Lisa Fischer
Encyclopedia
Lisa Fischer is an American
R&B
singer and songwriter
. She rose to fame in 1991 with her debut album So Intense, which produced the Grammy Award
winning hit single "How Can I Ease the Pain
". Known for her high notes, which extends into the whistle register
, Fischer has been recognized as one of the most successful session vocalist
s of the era. She has sung back-up for a number of famous artists, including Luther Vandross
, Tina Turner
and The Rolling Stones
.
of Brooklyn, New York City
, New York
. Before pursuing a solo career, she accompanied R&B singer Luther Vandross
as a backup singer on his tours & albums until his death, in addition to providing backing vocals
for artists including Melba Moore
and Billy Ocean
. She has worked with many other famous singers, both as a session vocalist and a backup singer. Musicians she has supported include Chaka Khan
, Tina Turner
, Teddy Pendergrass
and Roberta Flack
.
single, the electro classic "On the Upside,". In 1984, a club
track she recorded entitled "Only Love (Shadows)" was briefly featured in the motion picture Beat Street
and was later released in 1995 as part of the Hot Productions The Best of Criminal Records compilation.
for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 1992. The album spawned three Top 20 R&B hits and peaked at #5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
chart and #100 on the Billboard 200
chart. Fischer also provided stirring vocals on the power ballad "Colors of Love" which was featured on the soundtrack album for the film Made in America
. Fischer stated that the reason for her not releasing more albums was because she enjoyed being a backing singer much more than a solo singer.
and songwriter
and has been touring as a backup vocalist with the Rolling Stones since 1987. She worked as a backup vocalist during the same period of time for Luther Vandross
for the 22 years prior to his death, having to juggle her time between his concert tours and those of the Rolling Stones, with whom she has a growing audience as she plays the foil to Mick Jagger
onstage more and more frequently. There are songs that have become staples during tours with the Rolling Stones. One song, "Gimme Shelter
" showcases her vocal talents and is frequently on the set lists during their live concerts.
for her Twenty Four Seven Tour
. The tour was the top grossing of 2000 worldwide. She continued to sing backup for Tina Turner and The Rolling Stones as well as compose
songs for herself and up-and-coming artists. Lisa was featured in an April issue of Jet Magazine "Where Are They Now?" column. She hopes to record a new album soon. Fischer just finished touring with Tina Turner
on her Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour. She is featured on Turner's new live DVD/CD, entitled Tina Live
. She and Turner sing It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It) together and after Turner leaves the stage, Fischer completes the song solo.
Fischer sang on Sting's album "If On A Winter's Night" as a backing vocalist. In September 2009, Sting and his band of musicians, including Fischer, performed the songs live in Durham Cathedral. The rehearsals as well as the concert were filmed and have been released as a DVD. The behind the scenes documentary surrounding the event was produced jointly by the BBC and was screened on 29 December.
Most recently, Fischer appeared at the 2010 CareFusion Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, Rhode Island where she was featured with jazz trumpeter Chris Botti. She continued to tour with Botti through 2010, including appearing nightly as guest vocalist during the trumpeter's annual three-week holiday engagement at the renowned Blue Note Club in New York City. She has remained a guest artist with Botti's band during their 2011 concert appearances.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
singer and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. She rose to fame in 1991 with her debut album So Intense, which produced the Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
winning hit single "How Can I Ease the Pain
How Can I Ease the Pain
"How Can I Ease the Pain" is a song by American singer Lisa Fischer, from her album So Intense. It was produced by Narada Michael Walden and Louis Biancaniello. The hit song spent two weeks at number-one on the U.S...
". Known for her high notes, which extends into the whistle register
Whistle register
The whistle register is the highest register of the human voice, lying above the modal register and falsetto register...
, Fischer has been recognized as one of the most successful session vocalist
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
s of the era. She has sung back-up for a number of famous artists, including Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
, Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
and The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
.
