Lisa Fischer

Lisa Melonie Fischer (born December 1, 1958 in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn, New York) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and versatile musician whose career has spanned four decades. Raised by a teenage mother and a father who worked as a warehouse employee and security guard, she grew up in a large family and began singing in the home before attending The High School of Music & Art in Manhattan. After a tragic childhood that saw her father leave when she was fourteen and her mother pass away when she was seventeen, Fischer turned to music as both an emotional outlet and a pathway to professional success. She entered the industry in 1983 under the moniker “Xēna,” releasing the underground b‑boy track “On the Upside” and later the club‑oriented “Only Love (Shadows),” which appeared briefly in the film Beat Street. From the mid‑1985 onward, Fischer built a reputation as one of the most sought‑after backing vocalists, working with icons such as Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan, Teddy Pendergrass, Roberta Flack, and later joining the world‑touring lineup of The Rolling Stones, a partnership that lasted from 1989 until 2015 and gave her the chance to share lead moments on songs like “Monkey Man” and “Gimme Shelter.” Her solo breakthrough arrived with the 1991 album So Intense, whose single “How Can I Ease the Pain” topped the R&B chart and earned her a Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 1992. Despite this accolade, Fischer chose to focus on collaborative work, contributing to soundtracks, theatrical productions, and high‑profile tours with Tina Turner, Sting, Chris Botti, and Nine Inch Nails. The documentary 20 Feet from Stardom (2013) highlighted her and other backup singers’ indispensable role in popular music, further cementing her legacy. In recent years, she has returned to solo performance with her band Grand Baton, created interdisciplinary projects such as The Propelled Heart with Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, and continued to record with Grammy‑nominated artists, proving that her artistry remains both dynamic and influential.