Born in Camden, New Jersey to Cleao Twine. The family later moved to Philadelphia. Lola attended Germantown High School in Philadelphia. She was raised as Episcopalian but later coverted to Roman Catholicism.
Father is from Cuba. He sang to Lola in Spanish. She later became a popular nightclub singer who performed in various lanuages.
In later years she has turned to religion for comfort and solace, touring much of the time as an evangelist.
Is of African-American and Cuban descent.
Measurements (as 1963 pin-up model): 34B-24-36. (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
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).
Was a protégé of Dinah Washington.
Was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis; after a brief period of (1987) remission, her MS returned in 1996.
Was nominated for Broadway's 1975 Tony Award as Best Actress (Musical) for "Doctor Jazz."