Sexy and oh so elegant, Falana became a staple of 1970s variety shows and Las Vegas nightclubs, earning her the nickname Queen of Las Vegas. Discovered by Sammy Davis Jr. after appearing in his Broadway show Golden Boyin 1964, the two had an on again/off again fling, leading to a record contract for Lola with Reprise Records and several film roles both in Hollywood and in Italy. A spread in Playboy followed and appearances on The Bill Cosby Show, Laugh In, and The Flip Wilson Show, as well as many high-rated specials. At the time, Falana was the highes paid female entertainer in Vegas, earning $100,000 a week at the Aladdin Resort. She was nominated for a Tony in 1975 for Doctor Jazz. Everything seemed to be going well.
In 1987, Falana suffered a severe replase of multiple sclerosis leaving her partially blind and deaf, as well as impairing her voice. After another bout with MS in 1996, Falana retired from show biz for good and retired to her home in Las Vegas and concentrates on her apostolate, The Lamb of God Ministry(which focuses on helping orphans in Africa). She now tours the country with her message of spirituality. Falana’s last known musical performance was with Wayne Newton in 1997.