Early life
Fischer was born in the Fort Greene neighborhood in the boroughBorough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
of Brooklyn, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Before pursuing a solo career, she accompanied R&B singer Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
as a backup singer on his tours & albums until his death, in addition to providing backing vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
for artists including Melba Moore
Melba Moore
Beatrice Melba Smith , known by her stage name, Melba Moore is an American disco, R&B singer and actress. She is the daughter of saxophonist Teddy Hill and R&B singer Bonnie Davis.-Early life:...
and Billy Ocean
Billy Ocean
Billy Ocean is a Trinidad-born English Grammy Award winning popular music performer who had a string of rhythm and blues international pop hits in the 1970s and 1980s. He was the most popular British-based R&B singer / songwriter of the early to mid-1980s...
. She has worked with many other famous singers, both as a session vocalist and a backup singer. Musicians she has supported include Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
, Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
, Teddy Pendergrass
Teddy Pendergrass
Theodore DeReese "Teddy" Pendergrass was an American R&B/soul singer and songwriter. Pendergrass first rose to fame as lead singer of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes in the 1970s before a successful solo career at the end of the decade...
and Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
.
1983-1990: Singing Backup
In 1983, under the stage name Xēna, Fischer released a freestyleFreestyle music
Freestyle or Latin freestyle, sometimes referred to as Latin hip hop, is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1980s. Mostly popular during the mid 80s to the early 90s...
single, the electro classic "On the Upside,". In 1984, a club
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
track she recorded entitled "Only Love (Shadows)" was briefly featured in the motion picture Beat Street
Beat Street
Beat Street is a 1984 drama film, following Wild Style in featuring New York City hip hop culture of the early 1980s; breakdancing, DJing, and graffiti.-Plot:...
and was later released in 1995 as part of the Hot Productions The Best of Criminal Records compilation.
1990-1993: So Intense
Her career peaked with the 1991 release of "How Can I Ease the Pain" from her album So Intense, which reached number one on the R&B charts and won her a Grammy AwardGrammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 1992. The album spawned three Top 20 R&B hits and peaked at #5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
chart and #100 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart. Fischer also provided stirring vocals on the power ballad "Colors of Love" which was featured on the soundtrack album for the film Made in America
Made in America (film)
Made in America is a 1993 comedy film released on May 28, 1993 by Warner Bros. starring Whoopi Goldberg and Ted Danson, and featuring Nia Long, Jennifer Tilly and Will Smith.-Plot:...
. Fischer stated that the reason for her not releasing more albums was because she enjoyed being a backing singer much more than a solo singer.
1995-2007: Rolling Stones
Fischer is currently a singerSession musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and has been touring as a backup vocalist with the Rolling Stones since 1987. She worked as a backup vocalist during the same period of time for Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
for the 22 years prior to his death, having to juggle her time between his concert tours and those of the Rolling Stones, with whom she has a growing audience as she plays the foil to Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
onstage more and more frequently. There are songs that have become staples during tours with the Rolling Stones. One song, "Gimme Shelter
Gimme Shelter
"Gimme Shelter" is a song by English rock band The Rolling Stones. It first appeared as the opening track on the band's 1969 album Let It Bleed. Although the first word was spelled "Gimmie" on that album, subsequent recordings by the band and other musicians have made "Gimme" the customary spelling...
" showcases her vocal talents and is frequently on the set lists during their live concerts.
2007-present: Return to the music industry
Fischer has also toured with Tina TurnerTina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
for her Twenty Four Seven Tour
Twenty Four Seven Tour
The Twenty Four Seven Tour is the eighth concert tour by American singer, Tina Turner. The tour initially promoted her final studio album, Twenty Four Seven, but later transformed into a greatest hits tour...
. The tour was the top grossing of 2000 worldwide. She continued to sing backup for Tina Turner and The Rolling Stones as well as compose
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
songs for herself and up-and-coming artists. Lisa was featured in an April issue of Jet Magazine "Where Are They Now?" column. She hopes to record a new album soon. Fischer just finished touring with Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
on her Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour. She is featured on Turner's new live DVD/CD, entitled Tina Live
Tina Live
Tina Live is a live album/home video by Tina Turner released on September 28, 2009 in Europe and October 13, 2009 in the United States. The tracks were recorded from Turner's hugely successful 50th Anniverary Tour on March 21, 2009 live from the Gelredome in Arnhem, Netherlands.-Track listing:Disc...
