Lisa Fischer is an American R&B vocalist 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 wide, high-reaching vocal range, Fischer has been
recognized as one of the most successful session vocalists of the era. She has been back-up
singer for a number of famous artists, including Luther Vandross and Tina Turner, and has toured
with The Rolling Stones since 1989, where her popularity with the fans has brought her
to routinely duet with Mick Jagger on several songs when performing onstage.
Early career Fischer was born in the Fort Greene neighborhood
in the borough of Brooklyn, New York. Fischer's love for singing was encouraged by her mother,
a homemaker; father, a security guard and warehouse worker; and two younger brothers.
In an interview with Christian Wikane of Popmatters, Fischer stated that she was influenced by
Freda Payne, Marvin Gaye and Melba Moore, as well as others early in her childhood.
In 1983, under the stage name Xēna, Fischer released a Latin freestyle single, the electro
classic "On the Upside". In 1984, a club track she recorded titled "Only Love" 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. However, Fischer initially
began her music career supporting other artists providing backing vocals for artists including
Melba Moore and Billy Ocean. She worked with many other famous singers, both as a session
vocalist and sideman. She accompanied R&B singer Luther Vandross who she met through
the mutual acquaintance of choreographer Bruce Wallace, who asked her to come to his agency
for an audition. Fischer then traveled as a backup singer on his tours and sang on his
albums until his death, in addition to other famous musicians, including Chaka Khan, Teddy
Pendergrass, and Roberta Flack. Solo success
Fischer's solo 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
Award 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. When she was questioned asked about the inspiration for her album, Fischer replied
that "I wasn't deep in search of a record deal, it was just one of those things that
happened". In the movie 20 Feet From Stardom, Fischer's Grammy award for her hit single
collects dust on a shelf. Fisher said she "just doesn't know what to do with it." 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
she discontinued her career as a solo artist afterward was because she enjoyed being a
backing singer much more than a solo artist. Fischer rejected the idea of never being satisfied
and the theory of always aspiring for something more. She stated that she just enjoys doing
music and supporting other artists. Fischer compares back up singing to being a "tuning
fork". In 1992, Lisa traveled to Japan to perform in the Earth Voice Concert with Lee
Ritenhour, Phil Perry, Bobby Caldwell, Brenda Russell, James Ingram, Michael McDonald, Anita
Baker, and others. She sang her 1991 #1 R & B hit "How Can I Ease The Pain" and also
sang background vocals with other artists. 1995–present: Rolling Stones
Fischer maintained her career as a session singer and still continues to accompany The
Rolling Stones on every one of their tours since 1989. 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
where she shares lead vocals, including "Monkey Man, and "Gimme Shelter", which showcases
her vocal talents and is frequently on the set lists during their live concerts.
In 2012, she joined the Rolling Stone for their "50 & Counting Tour" that started October
2012 and toured internationally until July 2013. Additionally, They have also announced
that there will be a follow-up tour "14 ON FIRE." That was scheduled to start in February
and they would be visiting the Middle East and Asia, Europe in summer 2014, and Australia
in the fall 2014. 2007–present
Fischer also toured with Tina Turner on her Twenty Four Seven Tour. It was the worldwide
top-grossing tour of 2000. 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 14, 2008 issue of Jet Magazine' Where Are They Now? column. She hopes to record
a new album soon. Fischer finished touring with Tina Turner on her Tina!: 50th Anniversary
Tour and is featured on Turner's new live DVD-CD titled Tina Live. She and Turner sing
"It's Only Rock 'n Roll" 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, in addition to Fischer,
performed the songs live in Durham Cathedral. The rehearsals as well as the concert were
filmed and were released 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.
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 holiday
engagement at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City. She remained a guest artist with
Botti's band in 2011 and continues to appear at their 2012 concerts.
Fischer is one of the main artists featured in the Oscar-winning documentary film 20 Feet
from Stardom, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was released on June 21,
2013. The documentary highlights often unheralded minority women backup singers by archiving
the oral histories of artists like Merry Clayton and Darlene Love and their experiences within
the American music industry. In 2013, Fischer joined the rock band Nine
Inch Nails as a backing vocalist for their Tension 2013 tour.
