Stansfield was born on 11 April 1966 at the Crumpshall[[North HospitalManchester 11General AprilHospital|Crumpsall 1966Hospital]] in [[Manchester|Manchester, England]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.lisastansfield.net/bio.html|title=Lisa Stansfield - Biography|website=LISA STANSFIELD {{!}} THE OFFICIAL FANSITE|accessdate=26 June 2018}}</ref> Her parents are Marion and Keith Stansfield,<ref name="ContempMusicians">"Lisa Stansfield." ''Contemporary Musicians''. Vol. 9. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 1993. Retrieved via ''Biography in Context'' database, 16 April 2017. Also [http://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/stansfield-lisa available online via ''Encyclopedia.com''].</ref> and she has two sisters, Karen and Suzanne.<ref>"[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/shock-as-singers-mum-dies-at-holiday-1046457 Shock as singer’s mum dies at holiday home]". ''Manchester Evening News''. manchestereveningnews.co.uk. 13 August 2007. Retrieved 16 April 2017.</ref> Her family moved to [[Heywood, Greater Manchester|Heywood]] in 1976, then to [[Rochdale]] in 1977. Stansfield grew up listening to [[soul music]] and admitted that her mother's playing of [[Diana Ross]] and [[the Supremes]] was her first musical influence, with her idols being [[Barry White]] and [[Marvin Gaye]].
In 1980, Stansfield won the ''Search for a Star'' singing competition,<ref>"[http://www.cheshirelife.co.uk/people/celebrity-interviews/lisa-stansfield-why-i-shed-a-tear-for-rochdale-1-3388049 Lisa Stansfield – Why I shed a tear for Rochdale]". ''Cheshire Life''. cheshirelife.co.uk. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2017.</ref> held at the [[Talk of the Town (restaurant)|Talk of the Town]] nightclub, and in 1981 her first single "[[Your Alibis]]" was released by the Devil Records. In 1982, she appeared on the television show ''Bring Me the Head of Light Entertainment'' on [[ITV Granada]]. At the same time, Stansfield signed her recording contract with [[Polydor Records]].
