Lisa Fischer | |
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.jpg) Fischer in 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lisa Melonie Fischer |
| Born | (1958-12-01)December 1, 1958 (age 66) New York,New York, U.S. |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1983–present |
| Labels | Elektra |
| Website | lisafischermusic |
Lisa Melonie Fischer (born December 1, 1958) is an American singer and songwriter. She found success with her 1991 debut albumSo Intense, which produced theGrammy Award–winning hit single "How Can I Ease the Pain".[1] She has been a back-up singer for a number of artists, includingSting,Luther Vandross, andTina Turner, and she toured withThe Rolling Stones from 1989 to 2015.
Lisa Melonie Fischer was born in theFort Greene neighborhood in theNew York Cityborough ofBrooklyn.[2] Fischer's mother gave birth to her at age 16 and had a total of three children by the time she was 19. Fischer has fond memories of singing with her mother (a homemaker), her father (a warehouse worker and security officer), and her two younger brothers.[3] She attendedThe High School of Music & Art in Manhattan.[4] When Fischer was 14 her father left the family and when Fischer was 17, her mother died.[5]
In an interview with Christian Wikane ofPopMatters, Fischer stated she was influenced byFreda Payne,Marvin Gaye andMelba Moore, and others early in her childhood.[6] In the years before launching her solo mainstream career, she noted significant influence from theblack LGBT community,[7] particularly in developing a stage image with adventure, quality, and beauty.[7]
In 1983, under the stage name "Xēna", Fischer released the b-boy classic "On the Upside".[8] In 1984, aclub track she recorded titled "Only Love (Shadows)" was briefly featured in the motion pictureBeat Street[9] and was later released in 1995 as part of the Hot Productions'The Best of Criminal Records compilation. However, Fischer began her music career supporting other artists providing backing vocals for artists including Melba Moore andBilly Ocean. She worked with many other famous singers, both as a session vocalist andsideman. She accompaniedLuther Vandross whom she met through the mutual acquaintance of choreographer Bruce Wallace, who asked her to come to his agency for an audition.[10] Fischer then traveled as a backup singer on his tours and sang on his albums until his death, in addition to other famous musicians, includingChaka Khan,Teddy Pendergrass, andRoberta Flack.[11]
Fischer maintained her career as asession singer, and has accompanied The Rolling Stones on tour since 1989.[12] She worked as abackup vocalist during the same period forLuther Vandross for the 22 years prior to his death[13] alongside friend and collaboratorAva Cherry,[14] juggling his concert tours and those ofThe Rolling Stones, with whom she grew an audience playing thefoil toMick Jagger onstage. During tours with the Rolling Stones, she shares lead vocals on several songs, including "Monkey Man, and "Gimme Shelter", which showcase her vocal talents.
Fischer's solo career peaked with the 1991 release of "How Can I Ease the Pain" from her albumSo Intense, reaching Number One on the R&B charts, and winning aGrammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 1992.[15] The album spawned three Top 20 R&B hits, and peaked at #5 on theTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #100 on theBillboard 200 chart. Asked about the inspiration for her album, Fischer replied "I wasn't deep in search of a record deal, it was just one of those things...". In the movie20 Feet From Stardom, Fischer's Grammy award for her hit single collects dust on a shelf. Fischer said she "just doesn't know what to do with it".[16] Although Fischer earned success with her first album, a follow-up solo studioalbum was not released because an attempt to create a second album failed due to "energy shifts".[17]
Fischer recorded on various projects including providinglead vocals on thepower ballad "Colors of Love" featured on thesoundtrack for the filmMade in America.[18] Fischer says a contributing factor in her decision to discontinue her solo career following the release of her debut album was her fondness forbacking vocalist rather than a solo artist.[19] In a 2013 article, Fischer compared back-up singing to a "tuning fork",[20] and noted she rejected the idea of dissatisfaction and the theory of always aspiring for something more while creating music and supporting other artists.[21] In 1992, Fischer traveled toJapan to perform in theEarth Voice Concert withLee Ritenour,Phil Perry,Bobby Caldwell,Brenda Russell,James Ingram,Michael McDonald,Anita Baker, and others. During the concert, Fischer sang her 1991 hit "How Can I Ease The Pain", and provided backing vocals for her fellow musicians.
In August 1996, Fischer made her theatre debut in theoff-Broadway playBorn to Sing! chronicling the life and career of the fictionalgospel superstar, Doris Winter.[22] The final installment of theMama, I Want to Sing! trilogy featured Fischer in the starring role of Doris Winter, and followed the character as she assembled a company of fellow singers for a globalWorld Peace and Harmony Tour.[23]
Fischer continued to work on music, doing background vocals and writing songs for other artists, including Anane Vega.[24] Fischer toured withTina Turner on herTwenty Four Seven Tour. It was the worldwide top-grossing tour of 2000. Lisa was featured in an April 14, 2008 issue ofJet Magazine′s "Where Are They Now?" column.[25] In 2009, Fischer completed touring withTina Turner on herTina!: 50th Anniversary Tour, and is featured on Turner's live DVD-CD titledTina Live. In the performance of Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour, Fischer and Turner sang "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)" together; after Turner left the stage, Fischer completed the song solo.
