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

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Lisa Melonie Fischer was born in Brooklyn, New York. She grew up in the Fort Greene neighborhood. Lisa has happy memories of singing with her parents and two younger brothers. Her mother was a homemaker, and her father worked in a warehouse.

She went to The High School of Music & Art in Manhattan. When Lisa was 14, her father left the family. Her mother passed away when Lisa was 17. Lisa shared that singers like Freda Payne and Marvin Gaye inspired her early on. She also learned a lot from the black LGBT community about how to look and act on stage.

Music Career Highlights

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

In 1983, Lisa released a song called "On the Upside" under the name "Xēna". It was popular in the b-boy dance scene. She also recorded a club song called "Only Love (Shadows)" in 1984.

However, Lisa's main start in music was as a backup singer. She sang for artists like Melba Moore and Billy Ocean. She met Luther Vandross through a friend and became a key backup singer for him. She toured and sang on his albums until he passed away. She also worked with Chaka Khan and Roberta Flack.

Lisa continued to be a session singer, which means she sings on recordings for other artists. She joined The Rolling Stones on tour in 1989. She often sang lead parts with Mick Jagger on songs like "Monkey Man" and "Gimme Shelter". This showed off her amazing voice.

Solo Success with So Intense (1990–1994)

Lisa's solo career really took off in 1991. Her song "How Can I Ease the Pain" from her album So Intense became a number one hit on the R&B charts. In 1992, she won a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for the song.

The album had three songs that made it into the Top 20 R&B hits. It reached #5 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Even though her first album was a success, she didn't release a second solo album. Lisa later said she preferred being a backup singer. She felt like a "tuning fork," helping other artists sound their best.

In 1992, Lisa traveled to Japan for the Earth Voice Concert. She sang her hit song and also provided backup vocals for other musicians there.

Theatre Work (1996)

In August 1996, Lisa tried acting in a play called Born to Sing!. It was an off-Broadway show about a fictional gospel singer named Doris Winter. Lisa played the main character, Doris Winter. The play was about Doris putting together a world tour for peace.

Continuing as a Backup Singer (1996–2013)

Fischer performing in 2008

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.

She also sang on Sting's album If on a Winter's Night.... In 2009, Sting and his band, with Lisa, performed in a beautiful cathedral. Lisa also performed with jazz trumpeter Chris Botti from 2010 to 2012.

In 2012, Lisa rejoined The Rolling Stones for their 50 & Counting Tour. She toured with them around the world until 2013. In 2013, she also joined the rock band Nine Inch Nails as a backup vocalist for their tour.

20 Feet from Stardom Documentary (2013–2014)

Fischer singing with Jagger and The Rolling Stones during their Fifty and Counting Tour, in Boston Mass., June 12, 2013

Lisa Fischer was one of the singers featured in the Oscar-winning documentary film 20 Feet from Stardom (2013). This movie showed the lives of backup singers and their experiences in the music world. The film won a Grammy Award for Best Music Film in 2015.

In 2014, Lisa sang the national anthem at the 100th Rose Bowl in California. She sang with other backup singers from the 20 Feet from Stardom film.

Solo Career Continues (2014–Present)

Fischer performing with JC Maillard in 2016

Since 2014, Lisa has been on her own solo tour with her band, Grand Baton. They have performed in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. In 2015, she had six sold-out shows in New York City.

Lisa also worked with choreographer Alonzo King in 2015. They created a music and dance show called The Propelled Heart. In 2016, Lisa's vocals were featured on three projects that were nominated for Grammy Awards. In 2018, she performed with The Seattle Symphony, re-creating rock anthems with an orchestra.

Discography

Albums

• So Intense (1991)

Tours

Lisa Fischer has been on many tours as a backup or lead vocalist. Here are some of them:

Awards and Nominations

Lisa Fischer has won several awards for her music:

Film and TV Appearances

Lisa Fischer has appeared in several films and TV shows, often as herself:

Theatre Performances

Lisa Fischer has also performed in theatre:

See also

In Spanish: Lisa Fischer para niños