Wanda Lopes Colemon is the mother of Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes of the Grammy Award-winning RnB girl group TLC. Here’s what we know about her:
Background
Details of Wanda’s date of birth and early years are unavailable to the public. Also, there is no information about her parents or siblings.
Career
Details about her career are not publicly available. However, we do know that she worked as a producer on The Last Days of Left Eye (2007) and Hopelessly in Love (2020).
Personal Life
Wanda Lopes Colemon was married to Ronald Lopes and they had a child together called Lisa Nicole Lopes. Beyond this, we have no other information regarding her personal life.
Lisa Lopes Foundation
After Lisa passed away in 2002, Wanda founded the Lisa Lopes Foundation (LLF) with others close to Lisa. The foundation honors Lisa by helping families in need through the arts and through education and empowerment.
Her Daughter, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes
Lisa Nicole Lopes was a 1990s music dynamo under the stage name “Left Eye”. As a rapper, singer, songwriter and producer for the RnB girl group TLC, Left Eye had an impact beyond music influencing fashion and inspiring a generation of young women.
Born in Philadelphia in 1971, Lisa was raised by a strict military father and seamstress mother. Music was always present – her father’s multi-instrumentalism inspired her own artistic pursuit. Moving to Atlanta with her mother after her parents separated, Lisa discovered the music scene there.
Attending talent shows and rapping at local events helped Lisa get noticed by Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas. Recognizing a passion, the trio formed TLC, which challenged stereotypes and celebrated female empowerment.
Their debut album: “Ooooooh… On the TLC Tip in 1992 made TLC famous. Left eye’s signature look of an Eye patch (adopted after a childhood accident) and bright outfits became as iconic as her rapping. Her fiery personality and creative vision came across in her lyrics about female independence, self-worth and social issues.
Left Eye was more than a performer. She was an imaginative genius. She wrote many of TLC’s biggest hits – “Waterfalls,” “No Scrubs” and “Creep,” generation-defining anthems. And her influence went beyond music: She designed costumes, choreographed routines, and designed the group’s image and album artwork.
TLC had its struggles despite their huge success. Financial difficulties and internal disputes ensued, partly due to Left Eye’s outspoken nature and desire for creative control. In 1994 she accidentally set her boyfriend’s mansion on fire. Although the incident tarnished her reputation, it also showed her independence.
Left Eye pursued solo projects and spirituality for personal growth. Unfortunately, in 2002, she was killed in a car accident in Honduras. Her death at the age of 30 left the music world and her fans mourning.
The influence of Left Eye on music and culture is undeniable. Her fierce lyricism, her innovative fashion sense and her concern for female empowerment set the precedent for future artists. TLC’s music still inspires with more than 65 million copies sold worldwide.