In 2014 Fischer reunited with many of the backup singers in 20 Feet From Stardom including
Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, and Judith Hill to sing the national anthem at the 100th Rose
Bowl in Pasadena, California. That same year it was announced that Fischer would be collaborating
with performer Billy Childs on a studio project that would pay tribute Laura Nyro's musical
talent and life Discography
Solo albums 1991: So Intense
Singles Soundtrack appearances
1990: The Adventures of Ford Fairlane 1992: Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
1993: Made in America 1993: That Night
1998: Melrose Place Jazz 2013: 20 Feet From Stardom
Albumsingle appearances 1985: Luther Vandross- The Night I Fell in
Love 1986: Bob James - Obsession
1989: The Rolling Stones- Mixed Emotions 1989: The Rolling Stones- Rock And A Hard
Place 1989: The Rolling Stones- Terrifying
1989: The Rolling Stones- Steel Wheels 1989: The Rolling Stones- Another Side Of
Steel Wheels 1990: The Rolling Stones- Almost Hear You
Sigh 1990: Sam Riney - Playing With Fire
1991: The Rolling Stones- Flashpoint 1991: The Rolling Stones- Ruby Tuesday
1991: The Rolling Stones- Ruby Tuesday/Harlem Shuffle
1993: The Rolling Stones- Jump Back 1994: The Rolling Stones- Live Voodoo Lounge
- Live New Jersey, August 14, 1994 1995: The Rolling Stones- Voodoo Lounge - Live
Miami, November 25, 1994 1995: The Rolling Stones- I Go Wild backing
vocals: live track 1995: The Rolling Stones- Like A Rolling Stone
1995: The Rolling Stones- Stripped 1995: The Rolling Stones- Voodoo Lounge CD
Rom - Co-Starring: Lisa Fischer 1996: The Rolling Stones- Wild Horses backing
vocals: live tracks 1996: Luther Vandross- Your Secret Love
1996: Nicklebag- 12 Hits And A Bump 1997: Grover Washington, Jr.- Breath of Heaven:
A Holiday Collection 1997: Lee Ritenour- This Is Love
1997: Nicklebag- Mas Feedback 1997: The Rolling Stones- Saint Of Me Incl.
Gimme Shelter Vocals: Lisa Fischer 1998: The Rolling Stones- No Security
1999: The Rolling Stones- Bridges To Babylon Tour 97-98
2000: Various Artists - A Love Affair: The Music of Ivan Lins
2001: Tina Turner- One Last Time Live In Concert - Live London, 2000
2002: The Rolling Stones- Forty Licks 2003: The Rolling Stones- Four Flicks - Live
2002/2003 Tour 2004: Chuck Leavell- What's In That Bag?
2004: The Rolling Stones- Live Licks 2004: Toronto Rocks
2005: Tim Ries- The Rolling Stones Project 2005: The Rolling Stones- Rarities 1971-2003
2006: Bernard Fowler- Friends With Privileges 2006: Bernard Fowler- Friends With Privileges
2006: The Rolling Stones- Biggest Mistake backing vocals: 2 live tracks
2007: The Rolling Stones- The Biggest Bang - Live 2005/2006 Tour
2008: Aretha Franklin- This Christmas, Aretha 2008: Tim Ries - Stones World
2008: The Rolling Stones- Shine A Light 2008: The Rolling Stones- Shine A Light
2009: Tina Turner- Tina Live - Live Arnhem, March 21, 2009
2009: Sting- If on a Winter's Night 2009: Sting- A Winter's Night Live from Durham
Cathedral 2010: Bobby McFerrin- VOCAbuLarieS
2010: The Rolling Stones- Exile on Main St. 2010: The Rolling Stones- Exile On Main St.
Rarities edition 2010: The Rolling Stones- Plunded My Soul
2010: Wingless Angels- Volumes I & II 2011: Linda Chorney - Emotional Jukebox
2011: The Rolling Stones- Singles Box Set Box Set Limited Edition 45CD's
2012: The Rolling Stones- Live at the Tokyo Dome
2012: The Rolling Stones- Light the Fuse 2012: The Rolling Stones- GRRR!
2013: 121212 The Concert For Sandy Relief 2013: 121212 The Concert For Sandy Relief
2013: 20 Feet From Stardom, music from the motion picture
2013: 20 Feet From Stardom 2013: The Rolling Stones- Sweet Summer Sun
2013: The Rolling Stones- Sweet Summer Sun 2014: Billy Childs- Map to the Treasure: Reimagining
Laura Nyro ????: Bernard Fowler- unreleased
Tours 1989: Steel Wheels Tour - The Rolling Stones
1994/1995: Voodoo Lounge Tour - The Rolling Stones
1997/1998: Bridges to Babylon Tour - The Rolling Stones
1999: No Security Tour - The Rolling Stones 2003: A Twist of Motown- Various Artists
2000: Twenty Four Seven Tour - Tina Turner 2002/2003: Licks Tour - The Rolling Stones
2005/2006: A Bigger Bang Tour - The Rolling Stones
2008: Tina: Live in Concert Tour - Tina Turner Every Luther Vandross tour until his death
including Luther, Live!. 2011: Chris Botti Tour 2011
2012/2013: 50 and Counting Tour - The Rolling Stones
2013: Tension 2013 - Nine Inch Nails 2014: 14 On Fire - The Rolling Stones
Awards and nominations Filmography
References
External links Lisa Fischer's Official Site
Lisa Fischer at IMDB