Lisa Coleman (musician)

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Lisa Coleman
Lisa Coleman in 2010
Lisa Coleman in 2010
Background information
Born (1960-08-17) August 17, 1960 (age 61)
OriginLos Angeles, California, United States
GenresRock, funk, pop, new wave, Minneapolis sound, R&B
Occupation(s)Musician, arranger, composer, songwriter, record producer
InstrumentsPiano, keyboards, synthesizer, guitar, violin, vocals
Years active1973–present
LabelsColumbia, SME Records, Virgin, EMI, World Domination
Associated actsThe Revolution, Wendy & Lisa
Websitewww.wendyandlisa.com thelisacoleman.com

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.

Early life[]

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).[1] Coleman's father, Gary L. Coleman (born 1936),[2] is an Anglo-American session musician, who in the 1960s and 1970s was part of the collective The Wrecking Crew[3] and befriended fellow musician Mike Melvoin. Their families became close with each other and often played and recorded music together. Lisa formed a close relationship with Melvoin's daughter Wendy,[4] saying once "we've been familiar with one another since we were in diapers".[5]

Musical career[]

At age 12, Coleman got her professional start as a keyboardist in the bubblegum pop band Waldorf Salad.[6] The band, which also featured her siblings and Jonathan Melvoin, was signed to A&M records in 1973.[7]

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.[8]

Coleman was 18–19 years of age right out of high school 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.[9] She replaced keyboardist .[10] Coleman played keyboards for Prince on his Controversy and 1999 albums and the three albums as a member of The Revolution, which were Purple Rain, Around the World in a Day and Parade, and she was also a session player for recordings by The Time and Vanity 6, two side projects of Prince.

Coleman was in a long-term relationship with her musician friend Wendy Melvoin, with whom she collaborated frequently (see Wendy & Lisa for more details).[11] In an interview Coleman states that in 1983, one night when guitarist Dez Dickerson did not show up at soundcheck, Prince asked Melvoin to play his guitar; that same night, Prince invited Melvoin to join the band.[4][10] Coleman and Melvoin became members of the newly designated The Revolution.

Shortly after the completion of Prince and The Revolution's Parade project, Coleman and Melvoin started their own musical duo, which they called the Wendy & Lisa partnership. The Wendy & Lisa musical partnership released five full-length albums for various labels, including Columbia/Sony and Virgin, as well as their own independent imprint.

Coleman and Melvoin continued to work together as film and television composers, and they provided the musical scores for television shows including Crossing Jordan and Heroes, both created and produced by Tim Kring under his Tailwind Productions banner, Nurse Jackie, which won them an Emmy for Outstanding Main Title Theme, Prime Suspect, No Tomorrow, Witches of East End, and Touch which they were nominated for an Emmy. They currently compose the music for NBC's Shades of Blue.

In 2009, Coleman played vibraphone on the Alice in Chains' song "Black Gives Way to Blue", from the album of the same name.[12][13]

In 2019, Coleman self-released her first solo instrumental album titled, Collage.[14]

Discography[]

With Prince

With Prince & The Revolution

Prince Camp/Associated

With

Soundtracks

  • Toys (1992)
  • Dangerous Minds (1995)
  • Crossing Jordan (2003)
  • Carnivàle (2004)
  • Music of Heroes (2008)
  • Heroes: Original Score (2008)

Solo Work

  • Collage (2019)