. She and Turner sing It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It) together and after Turner leaves the stage, Fischer completes the song solo.
Fischer sang on Sting's album "If On A Winter's Night" as a backing vocalist. In September 2009, Sting and his band of musicians, including Fischer, performed the songs live in Durham Cathedral. The rehearsals as well as the concert were filmed and have been released as a DVD. The behind the scenes documentary surrounding the event was produced jointly by the BBC and was screened on 29 December.
Most recently, Fischer appeared at the 2010 CareFusion Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, Rhode Island where she was featured with jazz trumpeter Chris Botti. She continued to tour with Botti through 2010, including appearing nightly as guest vocalist during the trumpeter's annual three-week holiday engagement at the renowned Blue Note Club in New York City. She has remained a guest artist with Botti's band during their 2011 concert appearances.
Singles
| Year | Title | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
U.S. R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
U.S. Dance Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | "Glad To Be Alive" | - | 31 | - | The Adventures of Ford Fairlane soundtrack |
| 1991 | "How Can I Ease the Pain How Can I Ease the Pain "How Can I Ease the Pain" is a song by American singer Lisa Fischer, from her album So Intense. It was produced by Narada Michael Walden and Louis Biancaniello. The hit song spent two weeks at number-one on the U.S... " |
11 | 1 | - | So Intense |
| "Save Me" | 74 | 7 | 2 | ||
| 1992 | "So Intense" | - | 15 | - | |
| 1993 | "Colors of Love" | - | 18 | - | Made in America Made in America (film) Made in America is a 1993 comedy film released on May 28, 1993 by Warner Bros. starring Whoopi Goldberg and Ted Danson, and featuring Nia Long, Jennifer Tilly and Will Smith.-Plot:... OST |
| 1994 | "A Deeper Love" feat. Aretha Franklin Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All... |
63 | 30 | - | |
| 2009 | "Human Beings" | - | - | - | Return of Xena |
Soundtrack appearances
- 1990: The Adventures of Ford Fairlane
- 1992: Home Alone 2: Lost in New YorkHome Alone 2: Lost in New YorkHome Alone 2: Lost in New York is a 1992 American Christmas comedy film written and produced by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus. It is the second film in the Home Alone series and the direct sequel to Home Alone. The film stars Macaulay Culkin in the lead role as Kevin McCallister, while...
- 1993: Made in AmericaMade in America (film)Made in America is a 1993 comedy film released on May 28, 1993 by Warner Bros. starring Whoopi Goldberg and Ted Danson, and featuring Nia Long, Jennifer Tilly and Will Smith.-Plot:...
- 1993: That Night
- 1998: Melrose Place Jazz
Album appearances
- 1985: Luther Vandross- The Night I Fell in LoveThe Night I Fell in Love (album)The Night I Fell in Love is the fourth studio album by American R&B/soul singer Luther Vandross, released in 1985. In 1986, it was nominated for one Grammy Award, "Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male", and two American Music Awards, "Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist" and "Favorite Soul/R&B Album".-Track...
- 1996: Luther Vandross- Your Secret LoveYour Secret LoveYour Secret Love is the tenth studio album by American R&B/soul singer Luther Vandross, released in September 1996 . The album's title track won the Grammy Award for "Best Male R&B Vocal Performance" and was nominated for "Best R&B Song" in 1997. It was his final album for Epic Records.-Track...
- 1997: Grover Washington, Jr.- Breath of Heaven: A Holiday CollectionBreath of Heaven: A Holiday CollectionBreath of Heaven: A Holiday Collection is a Christmas compilation album by Grover Washington Jr., mostly on soprano saxophone, released in 1997 and nominated for a Grammy in 1998. Dawn Andrews contributes vocals and cello...
