About Lisa
Lisa's Official Bio
The Lisa Bouchelle Story

 Introducing Lisa Bouchelle
From A Picnic Table To The World Stage

Standing on stage at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, NJ, singing backup for Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi at a holiday benefit concert, it was hard for Lisa Bouchelle to not to drift back to the many days she spent singing while growing up. In those childhood days, however, she was singing for quite a different reason.

Although both her parents loved her dearly, they fought constantly with each other. Her mother was an alcoholic, and her father, who had to leave school in the 8th grade, worked three jobs just so the family could get by. It almost seemed like the only time the arguing would stop was when little Lisa would sing. “It seemed like they would smile and be happy when I sang,” recalls Lisa. “That’s the only time everything seemed OK.” So Lisa would sing as much as she could, and whenever she could.

Lisa had started singing during the long car rides the family would take. Without any money for entertainment, her dad would take the family out for drives in the country, singing to the radio. Her father had a majestic voice, and Lisa tried to emulate him. Then one day at a campground, they announced there would be a talent contest. Lisa’s grandmother dressed her in an American Flag costume to go with the song she would perform, “America The Beautiful.” Because Lisa, at four years of age, was so much smaller than everyone else, they put her on a picnic table so she could be seen. To her, it was her first real stage. Lisa won the contest, and knew at that moment she wanted to be a famous singer when she grew up.

That’s also when she realized that she could make a lot of people happy with her voice, besides just her parents. Standing on that stage this past winter with Bruce and Jon, she realized she was living her dream. People were smiling and applauding, and she knew her parents were looking down and smiling also.

Alcoholism had taken her mother from her, and her father died soon after from complications during a heart operation. Coincidentally, her father had taken ill on the night they were to do their first public performance together, a duet they had rehearsed for weeks.

Now alone in the world, Lisa set her sights on fulfilling her dream, and making her father proud. She played in every local coffeehouse and bar, sometimes seven nights a week. She sent her songs to everyone she could. She sang in local “open mic” talent nights. A local music writer saw her at one of those, and saw something special in her. He took an interest, and brought Lisa to a benefit show that featured Jon Bon Jovi. Lisa actually reached out and touched Jon’s jacket just so she could feel what it was like to be next to a real rock star.

Never did she dream that she would soon be recording her debut national release at his home studio. Calling on some of the other notable area musicians who by this time had become her friends (such as Saturday Night Live drummer Shawn Pelton, renowned guitarist Bobby Bandiera, and legendary vocalists Southside Johnny and Gary U.S. Bonds) for help, she completed Paint Your Dreams. The single topped two indie charts, and the album reached number four on the college charts.

Lisa did a national tour opening for Blues Traveler to promote the album. Because she had no budget for promotion, she drove the whole tour by herself in her trusty car, which she affectionately named Maude. She would play her set each night, stay until the venue closed to sell her CDs, and then get in the car and make the six to eight hour drive to the next city; grabbing sleep and food whenever and wherever she could.

That set the stage for Lisa’s new release, Bleu Room With A Red Vase. Lisa decided to produce the CD herself, eschewing fancy production and going for the raw, acoustic sound which she has always loved. The songs range from a playful duet with John Popper, the singer of Blues Traveler, to a moving ode to her mother, which she recorded live in the studio. In addition to John Popper, it contains contributions from many great musicians, such as David Bromberg, Rob Hyman of the Hooters, Bobby Bandiera, Glen Burtnik, John Eddie, Bob Burger, Lorenza Ponce, Erin Hill, and many more.

The songs are a glimpse into Lisa’s soul; a mix of the hopeful, laughing young woman she is today, and the bittersweet memories of the little girl on the picnic table. And she now has the opportunity to make thousands of music fans smile and be happy. Her parents are undoubtedly looking down, and are indeed, very proud.

EPILOGUE:

Lisa’s background has made her very conscious of the plight of others who have difficult circumstances. She is a part of two major charity musical groups. One is the nationally known group “Holiday Express,” which plays over 50 shows every November and December at homeless shelters, for aids patients, handicapped children, and other disadvantaged individuals. The second is World Hunger Year (WHY), which raises awareness of hunger in the US. Started by Harry Chapin, the organization includes Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello among its supporters. Lisa has contributed a song, “Time (Save A Little Hope)” to be a bonus track on a charity CD put out by the group in conjunction with the Hard Rock Cafe, called Serve 3, which is available on iTunes.