Vocalist and songwriter Lisa McClendon brings a mix of jazz, soul, and funk and a certain urban neo-soul sensibility to her thoroughly contemporary brand of praise & worship gospel, and her updated sound has drawn comparisons to artists like Norah Jones and Lauryn Hill. Born in Jacksonville, FL (where she continues to make her home), McClendon joined the female urban group 3N1 shortly after graduating from high school, and ended up touring with them throughout the southeastern U.S. She made her solo recording debut in 2002 with the critically acclaimed My Diary, Your Life on the Shabach Entertainment label. The album attracted the ear of Mobile, AL-based label Integrity Gospel, and the singer signed with Integrity, releasing the impressive Soul Music in 2003. A hands-on recording artist, McClendon contributed to the engineering and production of the record, working closely with producer and co-writer Mo Henderson. A third album, Live from the House of Blues, recorded in New Orleans, appeared on Integrity Gospel in 2006. ~ Steve Leggett