Lisa Fischer

Lisa Fischer
Lisa Fischer, 2008 Courtesy Hans Eder
Background information
Birth name	Lisa Melonie Fischer
Also known as	Xēna
Born	December 1, 1958 (1958-12-01) (age 50)
Origin	New York City, New York United States
Genres	R&B, Rock, Pop, Electronic dance music, Soul, freestyle
Occupations	Musician, Composer
Instruments	Vocalist
Years active	1983 - Current
Labels	Elektra
Associated acts	Luther Vandross Rolling Stones Bernard Fowler Tina Turner

Lisa Fischer is an American Grammy Award-winning R&B vocalist, known for her impressive vocal range that reaches to the whistle register,^{[citation needed]} and her 1991 smash hit single "How Can I Ease the Pain". Fischer has been recognized as one of the most successful session vocalists of the era.^[1] She is considered one of the most powerful melodic voices in the music world.^[2]

Early life and singing career

Fischer was born in the Fort Greene neighborhood in the borough 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.

In 1983, under the stage name Xēna, Fischer released a freestyle single, the electro classic "On the Upside," that met with moderate success. 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.

Solo career

Her career peaked with the 1991 release of "How Can I Ease the Pain" from her album So Intense, which went 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. Also it peaked at #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 the reason for her not releasing more albums, was because she enjoyed being a backup singer much more than a solo singer.

Current projects

Rolling Stones

	"Gimme Shelter" (1995) Lisa Fischer performing "Gimme Shelter" with The Rolling Stones.
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Fischer is currently a 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.

Recent work

Fischer has also toured with Tina Turner for her Twenty Four Seven Tour. The tour was the top grossing of 2000 worldwide.^{[citation needed]} She continues to sing backup for Tina Turner and The Rolling Stones as well as compose songs for herself and up-and-coming artists. Lisa was recently featured in an April^[when?] 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. The DVD/CD will be released September 28, 2009 in Europe and October 20, 2009 in the U.S.

Discography

Lisa Fischer posing

Solo Albums

• 1991: So Intense
• 1994: ?
  • The AllMusic Guide claims she released a follow-up album in 1994, but it is not listed anywhere [1]

With the Rolling Stones

• (1991) Flashpoint
• (1998) No Security
• (2008) Shine a Light

Soundtrack Appearances

• 1990: The Adventures of Ford Fairlane Soundtrack (as a featured artist)
• 1993: Made in America Soundtrack (as a featured artist)

As a Featured Artist

• 1985: Luther Vandross- The Night I Fell in Love
• 1996: Luther Vandross- Your Secret Love
• 2008: Aretha Franklin- This Christmas, Aretha (as a backing vocalist)
• 2009: Tina Turner- Tina Live

Singles

Tours

Throughout her career, Lisa Fischer has embarked on over eight tours as a backing vocalist. These tours include:

• 1989: Steel Wheels Tour - Rolling Stones
• 1994: Voodoo Lounge Tour - Rolling Stones
• 1997: Bridges to Babylon Tour - Rolling Stones
• 1999: No Security Tour - Rolling Stones
• 2000: Twenty Four Seven Tour - Tina Turner
• 2002: Licks Tour - Rolling Stones
• 2005-2006: A Bigger Bang Tour - Rolling Stones
• 2008-2009: Tina: Live in Concert Tour - Tina Turner
• Every Luther Vandross tour until his death including Luther, Live!.

Awards and nominations

References

• List of 1990s one-hit wonders in the United States

External links

• Activism from Fischer and Roberta Flack