Session Work

  • Joni Mitchell, Chalk Mark In A Rain Storm (1989)
  • Michael Penn, March (1989)
  • Seal, Seal II (1994)
  • Nona Gaye, Inner City Blues: The Music of Marvin Gaye (1995)
  • Doyle Bramhall II, Doyle Bramhall II (Album) (1996)
  • Me'Shell NdegéOcello, Peace Beyond Passion (1996)
  • k.d. lang, Drag (1997)
  • Victoria Williams, Musings of a Creek Dipper (1997)
  • Tricky, Broken Homes / Money Greedy (1998)
  • Seal, Human Being (1998)
  • Latin Playboys, Dose (1999)
  • Doyle Bramhall II, Jellycream (1999)
  • Me'Shell NdegéOcello, Bitter (1999)
  • Los Lobos, El Cancionero: Mas y Mas (2000)
  • Neil Finn, Hole In The Ice (2001)
  • Neil Finn, One Nil (2001)
  • Neil Finn, One All (2002)
  • Hugh Harris, Flowers (2002)
  • Gwen Stefani, Love.Angel.Music.Baby. (2004)
  • Bettye LaVette, I've Got My Own Hell To Raise (2005)
  • Shenkar, Open The Door (2007)
  • Alice In Chains, Black Gives Way To Blue (2009)
  • Carrie Underwood, Play On (2009)
  • Carmen Rizzo, Looking Through Leaves (2010)
  • fDeluxe, Gaslight (2011)
  • Grace Jones, Hurricane (2011)
  • Joe Satriani, Shapeshifting (2020)

Personal life[]

In April 2009, Coleman gave an interview with Out magazine, where she spoke openly about her past romantic relationship with Wendy Melvoin.[15] Coleman has been married since 2004 to Renata Kanclerz. The couple has one child.

Awards and recognition[]

Coleman and Melvoin were awarded with an Emmy for Outstanding Original Main Title in 2010 for their theme to Nurse Jackie.[16] Coleman (and Melvoin) also share the honor of winners of a Grammy and Oscar for being part of The Revolution, as Purple Rain won two Grammys, and the Oscar for Best Original Score.

Coleman (along with Melvoin) received the inaugural ASCAP Shirley Walker Award in 2014. The Shirley Walker Award honors those whose achievements have contributed to the diversity of film and television music.[17]

References[]

  1. ^ "Dimensions of the Americas: Art and Social Change in Latin America and the United States", Shifra M. Goldman, p. 222
  2. ^ "The Coleman Family". Garylcoleman.com. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  3. ^ Hal Blaine, David Goggin, David M. Schwartz (2010). "Hal Blaine and the Wrecking Crew". p. 48
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Keith Valcourt. "Wendy & Lisa: Prince's former band mates". Hustler magazine. Archived from the original on 2010-08-07. We grew up together in Los Angeles.
  5. ^ Larry McShane (1987-11-08). "Wendy and Lisa discover life after Prince". Star-News. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
  6. ^ Gregory, Andy (2002). International who's who in popular music, 2002. pg 103. ISBN 9781857431612.
  7. ^ Billboard- February 10, 1973, page 6. 10 February 1973.
  8. ^ "Interview: Wendy and Lisa". The Guardian. London. 2008-09-20.
  9. ^ Dennis Hunt (1987-10-27). "Prince's Revolution frees Lisa, Wendy". Eugene Register-Guard. Retrieved 2010-08-25.[dead link]
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b "CNN – WorldBeat Biography – Prince". archives.cnn.com. Retrieved 2010-08-25. Chapman leaves and is replaced by Lisa Coleman. ... Dickerson leaves the Revolution, and is replaced by Wendy Melvoin.
  11. ^ Eric Deggans (December 30, 2010). "Biggest regret in 2008: Not publishing this Wendy and Lisa interview". tampabay.com. St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on October 12, 2009. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
  12. ^ "Alice In Chains –Black Gives Way to Blue". Discogs. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
  13. ^ "Lisa Coleman Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
  14. ^ Grow, Kory (April 29, 2019). "Prince's Revolution Keyboardist Lisa Coleman Releases First Solo LP". Rolling Stone.
  15. ^ Barry Walters. "The Revolution Will Be Harmonized". Out magazine. Archived from the original on April 20, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
  16. ^ "'Glee,' Rock Hall of Fame Win Creative Arts Emmys". Billboard.com. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  17. ^ "ASCAP Shirley Walker Award". Ascap.com. Retrieved 15 January 2021.

External links[]

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