Bernard Fowler
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| Bernard Fowler | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | New York City, New York, U.S.A. |
| Genre(s) | Rock, Rock and Roll, Funk, R&B, Blues, Country Rock, Reggae, Blues-Rock, Gospel |
| Occupation(s) | Vocalist, Actor, Singer/Songwriter, Musician, |
| Years active | 1974 - Present |
| Label(s) | Atlantic, Rolling Stones, Sony |
| Associated acts | Rolling Stones, Herbie Hancock, Bootsy Collins, Tackhead, Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger |
| Website | Bernard Fowler |
Bernard Fowler is an American singer/songwriter and musician, best known for his collaborations, recordings and tours with the Rolling Stones, collectively and individually, as well as being a regular featured vocalist on other musicians' recordings and tours. In addition, Fowler is gaining noteriety for his recordings with his bands; Tackhead and Nickelbag, and a first solo album in 2006.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] First cuts 1970s
Fowler's first recordings were for the group Total Eclipse in 1974. In 1982, he was featured on dance hits by The Peech Boys ("Don't Make Me Wait") and Material's ("I'm the One"). He also guested on Herbie Hancock's 1983 album Future Shock, as well as the 1985 albums Compact Disc by Public Image, Ltd., Language Barrier by Sly & Robbie, and She's the Boss, a Mick Jagger solo effort. In 1986, he sang a song written by Paul Simon which appeared on Philip Glass's Songs from Liquid Days. In 1987 he sang backup for James Blood Ulmer on America:Do You Remember the Love?, and the next year he appeared on Bootsy Collins's What's Bootsy Doin'?. In 1988 Fowler found himself touring with Steven Seagal.[1]
[edit] Rolling Stones
In 1985, Fowler was hired to record backing vocals on She's The Boss, Mick Jagger's first solo album. This proved to be the beginning of a lasting business and personal relationship, not only with Jagger, but with all the members of the Rolling Stones, as he has performed on the solo albums of Watts, Jagger, Richards and Wood. [2] Fowler had already performed as a session musician with individual members of the Rolling Stones on their solo projects, and was chosen to join the Stones on their Steel Wheels world tour, in 1989. Mick Jagger spoke about his choice of Fowler to sing backing vocals saying that Fowler impressed him because he had a wide vocal range, many musical influences, and stamina.
"He is also very strong and can sing for ages. He's got a lot of range and a lot of stamina vocally. You have to have that if you're going to do long nights and lots and lots of shows, all in the open air; He can easily keep up with me." -- Mick Jagger, 1998
He has remained as a regular backup singer on tours with the Stones since then. Fowler was a feature vocalist on three of Charlie Watts' jazz solo albums -- Tribute to Charlie Parker with Strings (1992), Warm & Tender (1995), and Long Ago and Far Away in (1996). The other members of the Rolling Stones have utilized his vocal talents on their solo projects, including Mick Jagger's Goddess in the Doorway and solo projects by Keith Richards and Ron Wood. Fowler was the lead singer for the group Tackhead for several albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s.[4] He has also appeared on albums from Herb Alpert, Little Axe, Todd Terry, and Michael Hutchence.
[edit] Songwriting
Fowler has been asked to collaborate on songs from other artists. One such person has been Ron Wood in writing and composing songs for his solo albums. Fowler and Wood have co-written several songs together and recorded them on Wood's albums.[5]
[edit] Personal projects
In 2006, Fowler released his first solo album, Friends with Privileges, on Sony Japan. This is his first entirely solo effort, however, he has had a significant number of rock and roll and R&B heavyweights in the music industry working with him. They include Ron Wood, Darryl Jones and Lisa Fischer of Rolling Stones fame; Waddy Wachtel, who is a studio session musician and record producer, Dave Abbruzzese, formerly of Pearl Jam, Joe Elliot of (Def Leppard), and Ivan Neville.
[edit] Discography
[edit] With the Rolling Stones and Stones members solo projects
- (1985) She's The Boss (Mick Jagger) (Atlantic)
- (1992) Tribute to Charlie Parker With Strings (Charlie Watts) (Continuum Records)
- (1995) Warm and Tender (Charlie Watts) (EMI/Point Blank),
- (1996) Long Ago and Far Away (Charlie Watts) (EMI/Point Blank)
- (1992) Goddess in the Doorway (Mick Jagger)
[edit] With others
- (1985) Compact Disc Public Image, Ltd.
- (1985) Language Barrier Sly & Robbie
- (1986) Songs from Liquid Days Phillip Glass
- (1987) Do You Remember the Love? James Blood Ulmer
- (1988) What's Bootsy Doin'? Bootsy Collins
- (1992) Future Shock Herbie Hancock
- (1996) 12 Hits and a BumpNickelbag (Iguana Records)
[edit] Personal Discography
- (2006) Friends With Privileges (Sony Japan)
[edit] References
- ^ Bliss, Karen (accessed 10 March, 2008)Rolling Stone Magazine
- ^ Heslin, Maria Katrien (Oct-Nov, 1998). Rock-n-soul with Bernard Fowler - backup rock vocalist's career and his band Nickelbag. bNet Business Library. American Visions. Retrieved on 2008-06-08.
- ^ Heslin, Maria Katrien [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1546/is_n5_v13/ai_21277708|title=Rock-n-soul with Bernard Fowler - backup rock vocalist's career and his band Nickelbag Backup Rock Vocalist's Career Oct-Nov, 1988 bNet Business Library|publisher=American Visions|accessdate=2008-06-08
- ^ Bernard Fowler at All Music Guide
- ^ (accessed 5 March) Songs By Ron Wood
[edit] Links
[edit] External References
- Bernard Fowler at Allmusic.com
- http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/tackhead
