. She replaced keyboardist Gayle Chapman. Coleman played keyboards for Prince on his Controversy and 1999 albums, and was a session player for recordings by The Time and Vanity 6.
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