Lisa Fischer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lisa Fischer
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.
Genres	Rock R&B pop electronic freestyle soul house
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter record producer musician
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1983–present
Labels	Elektra
Associated acts	The Rolling Stones Tina Turner Sting Luther Vandross Nine Inch Nails The Pussycat Dolls

Lisa Melonie Fischer (born December 1, 1958) is an American singer and songwriter. She became famous with her first album, So Intense, released in 1991. This album included the hit song "How Can I Ease the Pain", which won a Grammy Award.

Lisa Fischer has also been a backup singer for many well-known artists. These include Sting, Luther Vandross, and Tina Turner. She also toured with the famous band The Rolling Stones for many years, from 1989 to 2015.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Lisa Melonie Fischer was born in Brooklyn, a part of New York City. She grew up loving to sing with her family. Her mother, who was a homemaker, and her father, who worked in a warehouse, both enjoyed singing. She also sang with her two younger brothers.

Lisa went to The High School of Music & Art in Manhattan. When she was 14, her father left the family. Her mother passed away when Lisa was 17.

In an interview, Lisa shared that singers like Freda Payne, Marvin Gaye, and Melba Moore inspired her when she was young. She also said that the black LGBT community helped her develop her stage style.

Music Career Highlights

Starting Out: Xēna and Backup Singing (1983–1989)

In 1983, Lisa Fischer released a song called "On the Upside" under the name "Xēna". A club song she recorded, "Only Love (Shadows)", was briefly in the movie Beat Street.

However, Lisa mostly started her career singing backup for other artists. She sang for Melba Moore and Billy Ocean. She met Luther Vandross through a friend and became a backup singer on his tours. She also sang on his albums until he passed away. She worked with many other famous singers like Chaka Khan, Teddy Pendergrass, and Roberta Flack.

Lisa continued to be a session singer, which means she sang on recordings for other artists. She joined The Rolling Stones on their tours starting in 1989. She also kept touring with Luther Vandross for 22 years. She managed to do both tours at the same time. With The Rolling Stones, she often sang lead parts on songs like "Monkey Man" and "Gimme Shelter". These songs really showed off her amazing voice.

Solo Success: So Intense (1990–1994)

Lisa Fischer's solo career reached its peak in 1991. Her song "How Can I Ease the Pain" from her album So Intense became a number one hit on the R&B music charts. She won a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for it in 1992.

Her album So Intense had three songs that made it into the Top 20 R&B hits. The album itself reached number 5 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Lisa said she wasn't really looking for a record deal; it just happened.

In the movie 20 Feet From Stardom, Lisa's Grammy award is shown gathering dust. She said she just didn't know what to do with it. Even though her first album was a success, she didn't release a second solo album. She explained that the "energy shifts" made it hard to create another one.

Lisa also sang the main vocals on "Colors of Love" for the movie Made in America. She later said that she preferred being a backup singer rather than a solo artist. In 2013, she compared backup singing to a "tuning fork," saying she was happy supporting other artists. In 1992, Lisa went to Japan to perform in the Earth Voice Concert. She sang her hit song and also provided backup vocals for other musicians there.

Acting on Stage (1996)

In August 1996, Lisa Fischer performed in her first play. It was an off-Broadway show called Born to Sing!. This play told the story of a made-up gospel music star named Doris Winter. Lisa played the main role of Doris Winter. The play was about Doris putting together a group of singers for a "World Peace and Harmony Tour."

Continuing as a Backup Singer (1996–2013)

Lisa kept working on music, singing backup and writing songs for other artists. She toured with Tina Turner on her Twenty Four Seven Tour in 2000. This tour was the highest-earning tour in the world that year.

In 2009, Lisa finished touring with Tina Turner on her Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour. Lisa is featured on Tina Turner's live DVD-CD from that tour. During one performance, Lisa and Tina sang "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)" together. After Tina left the stage, Lisa finished the song by herself.

Lisa also sang backup on Sting's album If on a Winter's Night.... In September 2009, Sting and his band, with Lisa, performed in Durham Cathedral. This concert and the rehearsals were released on a DVD.

She performed at the 2010 Newport Jazz Festival with jazz trumpeter Chris Botti. She toured with Botti through 2010 and 2011, singing as a guest vocalist.

In 2012, she rejoined The Rolling Stones for their 50 & Counting Tour. She toured with the band around the world until July 2013. The band then announced another tour, 14 On Fire, which started in February 2014.

In 2013, Lisa also joined the rock band Nine Inch Nails as a backup vocalist for their Tension 2013 tour.

Featured in 20 Feet from Stardom (2013–2014)

Lisa Fischer singing with Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones in 2013.

Lisa Fischer is one of the artists featured in the documentary film 20 Feet from Stardom (2013). This movie won an Oscar. It first showed at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. The film tells the stories of backup singers like Merry Clayton and Darlene Love. It explores their experiences in the music industry. The movie won a Grammy Award for Best Music Film in 2015.

In 2014, Lisa reunited with many of the backup singers from 20 Feet From Stardom. They included Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, and Judith Hill. They sang the national anthem at the 100th Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

Return to Solo Career (2014–Present)

Lisa Fischer performing with JC Maillard in 2016.

In 2014, Lisa Fischer started her own solo tour. She performed with her band, Grand Baton, in many places. These included the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. That same year, it was announced that Lisa would work with performer Billy Childs on a music project about Laura Nyro. In 2015, Lisa sold out six shows in a row at The Jazz Standard in New York City.

In 2015, Lisa and her musical director, JC Maillard, worked with choreographer Alonzo King. They created a music and dance show called The Propelled Heart for the Alonzo King LINES Ballet. This show first premiered in San Francisco in November 2015. Lisa performed in The Propelled Heart again in Hong Kong in September 2017. The show returned to the Bay Area in November 2017 to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of LINES Ballet.

In 2016, Lisa's vocals were featured on three projects that were nominated for Grammy awards. These included projects with Louie Vega, Yo-Yo Ma, and Lang Lang. In February 2018, Lisa's singing was featured in the HBO film Notes From The Field.

Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton also worked with The Seattle Symphony in February 2018. For their program Just A Kiss Away, they performed rock music anthems like The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" with an orchestra.

Albums

• So Intense (1991)

Tours

Awards and Nominations

Film and Theatre Appearances

See also

In Spanish: Lisa Fischer para niños