Upamanyu Biswas
‘Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story’ leaps into the life and exploits of Lisa Velez, a Latina pop star who had to juggle the responsibilities of fame with challenges in her close circle and personal life. The Lifetime production shines a light on the ups and downs in her career and probes into her struggles with breast cancer while at the peak of her profession. With monumental hurdles in her path, Lisa needed the help of people close to her to overcome the adversity.
One such pivotal figure in her life was Toni Ménage, the former backup vocalist of Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam. As depicted in the film, Toni had a crucial hand in Lisa’s life, both as a supportive figure and someone to rely upon when things got tough. She provided a voice of reason for Lisa to latch on to as she confronted the complex inner workings of the music industry.
Toni Menage Began Singing at a Quite Young Age and Never Looked Back
Singing was a lifelong passion for Toni Menage, who took to it from a very young age. It also became evident that she possessed a level of talent that would help her stand out from the crowd, especially after she had her first hit at the tender age of 14. In the early 1980s, Toni released the song ‘Video Burnout’ under the stage name Little Toni Marsh, which went on to become a huge success. A year later, at age 15, she was one of the few to be picked up by the legendary Stevie Wonder, who mentored her while she recorded on Tamla Records. She subsequently went on to sign with MCA Records under the group name The Soul Club and produced the hit single ‘I Want Your Guy,’ which garnered a nomination at the Rhythm & Blues Music Association Awards.
In 1985, Toni joined Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam at 17 as their original backup singer. During this period, Toni became fast friends with the band’s lead vocalist, Lisa Lisa. Their friendship was one akin to sisterhood and would end up becoming a lifelong bond between two kindred spirits. The band released a number of hit singles, which include ‘I Wonder if I Take You Home,’ ‘Can You Feel the Beat,’ ‘Head to Toe,’ and ‘All Cried Out,’ among many others. In 1991, the band disbanded after a lukewarm reception to their fourth album ‘Straight Outta Hell’s Kitchen,’ which still contained a chart-topping song in its compilation – ‘Let the Beat Hit’ Em.’ Toni hooked up with the music group Jade in the early 1990s, who were formerly a part of Giant Records.
Toni Menage Remains a Close Friend and Collaborator of Lisa Lisa Even Today
Toni Menage stayed active in the music scene for several years, both taking on an independent role and as a backup singer. The vocalist has showcased her talents on a variety of popular stages, including ‘The Nick Cannon Show,’ ‘Tamron Hall,’ ‘Good Day New York,’ ‘American Music Awards,’ ‘The Joan Rivers Show,’ ‘The Rhythm and Blues Awards,’ ‘The World Music Awards,’ ‘Club MTV,’ ‘The Arsenio Hall Show,’ and ‘Soul Train.’ While her career took her on a different path to Lisa Lisa, Toni kept her friendship with the Latina pop star alive and a constant source of affirmation in their lives. Their collaboration eventually took on an even greater meaning when Toni started handling her best friend’s career as a manager and musical director. She does her role in conjunction with Bobby Dee Presents and Uncle Snoops Army, part of the Snoop Dogg Entertainment Company.
Toni is an active presence on her social media account, regularly sharing posts about her enthusiasm for working closely with Lisa. In 2023, she shared her thoughts on her career shift from being an artist to a business owner managing talent around the country. “I’ve always wanted to UP LIFT the artist who I admire, fanned out for and cheered for in my circle to WIN. So I had to do more then just sing and be an artist,” she explained. As the founder of the event band company Project Orange Music, she remains dedicated to achieving those goals by keeping the live music industry fresh and innovative by blending the commercial and creative aspects. To that end, her 30 years of experience in the business is vitally important, and so is her long-running sisterhood with Lisa.
In an interview, the Latina singer stated that Toni remains one of the most influential figures in her life, saying, “Where I am today, I owe 100 percent to Toni Menage… It’s always good to have people who got your back.” Toni appears as a main character in Lisa’s Lifetime biopic, showcasing the intricacies of their bond in a music industry dominated by male figures. She also served as an executive producer on the project. Today, Toni runs the full-service entertainment company Menage Works Inc. and the touring band SoDisrespectful!, which provides bands with vocalists and musicians. Toni’s collaboration and partnership with Lisa are set to continue in 2025. The singer recently embarked on a countrywide tour in the latter parts of 2024. She also plans to go on a 40-city tour in the upcoming year, which is going to require the 57-year-old’s expertise and counsel.
Read More: Can You Feel the Beat’s True Story: Where is Lisa Lisa Now?
