Lisa Marie

Lisa Marie Williams has been stationed with the US Army in Germany, owned a teen employment agency in Los Angeles and a computer training company in the Inland Empire. During it all, though, she loved to sing. After Apple Valley drew her 5 years ago due to great home value and good schools for her son, she turned her passion into a successful business.

I had a great time at The Grind having coffee recently with Lisa Marie, hearing more about her journey and the amazing talent she brings to the High Desert. She and her partner Ralph Bunting created Lira Consulting, which includes Lisa Marie Sings. (Ralph was inspired by their names to create the company name “Lira”.) Through Lisa Marie Sings, they provide live entertainment, karaoke, DJ services, and the most unique gift of all – singing telegrams over the phone.

After performing with a variety of bands all over Los Angeles, Lisa Marie decided the music industry “rat race” was exhausting and decided to focus on the joy of performing, creating a viable business with her talent. Events she performs at include weddings, anniversary parties and corporate events for universities and hospitals. If she is not performing live for a client’s event, she will DJ, or do a mixture of both. Karaoke hosting (also known as a KJ) is also a big part of her business. She hosts events at bars and restaurants all over the Victor Valley. Some of her upcoming public events include:

¦This Saturday, August 28th, she is hosting a big karaoke contest at Carmen’s Ponderosa in Apple Valley. (In the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you I’m a judge at the contest. Come on down and join us! Sing, dance or just listen to great music.)
¦On August 30 she will sing the National Anthem at the High Desert Mavericks game.
¦Thursday September 9 Lisa Marie will be the featured performer for the Town of Apple Valley Courtyard Summer Concert Series
One thing that Lisa Marie has found great value in is social media. “Facebook is an awesome tool!” she told me. She has developed business through MySpace and more recently Facebook, using their events feature and lists to manage her contacts. She is also active on Twitter (follow her as @lisamariesings.)

As a member of the High Desert community, she wants to see continued positive growth. She would love to have a music space in the future: somewhere people who love to hear and perform all kinds of music can have a fun, welcoming place to do so. She also thinks that the proposed express train to Las Vegas would be a boon for the local economy if we can develop enough great restaurants and a nightlife to attract people before or after their trip.

As a musician myself, I appreciate the gift that music gives us. And I am looking forward to hearing more of that gift from Lisa Marie and other talented artists in the High Desert.

If you would like to see your locally-owned business highlighted on this blog, please contact Alyssa Penman by email at AlyssaPenman {at} RelyLocal {dot} com or call her at 760-246-5400. RelyLocal.com is a locally-owned business that connects local consumers to local businesses for a thriving, robust and vibrant local economy.

See this article online:

http://www.sonicbids.com/2/epk/default.aspx?epk_id=129341



- Rely Local Newspaper Blog for the High Desert/Alyssa Pennman

Lisa Marie Williams has been stationed with the US Army in Germany, owned a teen employment agency in Los Angeles and a computer training company in the Inland Empire. During it all, though, she loved to sing. After Apple Valley drew her 5 years ago due to great home value and good schools for her son, she turned her passion into a successful business.

I had a great time at The Grind having coffee recently with Lisa Marie, hearing more about her journey and the amazing talent she brings to the High Desert. She and her partner Ralph Bunting created Lira Consulting, which includes Lisa Marie Sings. (Ralph was inspired by their names to create the company name “Lira”.) Through Lisa Marie Sings, they provide live entertainment, karaoke, DJ services, and the most unique gift of all – singing telegrams over the phone.

After performing with a variety of bands all over Los Angeles, Lisa Marie decided the music industry “rat race” was exhausting and decided to focus on the joy of performing, creating a viable business with her talent. Events she performs at include weddings, anniversary parties and corporate events for universities and hospitals. If she is not performing live for a client’s event, she will DJ, or do a mixture of both. Karaoke hosting (also known as a KJ) is also a big part of her business. She hosts events at bars and restaurants all over the Victor Valley. Some of her upcoming public events include:

¦This Saturday, August 28th, she is hosting a big karaoke contest at Carmen’s Ponderosa in Apple Valley. (In the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you I’m a judge at the contest. Come on down and join us! Sing, dance or just listen to great music.)
¦On August 30 she will sing the National Anthem at the High Desert Mavericks game.
¦Thursday September 9 Lisa Marie will be the featured performer for the Town of Apple Valley Courtyard Summer Concert Series
One thing that Lisa Marie has found great value in is social media. “Facebook is an awesome tool!” she told me. She has developed business through MySpace and more recently Facebook, using their events feature and lists to manage her contacts. She is also active on Twitter (follow her as @lisamariesings.)

As a member of the High Desert community, she wants to see continued positive growth. She would love to have a music space in the future: somewhere people who love to hear and perform all kinds of music can have a fun, welcoming place to do so. She also thinks that the proposed express train to Las Vegas would be a boon for the local economy if we can develop enough great restaurants and a nightlife to attract people before or after their trip.

As a musician myself, I appreciate the gift that music gives us. And I am looking forward to hearing more of that gift from Lisa Marie and other talented artists in the High Desert.

If you would like to see your locally-owned business highlighted on this blog, please contact Alyssa Penman by email at AlyssaPenman {at} RelyLocal {dot} com or call her at 760-246-5400. RelyLocal.com is a locally-owned business that connects local consumers to local businesses for a thriving, robust and vibrant local economy.

See this article online:

http://www.sonicbids.com/2/epk/default.aspx?epk_id=129341



- Rely Local Newspaper Blog for the High Desert/Alyssa Pennman

Lisa Marie, a talented jazz/R&B artist based in Apple Valley, CA (in San Bernardino County), has won the December SingerUniverse “Best Vocalist Of The Month” Competition, for her rendition of “The Answer Is You,” which was originally made famous by Phyllis Hyman and written by Mark Radice. This song is featured on Lisa Marie’s 12-song debut album All My Love, which she released independently in 2007.

“The Answer Is You” is a soulful ballad which provides a terrific showcase for Lisa Marie’s rich, deep vocals. Her strong vocal ability becomes clear almost immediately, when her voice comes in at the beginning of the opening verse.

“The Answer Is You” was produced by Lisa Marie with Mark Radice, who skillfully played all the music tracks on this recording. Radice is known for his extensive work with Aerosmith, and he has co-written songs for Barbra Streisand, Barry Manilow, Michael Bolton and Cheap Trick.

Lisa Marie was born and raised in Chicago, IL, where she was first introduced to music by her father Stan Williams (who is a singer). She was also inspired by listening to such artists as Nancy Wilson, Barbra Streisand and Phyllis Hyman. In her early teens, she sang in a Baptist church choir, and she entered and won some local talent contests.

When she was 15 Lisa Marie moved with her father to Los Angeles, and after high school she enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany. “I worked in the Army as a computer operator for six years,” she recalled. “I also had a chance to form a jazz band there. I loved living in Germany, and I also enjoyed traveling to France and Spain.”

After the Army, Lisa Marie returned to Los Angeles, where she started a new band and performed at many jazz clubs in Southern California. Then in 2006, she began recording her debut album All My Love, which features Lisa Marie’s vocal performances of 12 jazz/R&B standards.

“I’m proud of the album – I produced the album and hired the musicians,” she said. Currently, Lisa Marie is working on her next album, which will include material which she has co-written. The album is scheduled for release in Spring 2009. In addition, Lisa Marie (with her band) has remained a steady live performer, playing concerts and parties throughout California. “I’m planning to do a concert tour in Northern California, which I’m looking forward to,” she added.

- Dale Kawashima