Atlanta Blues Musician: Lola - Contemporary Blues Women

Atlanta Blues Musician: Lola
July 28, 2010
Rhetta Akamatsu
Examiner.com

Just one name: Lola. But it's attached to a dynamic and exciting blues and soul singer who is igniting stages around Atlanta, including the weekly jam every Monday night at Northside Tavern, which she hosts.

Lola has a voice that reminds one of Mavis Staples, which can never be a bad thing. Her official biography records that she was born in the backseat of an Olds 98, an auspicious start for any blues singer. Her fatther had a funk band and Lola sat in with the band at a young age, playing trumpet and drums and finally switching to her main instrument, keyboards (although she still plays a mean drum set upon occasion.) She worked her way through college singing at three different churches in Mobile, and that gospel experience adds fire and power to all of her performances.

After college, Lola toured across country with blues great Johnny Taylor as keyboard player. Then, in 1996, she won a contest on BET and was signed to a Motown record contract, but that album was never released due to personnel changes at Motown. She has shared stages with Betty Wright, Bobby "Blue" Bland, The Pointer Sisters, and other greats. Now, she's performing solo and with The Ladies of Blues and ready to shine in that spotlight herself.

Lola has one album currently available at Amazon, "Give Her What She Wants."

Watch out for Lola..she's a soul and blues powerhouse!