- 1997: Lee Ritenour- This Is Love
- 2008: Aretha Franklin- This Christmas, ArethaThis Christmas, ArethaThis Christmas, Aretha is the 2008 Christmas album by Aretha Franklin. Initially a Borders exclusive, it was reissued in 2009 on DMI Records....
(as a backing vocalist) - 2009: Tina Turner- Tina LiveTina LiveTina Live is a live album/home video by Tina Turner released on September 28, 2009 in Europe and October 13, 2009 in the United States. The tracks were recorded from Turner's hugely successful 50th Anniverary Tour on March 21, 2009 live from the Gelredome in Arnhem, Netherlands.-Track listing:Disc...
- 2009: Sting- If On A Winter's NightIf on a Winter's NightIf On a Winter's Night... is a studio album from British musician Sting. It was released on 27 October 2009 in the United States and 2 November 2009 in the United Kingdom...
- 2009: Sting- A Winter's Night Live from Durham Cathedral (DVD)
- 2010: Bobby McFerrin - VOCAbuLarieS
- 2010: The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main St.Exile on Main St.Exile on Main St. is the tenth British and 12th American studio album by English rock band The Rolling Stones. Released as a double LP in May 1972, it draws on many genres including rock and roll, blues, soul, R&B, gospel and country. The release of Exile on Main St. met with mixed reviews, but is...
(remastered - bonus tracks, backing vocals) - 2011: Linda Chorney - Emotional Jukebox
Tours
- 1989: Steel Wheels Tour - Rolling Stones
- 1994: Voodoo Lounge TourVoodoo Lounge TourThe Voodoo Lounge Tour was a worldwide concert tour by The Rolling Stones to promote their 1994 album Voodoo Lounge. This was their first tour without bassist Bill Wyman; he was replaced by Darryl Jones. The tour grossed $320 million, becoming the highest grossing tour of any artist at that time...
- Rolling Stones - 1997: Bridges to Babylon TourBridges to Babylon TourThe Bridges to Babylon Tour was a worldwide concert tour by The Rolling Stones in support of their then-latest album Bridges to Babylon, followed by 1999's No Security Tour.-History:...
- Rolling Stones - 1999: No Security TourNo Security TourThe No Security Tour was a Rolling Stones concert tour encompassing 25 cities in North America in 1999. It was in support of their concert album No Security and recent studio album Bridges to Babylon.-History:...
- Rolling Stones - 2003: A Twist of Motown- Various Artists
- 2000: Twenty Four Seven TourTwenty Four Seven TourThe Twenty Four Seven Tour is the eighth concert tour by American singer, Tina Turner. The tour initially promoted her final studio album, Twenty Four Seven, but later transformed into a greatest hits tour...
- Tina TurnerTina TurnerTina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the... - 2002: Licks TourLicks TourThe Licks Tour was a lengthy, worldwide concert tour held during 2002 and 2003 by The Rolling Stones. Its start was somewhat concurrent with the compilation album Forty Licks, which was released on October 1, 2002....
- Rolling Stones - 2005: A Bigger Bang TourA Bigger Bang TourA Bigger Bang Tour was a worldwide concert tour by The Rolling Stones which took place between August 2005 and August 2007, in support of their album A Bigger Bang...
- Rolling Stones - 2008: Tina: Live in Concert TourTina: Live in Concert TourTina!: 50th Anniversary Tour is the ninth concert tour by American recording artist Tina Turner. It is the first tour by Turner in eight years, following her record-breaking Twenty Four Seven Tour. The trek marks the singer's fiftieth year in music—since joining Ike Turner and the Kings of...
- Tina TurnerTina TurnerTina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the... - Every Luther VandrossLuther VandrossLuther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
tour until his death including Luther, Live!. - 2011: Chris Botti.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 1991 | Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Single - Female for "How Can I Ease the Pain" (win) |
| 1992 | Grammy Award Grammy Award A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry... for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "How Can I Ease the Pain" (win) |
| 1991 | Grammy Award Grammy Award A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry... for Best R&B Song for "How Can I Ease the Pain" (nomination) |