A’Lisa B. (Born June 18) is an American singer-songwriter. Known for being the former female lead vocalist of the group Max-A-Million, she has continued to work behind the scenes writing for several other artists, including Rochelle (Praying for an Angel and Holding On To Love), Isaac (In My Heart), and Julio from the freestyle group L.A.W. (Angelina).
Drawn to music from an early age, she began her career as a songwriter and backup vocalist with Jerry Soto at Soto Sound Studios in Chicago. Her first single as a solo artist was a techno dance track called “Don’t You Wanna Dance” produced and co-written by A’Lisa, Soto and DJ Jonathan “Scrappy” Gilbert for Atlantic records (1989). She was later signed to Frank Rodrigo’s SOS/BMG Records (1994) as an in-house writer and solo artist. Her first single with SOS entitled “I’m In Love” became a huge hit in Canada, France, and Italy. However, just before she was about to begin her European tour in support of her single, she was given the opportunity to help form the group Max-A-Million, and as they say, the rest is history.
Produced by the world-renowned production team 20 Fingers (Charlie “Babie” Rosario, Manny Mohr and J.J. Flores) the group Max-A-Million went on to release the CD “Take Your Time” (1995). On the strength of the first single “Fat Boy”, the “Take Your Time” CD would go on to spawn 3 more hit singles (Take Your Time, Sexual Healing, Everybody’s Groovin”) and a world tour of North and South America, Europe, Guam, Jamaica, and Asia. Max-A-Million headlined and performed with many other top recording artists including The Backstreet Boy's, Monica, Brandy, Coolio, Queen Latifa, Mary J. Blige, and Deborah Cox.
Max-A-Million received two top awards at the 16th Annual Chicago Music Awards for "Pop Recording Artist/Group of the Year" and "Best Reggae Album/CD of the Year. They also received several nominations at the 16th Annual Reggae and World Music Awards including "Best Crossover Song" for "Sexual Healing", and “Best Music Video" for "Take Your Time”, another platinum hit.
After Max-A-Million disbanded in 1998, A’Lisa continued to write for other artists and has worked with many producers including Grammy winner Maurice Joshua (Nsync, Destiny’s Child) and Earl Robinson (R. Kelly, Public Announcement). She also became the voice of Chicago radio in the 2000’s, recording several commercial/jingle voice-overs and radio bumpers for B96, WGCI, and V103.
In 2017 A’Lisa worked with several producers, including MDW & Raul Soto, the legendary Todd Terry (“Testimony” released on InHouse Records) and Charlie "Babie" Rosario (“Forbidden Love”, “Tell Me”, and “Legendary”) released on Flava Music Records, hence earning her the nickname "First Lady of Flava Music"). The latter song, Legendary held the #1 spot on CPR's Top 10 Freestyle countdown for 9 consecutive weeks in 2018, and remained in CPRs Top 10 for 7 months.
2020 has been a great year for A’Lisa as well. She wrote the freestyle song of the summer “Slipping Through My Hands” for the legendary group TKA which became the 1st and only freestyle song to hit #1 on the Itunes Album Dance Chart. (Artistik/418 Freestyle) and “Now That You’re Gone” for Synthia Figueroa. She also released her own solo single “Memories of Love” which went on to reach #4 on the Itunes Album Dance Chart. (Artistik/418 Freestyle) And she wrote and recorded the duet “I Don’t Know” with Raul Soto that also charted top 10 on the Itunes Album Dance Chart. (Flava Music Records) With more new music and collaborations set to be released, including projects with Charlie XO, and a solo project set for 2021, A’Lisa B. is showing the world that she is definitely here to stay.
