Lisa Lisa’s journey through music, love, and personal growth has been nothing short of fascinating. Born Lisa Velez on January 15, 1966, in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen, she was the youngest of ten children in a religious Puerto Rican family. Despite growing up amidst financial struggles and the challenges of a fatherless household, Lisa always had a burning passion for music. That drive led her to become one of the most recognizable voices in the 1980s pop and R&B scene as the lead singer of Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam.
Her rise to fame began in the early 1980s when she frequented Funhouse, an underage club in Manhattan. It was there that drummer Mike Hughes noticed her talent and invited her to audition for the Brooklyn-based production team Full Force. Lisa took the subway to Brooklyn alone—a bold move for a young woman—and nailed the audition. Shortly afterward, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam was formed, with Hughes and Alex “Spanador” Moseley as her bandmates. Their debut single, I Wonder If I Take You Home, became a massive hit, propelling them into stardom.
Who Is Lisa Lisa’s Husband, Antonimar Mello? Lisa Velez Was Married Twice, Including John Yulfo
Lisa Lisa, born Lisa Velez, married her first husband, John Yulfo, in 1988 when she was 21, but the marriage ended in divorce by 1991 due to insecurity and personal challenges. In 2005, she married her current husband, Antonimar Mello, with whom she shares a happy family life with kids. Lisa Lisa has two children, frequently sharing glimpses of her beautiful family on social media.
Lisa Lisa’s professional life soared, but her personal life was more tumultuous. In 1988, at just 21 years old, she married John Yulfo, whom she had met only a week before falling in love. Their whirlwind romance quickly led to marriage, but their relationship was fraught with challenges. Lisa, already a rising star, had to juggle the demands of fame with the complexities of a young marriage. Initially, they managed to cope with the strains of her touring schedule. As she shared with the Gavin Report in 1989, both had learned to navigate the pressures of her career.
However, beneath the surface, insecurities and misunderstandings brewed. The Lifetime biopic Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story dramatizes these struggles through the character of Javi, a fictionalized version of John Yulfo. Much like his portrayal in the film, John reportedly had issues with Lisa’s interactions with other men in the professional sphere. Lisa revealed in a January 2025 interview that she married John for the wrong reasons, driven by a desire to be “loved by a man,” stemming from her complicated relationship with her father. She candidly admitted that she didn’t know much about John before their wedding, leading to what she described as a “pretty dark” married life.
@lisalisall77 gets real about portraying her mother and the power of healing through film. 🎬❤️
Check out the full interview on Youtube ➡️https://t.co/O5Tum692UE & Watch Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story on Lifetime! pic.twitter.com/qmjku2CwuO
— Way Up With Angela Yee (@wayupwithyee) February 3, 2025
One of the turning points in their marriage came when Lisa was offered a role in Eddie Murphy’s iconic 1988 film Coming to America. The character, named Lisa, was seemingly inspired by her. However, John discouraged her from accepting the part due to Murphy’s rumored crush on her. “Can you believe it? Dummy,” Lisa recalled saying during an interview with People in January 2025. This incident highlighted the insecurities that plagued their relationship.
By 1991, their marriage had crumbled. They finalized their divorce that year, after which John married Jacqueline Panebianco. Together, John and Jacqueline had four children—John, Vinny, Frankie, and Anthony. Their marriage lasted over two decades before ending in divorce in 2012. John Yulfo has since maintained a low profile, avoiding social media and public appearances.
While navigating the breakdown of her marriage, Lisa faced another monumental challenge—a battle with ductal carcinoma, a form of breast cancer, at the age of 21. Despite undergoing chemotherapy, she kept the diagnosis secret from her family and bandmates, continuing to tour and perform as if nothing was wrong. She only publicly discussed this part of her life years later, revealing on the Tamron Hall Show in May 2024 that it had been “hard to talk about back then.”
Professionally, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam released a total of four albums, with their debut and sophomore efforts delivering chart-topping hits like Can You Feel the Beat and Head to Toe. However, by the time they released their fourth album, Straight Outta Hell’s Kitchen, in 1991, the group’s popularity had waned, leading to their disbandment.
Lisa embarked on a solo career, releasing her debut album LL77 in 1994 under Pendulum Records. Songs like Skip to My Lu and When I Fell in Love saw moderate success. In addition to music, she ventured into acting, appearing in the Nickelodeon series Taina and an episode of Law & Order. In 2009, she released another album, Life ‘n Love, featuring guest appearances from artists like Pitbull.
Lisa’s personal life took a happier turn when she married Antonimar Mello in 2005. The couple has two children and enjoys a stable and private family life. Lisa frequently shares glimpses of her family on social media, where fans praise the beauty and charm of her kids, who are said to resemble their mother.
Lisa remains a beloved figure in music. She continues to perform, produce new music, and engage with her audience through social media. Her lifelong friendship with former backup singer Toni Menage stands as a testament to her enduring bonds. In August 2024, Lisa celebrated 40 years of their sisterhood, commemorating the milestone with a heartfelt birthday tribute to Toni.
“Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story” trailer. 🎥 #Lifetime #LisaLisa pic.twitter.com/Tn09KgFOa6
— Y’all Know What (@YallKnowWhat) January 25, 2025
In September 2024, Lisa served as an executive producer for the Lifetime biopic Can You Feel the Beat, which captured her journey with both triumphs and trials. She went on a press tour to Puerto Rico to promote her single No Lloraré Más and launched a nationwide concert tour covering major states like California, Texas, Florida, and New York.
