- Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the 1980s. After a brief period of apparent remission, the disease returned in 1996. She retired to her parents' home in Philadelphia. A decade later, she had recovered sufficiently to return to live in Las Vegas.
- Was a protégé of Dinah Washington.
- Her Cuban father would sing to her in Spanish. She later became a popular nightclub singer who performed in various languages.
- Recorded on Reprise Records, the label owned by Frank Sinatra.
- She and Joey Heatherton were the namesakes for the "Lola Heatherton" character as played by Catherine O'Hara on SCTV (1976) and SCTV Network (1981).
- Born in Camden, NJ, of African-American and Cuban descent. Her family later moved to Philadelphia. She attended Germantown High School there. Raised Episcopalian, she later converted to Roman Catholicism.
- In later years she has turned to religion for comfort and solace, touring much of the time as an evangelist.
- Was nominated for Broadway's 1975 Tony Award as Best Actress (Musical) for "Doctor Jazz."
- She was nominated for the 2022 New Jersey Hall of Fame in the Performing Arts and Entertainment category.
- Daughter of Bennett Falana, and Cleo Falana.
- She was nominated for the 2024 New Jersey Hall of Fame in the Performing Arts & Entertainment category.
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