Bernard Fowler

Infobox musical artist

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Name = Bernard Fowler
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = solo_singer
Name = Bernard Fowler
birth_date = birth date and age|1950|5|22
Origin = New York City, New York, U.S.A.
Occupation = Singer, Percussionist, Guitarist, Bassist, Trombonist
Genre = Rock, Rock and Roll, Funk, R&B, Blues, Country rock, Reggae, Blues-rock, Gospel
Occupation = Vocalist, Actor, Singer/Songwriter, Musician,
Years_active = 1974 - Present
Label = Atlantic, Rolling Stones, Sony
Associated_acts = Rolling Stones, Herbie Hancock, Bootsy Collins, Tackhead, Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger
URL = [http://www.bernardfowler.com 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 notoriety for his recordings with his bands; Tackhead and Nickelbag, and a first solo album in 2006.

Biography

First cuts 1970s

Fowler's first recordings were for the group Total Eclipse in 1974. In the early '80s he was a member of The New York City Peech Boys with DJ Larry Levan and keyboard player Michael De Benedictus. The group had dance hits with tracks like ("Don't Make Me Wait") and "Life Is Something Special. He provided vocals for the songs "I'm The One" and "Come Down" from the Material album One Down, and 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. Bliss, Karen (accessed 10 March, 2008) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/stevierayvaughan/articles/story/5923117/seagal_taps_bsb_n_sync_britney_camps_for_help_on_debut_album Rolling Stone Magazine] ]

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. [cite web|url=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|last=Heslin|first=Maria Katrien|date=Oct-Nov, 1998|work=bNet Business Library|publisher=American Visions|accessdate=2008-06-08] 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

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] 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. The other members of the Rolling Stones have utilized his vocal talents on their solo projects, including Keith Richards's Main Offender and Ron Wood's solo projects. Fowler was the lead singer for the group Tackhead for several albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:dbfqxqy5ldje~T1 Bernard Fowler] at Allmusic] He has also appeared on albums from Herb Alpert, Little Axe, Todd Terry, and Michael Hutchence.

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. (accessed 5 March) [http://www.slideonron.com/songs.htm Songs By Ron Wood] ]

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.

Discography

With the Rolling Stones and Stones members solo projects

* (1985) "She's The Boss" (Mick Jagger)
* (1989) "Steel Wheels" (Rolling Stones)
* (1991) "Flashpoint" (Rolling Stones)
* (1992) "Tribute to Charlie Parker With Strings" (Charlie Watts)
* (1992) "Slide On This" (Ronnie Wood)
* (1992) "Main Offender" (Keith Richards)
* (1993) "Warm and Tender" (Charlie Watts)
* (1993) "Slide On Live: Plugged In And Standing" (Ronnie Wood)
* (1993) "Jump Back" (Rolling Stones)
* (1994) "Voodoo Lounge" (Rolling Stones)
* (1995) "Stripped" (Rolling Stones)
* (1996) "Long Ago and Far Away" (Charlie Watts)
* (1997) "Bridges To Babylon" (Rolling Stones)
* (1998) "No Security" (Rolling Stones)
* (2000) "Live and Eclectic" (Ronnie Wood)
* (2002) "Forty Licks" (Rolling Stones)
* (2004) "Live Licks" (Rolling Stones)
* (2005) "Rarities 1971-2003" (Rolling Stones)
* (2008) "Shine A Light" (Rolling Stones)

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 Bump" Nickelbag (Iguana Records)
* (2008) "Along Came a Spider" Alice Cooper

Personal Discography

* (2006) "Friends With Privileges" (Sony Japan)

References

Links

External References

* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:dbfqxqy5ldje~T1 Bernard Fowler] at Allmusic.com
*http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/tackhead