Liza Jane is of Mexican, Castilian, Irish and Cherokee descent from a small town on the California Gold Coast. "San Luis Obispo, where I was raised, definitely formed my country roots. It's a little hillbilly town where my father had a band in the fifties called 'Lefty and the Corvettes." Even though he wasn't around when I started playing, I play left-handed too.
Liza Jane was strongly influenced by her mother's collection of favorite recordings by Brenda Lee, Patsy Cline, Patti Page, and Connie Francis. She started singing in public at age 5 and performed anytime and anywhere she could. "I used to sing parts of Madame Butterfly for my mom when I was around 6 or 7, and asked her if she could sing like that... I knew I was gonna be a singer, from the beginning!"
Liza Jane landed her first recording contract with Dot Records singing lead vocals in the band "The Yankee Dollar" with Greg Likins on lead guitar. The album was produced by Frank Slay of "Incense and Peppermint" fame by the Strawberry Alarm Clock. The band was a cult favorite in the psychedelic era and they opened for the likes of Moby Grape and Santana.
Liza Jane sang background vocals for Linda Ronstadt for 5 years. With Linda, she performed on the Johnny Carson Show, the David Letterman show, the Grammy Awards, HBO specials, and numerous music videos. She also worked with Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton and Linda on the award-winning first 'TRIO' album. Liza Jane's first performance in Nashville with at the Grand Ole Opry singing background vocals for Miss Ronstadt.
Liza Jane toured with Stevie Nicks as a solo artist on the "Whole Lotta Trouble" and "Street Angel" tours, and with Fleetwood Mac on the "Behind the Mask" world tour. Liza Jane performed on Jay Leno and David Letterman, and the "Blue Denim" video with Nicks also.
Liza Jane spent '92 with country great Clint Black on the "Hard Way" tour singing background vocals and playing percussion. "Singing with Clint was a dream come true! He said I could twang with the best
of them!" With Clint she performed on Arsenio Hall, Jay Leno, David Letterman, the Bob Hope Christmas
Special, and TNN's Nashville Now.
Liza Jane moved to Nashville on George Strait's advice after he heard her sing at the Kentucky Derby. It was there Jim Ed Norman signed Liza Jane to a recording contract with
Warner-Reprise Records. The CD "Cosmic Cowgirl" is a result of Liza Jane's 4 years in Nashville.
When Casey Kasem heard Liza Jane's "Cosmic Cowgirl" CD, he was so impressed he asked Jerry Lewis to invite her as a guest performer on his Labor Day Telethon. "Singing for Jerry and his kids was a high point in my solo career. I've watched him my whole life and was so honored to be on his show. I went on at 3 a.m. between the Singing Dads and the Dancing Chickens!"
Now living in Southern California, Liza Jane enjoys the Pacific Ocean and the palm trees, which she missed dearly while living in Nashville. "Now I write songs when I feel like it. My new songs cross over from country to cosmic folk-rock, and I'm having the time of my life. It just keeps getting better every year!"
Listen to her songs and hear the echoes of country greats from
the past, in her powerful voice.