Lisa Nicole Lopes, better known by her stage name Left Eye, was an American rapper and singer.
She was a member of the R&B girl group TLC, alongside Tionne ‘T-Boz’ Watkins and Rozonda ‘Chilli’ Thomas.
Lopes was born on May 27, 1971, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to LaWanda and Ronald Lopes Sr.
She had a younger brother, Ronald Jr., and a younger sister, Rain (nicknamed Reigndrop).
Lopes’ father was a US Army staff sergeant and a talented musician who played the harmonica, clarinet, piano and saxophone.
She rose to fame as one-third of TLC, which dominated the late 1990s and early 2000s R&B scene with hits including Waterfalls, No Scrubs and Creep.
Lopes was known for her controversial, flamboyant and spontaneous personality.
Producer Jermaine Dupri described her as a true rock star who didn’t care about the press and was the one to curse on TV, with tattoos and unexpected behavior.
Lisa Lopes cause of death
Lopes died on April 25, 2002, in a car accident in Honduras while on vacation.
She was driving a rented Mitsubishi sport utility vehicle and lost control, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and turn over several times.
Lopes died at the scene of the accident.
She was on a 30-day spiritual retreat in Honduras, documenting her experience with a handheld camera, which was later used for the 2007 VH1 documentary, Last Days of Left Eye.
At the time of her death, Lopes was working on establishing a pair of educational centers in Honduras for children, Camp YAC and Creative Castle.
There were seven passengers in the vehicle, including Lopes’s sister, brother, three members of a rhythm-and-blues group and two video producers.
The passengers were treated in a hospital in La Ceiba, about 270 miles north of Tegucigalpa, the capital.
Lisa Lopes career
Lopes was born in Philadelphia on May 27, 1971, and raised as the daughter of a U.S. Army serviceman, which led to her being raised in various locations around the world.
After relocating to Atlanta during her young adult years, Lopes became heavily involved in the city’s thriving music industry, which produced many top-name acts such as Cameo, Jermaine Dupri, Xscape and Kelly Price.
Lopes was a member of the popular music group TLC, which was created in Atlanta.
TLC achieved significant success in the 1990s with hit songs like Waterfalls, No Scrubs and Creep.
Lopes, with her unique style and contributions to the group’s music, played a crucial role in their success.
One of the most important works in Lopes’ career was the album, CrazySexyCool, which TLC released in 1994.
The album was a huge success and helped solidify the group’s position as one of the most influential and successful acts of the 1990s.
Lopes also worked with other artists, such as Montell Jordan, Melanie ‘Sporty Spice’ Chisolm, and NSYNC, making her one of the music industry’s highly sought-after stars.
Additionally, she had a reputation for being controversial, flamboyant, and spontaneous.
She faced personal struggles, including legal issues and entering an alcohol rehabilitation program.
Seeking a fresh start in life after a difficult childhood, Lopes began involving herself in holistic and spiritual practices that brought her a sense of peace and tranquility.
She connected with a world that was innocent and new to her during a trip to Honduras, where she started several projects that benefited many victims of Hurricane Mitch, which struck Central America in 1997.
