A native of “The Burg”, Va., Lisa Lim has had a passion for music as long as she can remember. At the age of seven, her father Gus gave her a piano. She immediately began taking piano lessons. She participated in both group and private study. She played mainly classical and learned a lot about music theory. She explored other styles on piano and keyboards. Playing pop, contemporary , blues, and rock. At the age of ten she picked up the guitar. She knew that was the instrument that was always intended for her to play. She started on acoustic guitar quickly changing over to electric guitar. 

She studied under various instructors. Her main instructor was Pete Sellers. He didn’t cut her any slack. The lessons were intense and she was given a lot of very useful information. His main focus was jazz. She expressed interest in other styles. And was given the challenge of picking out songs on her own and listening to them and piecing them together. After accomplishing this tedious task. He would explain the chord structure and solos and how it all worked. She developed a great ear in doing this exercise. He taught her all about the business, taking her out and letting her see him perform in clubs. Which was a great opportunity for someone so young and so interested in the business. She is appreciative of all she learned and experienced with Mr. Sellers. 

Lisa’s life was forever changed when she lost her father to cancer at the age of 12. Facing death at such an early age can truly be difficult. Lisa had to grow up fast. Her mother had been chronically ill since as far back as she could remember. It made for a confusing and challenging environment to grow up in. Music was her salvation. It brought her great comfort through difficult times and also in good times. She decided early on she would pursue music as a profession. 

She played in numerous garage rock bands in her early teens. Performing at school functions, participating in jazz band and private parties. Her influences early on were the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan (Her Hero), Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Eddie Van Halen, Robert Johnson, Jimmy Page, Beatles, Bonnie Raitt, Joe Pass, Mike Stern, Robben Ford, Arlen Roth, Danny Gatton, and the list goes on. 

As she developed as a player she started gigging with bands on the weekends in local venues. In her late teens she joined an all female rock band “ East Coast Crew“. They played many clubs regionally, did benefits, van jamborees and lots of private parties. It was a great experience. 

After a couple of years, the ladies parted ways and Lisa went on to play keyboards and guitar in a local variety band “Replay” on the weekends. 

During the day she worked for the Fredericksburg Times. She got an opportunity to audition for a full time band “Real to Reel” who performed on the east coast. She got the gig and headed to Jacksonville, Fl. to begin rehearsals. The trio played up and down the east coast. She did vocals, guitar, keyboards. And had to work through a choreographed and a full light show that included lasers. Set ups and tear downs were a work out! It truly taught her about the challenges of being a full time road musician. It taught her what it was to be a professional musician. 

When she left this band, she spent time traveling and hanging with other musician friends. She then headed home to regroup and decide what her next move would be. She headed to Memphis to start work in a new band. But, it wasn’t at all what she had been told it was going to be. So, she headed back to ” The Burg.” 

At this time, she started teaching at Picker’s Supply in Fredericksburg. A place she was very familiar with. She basically grew up in this store. Teaching was very enjoyable and rewarding to her. 

On the weekends she hooked up with some old buddies and was playing southern rock in the” Snake Goosely Band.”. The band got to open up for “Blackfoot”. She was taking vocal lessons with the late Bill Kelley. A dear friend. She was also working on her bass guitar chops. And respected blues performer Charlie Donelan, who toured Europe with Bo Diddley, was giving her slide guitar lessons when he’d pass through town doing gigs. They’d get together and work on slide guitar until the sun would rise. It was always a marathon lesson and jam session when they got together. 

Lisa was looking for something different and new. So her and well respected musician Julie Bell formed a duo called “Talk of the Town”. It was a nice change up. Playing acoustic guitar, doing vocal harmonies, keyboards and bass. Playing to mainly a college crowd and doing benefits. A different scene. And also an opportunity to expand stylistically. 

After the duo split up, Lisa continued teaching and getting gigs with bands regionally. She got involved in an all female blues band in Maryland. “WILMA”. She was jamming with well respected players form the Slim Jims and Charlie Sayles bass player Carol. She had to listen to the blues 24/7 to get rid of her rock feel. There’s a difference in your approach when you play the blues. And she loved it. Another great experience to grow from. 

After that things got a little complicated. Her mother was very ill and she had to take a step back from forging ahead with her music and focus on her mothers health. So, she continued to teach as much as she could and was also a caregiver. During that time she met her soul mate. Her husband Mark was a huge support system throughout those days and continues to be. 

Ironically, if you knew Lisa growing up. You know that she was into cool, fast cars. She had a ’79 Trans Am in her day. Imagine her trying to put a 412 speaker cabinet in the backseat of that car. She did it! Well, her guy builds custom Chevy muscle car engines for a living at his company AR RACING LLC., and yes is totally into cool cars. So, a fine pair they make. 

As things improved with her mothers health, she began gigging again. This time with the “Bittersweet band”. Playing regionally pretty much every weekend kept her busy. Also, helping out with her better half’s business. It is a typical site to see Lisa in a dually delivering a race motor down the interstate! The stories she could tell. After a few yrs. she parted ways with “Bittersweet”. 

These days, Lisa’s mother is stable and an inspiration to her. She shows great strength and character in all she has endured. Lisa recently left Picker’s Supply to pursue writing and focusing on her studio, Lim's Music.  She encourages her students to participate in open mics. Quite often she gets up and performs with her students. She and fellow instructor Doug Manring this past year have been doing performances in some area schools demonstrating Americana music and the instruments used. It’s been well received. 

Lisa has made many good friends and has developed a lot of extended family through her many years of teaching. She feels very blessed. She currently is writing and collaborating with other musicians. Freelancing. Working on developing her skills on the mandolin and drums. Putting a blues project together. And has become involved with the Stafford Parks and Recreation giving group guitar lessons on the weekends. And as always continues to strive at being a better player and having more to offer as an instructor. 

In April 2006, Lisa competed in Guitar Center's King of the Blue's Armageddon guitar competition winning store finals.

Lisa is also involved in helping out Ni River Church, assisting in music ministry as needed.

To be continued.......