Lisa Bellamy
Gospel, jazz and classical Psalmist, song stylist, writer, motivational speaker and teacher, Lisa Bellamy has used her gift of song to inspire the young and the old for many years. Pouring her heart and soul into showing others the joy of life through song is something she can trace to childhood. “My love for singing was embedded in the roots of my family tree and planted in my spirit at the age of nine,” Lisa shares. “My grandmother, Pauline Gray, kept music as an integral part of our family culture and foundation. And as a little girl, I sat and watched as my mother, aunts and uncles gathered around the piano to sing old spirituals and favorite traditional songs that are still customary in our family today.” As I grew older I joined, as did my other siblings and cousins and it is still a tradition today.
She says her desire is to write and sing melodies that bring a sweet spirit of praise and worship into your heart, mind and soul – evoking the sense of purpose she felt after tearfully singing her first song in public at Macedonia Baptist Church of Arlington, Virginia as a little girl. Listen to Lisa sing now and you will hear and feel jazzy overtones and contemporary sounds that fans, gospel artists and entertainment industry executives say is a refreshing style that is sure to move you. Beyond music, Lisa is also touching the hearts of young people through motivational speaking and teaching - another trait evolving from her childhood. “I listened to stories narrated by my grandfather, Samuel Bellamy, aunt Rosetta and aunt Charlotte, who provided detailed descriptions of how “mother”(my great-grandmother) Lottie Bellamy played at one of the town's local churches (Lomax AME). Music has always been in the center of Lisa's heart, however, now as a minister and educator, Lisa is ready to share her music with the world. Combining a mixture of family-inspired gospel with depth of spirit, with skills she developed as a certified trainer, Lisa uses visual and vocal offerings to deliver inspirational messages that have motivated young people around the nation. Ultimately, she says, her goal is to reach into the heart of thousands of young people and women, and show them that all things are possible through Jesus Christ, using her life’s path as an example of God’s grace.
The Arlington, Virginia native began her formal training at the prestigious Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C., where she enriched her gift for song with a classical foundational technique that supported her love for the soulful roots of gospel. At the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, Virginia, Lisa fine tuned her classical vocal skills through opportunities to perform in operas such as, La Boheme, as well as choral concerts in Germany and Switzerland. Over the years, she has continued her study of classical voice, now as a vocal coach. She infuses classical technique, jazz and gospel into her praise and worship music and enjoys approaching her writing from the all three genres.
Lisa was a finalist on the BET Gospel Diva Search Competition broadcast on the Bobby Jones Gospel Hour, and has traveled to Paris, France on repeated occasions to perform with evangelist Liz McComb from 2000-2003. “This was a true blessing that changed my life ... it was truly humbling to see the beauty of the Lord manifest in the art song and creativity,” she reveals. Singing in one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the South of France, in Lyon, changed my perspective on sharing my music with the world. “It was a powerful worship and praise experience that was made even more pleasurable because I was performing with Liz McComb and the distinguished composer, producer and vocalist, Edwin Hawkins, whom I learned so much from. Performing in some of the world’s most beautiful concert houses truly provided such richness and appreciation for the world's view of music.”
While committed to inspiring others, Lisa says her personal desire is simple and rooted in her lifelong pursuit to be used as a tool in the Lords’ garden through music, and to bring souls to Christ.” 2020 brings Lisa's long awaited sophomore project, "Wake Up America to the world." 2020 is a year of perfect vision and God sees and knows all.