Lisa Fischer - Early Career

Early Career

Fischer was born in the Fort Greene neighborhood in the borough of Brooklyn, New York City, New York. In 1983, under the stage name Xēna, Fischer released a freestyle single, the electro classic "On the Upside,". In 1984, a club track she recorded entitled "Only Love (Shadows)" was briefly featured in the motion picture Beat Street and was later released in 1995 as part of the Hot Productions The Best of Criminal Records compilation. However, Fischer initially began her music career supporting other artists providing backing vocals for artists including Melba Moore and Billy Ocean. She has worked with many other famous singers, both as a session vocalist and sideman. She accompanied R&B singer Luther Vandross as a backup singer on his tours and albums until his death, in addition to other famous musicians, including Chaka Khan, Teddy Pendergrass and Roberta Flack.