Fischer sang onSting's albumIf on a Winter's Night... as a backing vocalist. In September 2009, Sting and his band with Fischer performed inDurham Cathedral. The rehearsals as well as the concert are available as a DVD. The behind-the-scenes documentary surrounding the event was produced jointly by the BBC, and was screened on December 29 that year. She appeared at the 2010CareFusionNewport Jazz Festival inNewport, Rhode Island with jazz trumpeterChris Botti. She toured with Botti through 2010,[26] including appearing nightly as guest vocalist during the trumpeter's annual holiday engagement at theBlue Note Jazz Club in New York city. She remained a guest artist with Botti's band in 2011,[27] and continued to appear at their 2012 concerts.[28]
In 2012, she joined the Rolling Stones for their50 & Counting Tour in October 2012, and toured globally with the band until July 2013. The band announced a follow-up tour14 On Fire scheduled to start in February, including dates in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe in summer 2014, and Australia in fall 2014.[29]
In 2013, Fischer joined the rock bandNine Inch Nails as a backing vocalist for theirTension 2013 tour.[30][31]
Fischer is one of the artists featured in theOscar-winning documentary film20 Feet from Stardom (2013),[32] which premiered at theSundance Film Festival and was released on June 21, 2013.[33] The documentary highlights back-up singers by archiving the oral histories of artists likeMerry Clayton andDarlene Love and their experiences within the American music industry.[34] The film earned the 2015Grammy Award for Best Music Film, with the award presented to the featured artists as well as the production crew.[35]
In 2014, Fischer re-united with many of the back-up singers in20 Feet From Stardom includingDarlene Love,Merry Clayton, andJudith Hill to sing the national anthem at the 100thRose Bowl inPasadena, California.[36]
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In 2014, Fischer began her solo tour accompanied by her bandGrand Baton,[37] performing across the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.[38][39][40][41] That same year, a press release announced Fischer would collaborate with performerBilly Childs on a studio project aboutLaura Nyro.[42] 2015, returning to her solo career, Fischer sold out six consecutive shows at The Jazz Standard inNew York City.[43]
In 2015, she, along with hermusical director, the composer, arranger, and pianistJC Maillard, collaborated with choreographerAlonzo King to create the music/dance ensemble piece entitledThe Propelled Heart for theAlonzo King LINES Ballet.[44]The Propelled Heart premiered at theYerba Buena Center for the Arts inSan Francisco on November 6, 2015.[45] In September 2017, Fischer reprised her role inThe Propelled Heart at theKwai Tsing Theatre inHong Kong.[46] The program returned to theSF Bay Area's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in November 2017 in honor of the 35th Anniversary ofLINES Ballet.[47]
In addition to her collaboration with King, in 2016, Fischer provided vocal performances on threeGrammy nominated projects[48] includingLouie Vega Starring...XXVIII withLouie Vega and The Elements of Life;[49]Sing Me Home withYo-Yo Ma,The Silkroad Ensemble, andGregory Porter;[50] as well asNew York Rhapsody withLang Lang andJeffrey Wright.[51] In February 2018, Fischer's vocal performances were featured in theHBO Film presentationNotes From The Field written and produced byplaywrightAnna Deavere Smith.[52]
Fischer andGrand Baton partnered withThe Seattle Symphony for their programJust A Kiss Away in February 2018 in whichrock musicanthems such asThe Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" were re-createdorchestrally.[53] The orchestral arrangements were composed byChris Walden.
| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Soul Train Music Award | Best New Artist | So Intense | Nominated |
| 1992 | Soul Train Music Award | Best R&B/Soul Single – Female | "How Can I Ease the Pain" | Won |
| 1992 | Soul Train Music Award | Best R&B/Soul Album – Female | So Intense | Nominated |
| 1992 | Grammy Award | Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | "How Can I Ease the Pain" | Won |
| 1992 | Grammy Award | Best R&B Song | "How Can I Ease the Pain" | Nominated |
| 2014 | Grammy Award | Best Music Film | 20 Feet from Stardom | Won |
| Year | Film | Genre | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Shine a Light | Documentary | Herself |
| 2013 | 20 Feet from Stardom | Documentary | Herself |
| 2017 | Every Night's a Saturday Night | Documentary | Herself |
| 2017 | The Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers Live at The Fonda Theatre 2015 | Documentary | Herself |
| 2018 | Notes From the Field | Television Film | Performer & Composer |
| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Born to Sing![54] | Doris Winter | Union Square Theatre[55] August 1996 – January 1997 |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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| Television | |
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| Other members | |
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