Born Alescia Nicole Knowles, she was raised as a "quartet girl" in Memphis, TN. She is the oldest of two children. At the age of 3, her family noticed that she had a great love for singing and even at an early age,  she was not afraid to sing it how she felt it. Her mother recalls, “Lisa would have to have a mic at all times, even if she wasn’t singing or she would cry.”  At 9, she started singing with the Brown Singers as an extra background singer. People could not believe that a little girl could have such a grown-up voice. At the age of 12, she became the group's lead singer and recorded on the group's first "live" cd/DVD in 1996 "Live In Memphis"(E & J Records) along with 3 other up and coming quartets in the city. 

 

After 18 years of singing with The Brown Singers, she decided it was finally time to share her love for music on a broader spectrum. She began to step out and perform solo as just “Lisa Knowles”. 
 

In 2012, while still singing with her family group, The Brown Singers, Lisa began to travel as a background singer for James Fortune & FIYA.  She also toured with the “United as One” tour as a background vocalist for James Fortune, Vashawn Mitchell, Kierra Sheard, and Zacardi Cortez. She is featured on James Fortune & FIYA’s project “Live Through It” sharing the lead on the powerful song “Miracles”. In 2014, The Brown Singers released their second national project entitled "The Evolution Continues, debuting #6 on the Gospel Billboard charts. In 2015, the group won 2 Stellar Awards for Quartet of The Year and Traditional Group/Duo of The Year. 

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Following the group's wins, Lisa stepped out on faith and started her own record label "EvoWorld Entertainment, INC". The label's first project, "Evolution: The Legacy" which Lisa also produced, was released in 2016. 

 

In 2017, Lisa Knowles-Smith launched her first women’s retreat “Loving Me Again” with over 300 women registered. The retreat took place in Birmingham, AL for 2 days, with 4 power-packed events. Many women attest that it was life-changing. In 2022, she celebrated The Loving Me Again Retreat Finale in Birmingham, AL with over 200 women present. 

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In 2019, Lisa released her first national single under her label, Great Big God. The song debuted in the top 10 on the Billboard Gospel sales chart. In 2020, she followed up with her worship-style single "All I Want". In 2021, she recorded and released a virtual EP and video entitled, "Unleashed" featuring the quartet-style viral fan favorite "Jesus". 

 

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Currently, Lisa is co-pastoring alongside her husband Marcus at The Life City Church in Anniston, AL. She is preparing to finally release her highly anticipated solo record. She also mentors a group of young ladies called the Inner Circle.  She intends to embark on the journey of life and love, not as just another singer but as an example of faith and love through music for the upbuilding of the Kingdom.