Lisa Lisa says a bald spot inspired her iconic hair – & reveals how she hid chemo in a Walkman during ’80s cancer battle
LISA Velez of Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam fame first became a household name in the 80s, and her big, curly hair quickly became iconic.
But the Can You Feel the Beat singer, who is making a major music comeback, admitted that her recognizable ‘do’ started as a crafty way to hide a bald spot.
Lisa’s signature hairstyle was not the result of a star hairdresser, but rather a way to remedy the consequences of a particular cutting craze.
The 57-year-old New Yorker, who still lives in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, recalled how her humble roots led to her unique hairstyle that is as iconic as she is.
“My family wasn’t well off so I used to cut my own hair,” she told The U.S. Sun.
It didn’t take long for her to find herself in a bit of a hairy situation.
“I was getting ready for a gig and I just started cutting — I kept cutting and cutting and I got a bald spot because I got a razor and went in because I wanted it shorter,” she added.
“That accident made me grow my hair to one side to cover that bald spot, and it stuck.”
She has continued to embrace the look of her locks, and so have her fans, many of whom have tried to copy the hairstyle over the years.
“So, if it’s a trend, OK,” she said.
And that’s not the only time Lisa has been at the forefront of a fad.
PAVING THE PATH
Several famous faces including JLo credit Lisa for leading the way as a Latina singer.
“[Stars] have spoken on what I have done for them,” she said.
“Whatever I can do to open doors for my people, I’ll do that,” she continued.
After being introduced to Full Force and Cult Jam in 1980, Lisa’s first single, I Wonder if I Take You Home, was released four years later.
LISA 3.0
Now that forty years have passed, she is getting ready to celebrate the milestone anniversary with a major tour in 2025.
Her fans will even be treated to a salsa version of her popular song All Cried Out.
This version of “Lisa 3.0” will also feature some star-powered collaborations on her new Spanish album, which will be released next year.
As a little girl I always said I wanted to see my name up in lights.
Lisa Lisa
“I was able to tap into my salsa roots — everyone asks me why I never did a Spanish music album before, but I wanted to make sure it was done correctly,” she said.
“I finally found the right people to produce it and now is my time,” she continued.
“It’s exciting, it’s great, because I miss it all.”
WALKMAN FULL OF CHEMO
Lisa has had her fair share of setbacks on her road to success, but she never let it stop her.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer at just 21 years old, Lisa kept the diagnosis from everyone around her, including her own mother.
“I hid it from everyone,” she said.
“I was on the road with a Walkman that had my chemo in it. It didn’t stop me from doing what I loved to do.
“I live to be on a stage and performing. I kept it moving,” she continued.
And Lisa’s two children, age 18 and 20, will get see their mom in a whole new light — or spotlight.
“They’ve known since they were babies what I do, but now they really understand and they know what I’m about,” she said.
A BIT OF NOSTALGIA
Lisa recalled how she was in a store when she heard her song on the radio for the first time — bus she wasn’t shopping, she was behind the register.
“I was working at Benetton folding sweaters and I got a phone call from a friend and she said, ‘You have to turn the radio on,'” she said.
“That’s when I heard I wonder if I Take You Home,” she continued.
That moment changed her life in many ways, including losing her sense of privacy.
“I think it was a given but I was able to make my dream come true to be on the stage and enjoy that and have a following,” she said.
“The energy I get from the audience, that’s what changed for me,” she continued.
She always dreamed of making it big time — and the reality of it all did not disappoint.
“As a little girl I always said I wanted to see my name up in lights,” she said.
When she actually saw her name on the Radio City marquee while passing by on a bus, she got out and kissed the ground.
Though she has gotten to “meet so many great people,” one person stands out — Dick Clark.
“He was such an influence on me,” she said.