Bernard Fowler (born January 2, 1960) is an American

musician A musician is someone who Composer, composes, Conducting, conducts, or Performing arts#Performers, performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general Terminology, term used to designate a person who fol ...

. He is known for a long association with

The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for over six decades, they are one of the most popular, influential, and enduring bands of the Album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the band pione ...

, providing

backing vocals A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are us ...

since 1989 and on their studio recordings and live tours. Fowler has been a featured guest vocalist on the majority of solo albums released by the members of that band. He has released two solo albums, and he has also been a regular featured

singer Singing is the art of creating music with the voice. It is the oldest form of musical expression, and the human voice can be considered the first musical instrument. The definition of singing varies across sources. Some sources define singi ...

on other musicians' recordings and tours. Fowler has toured and recorded with the bands Tackhead and Bad Dog and occasionally with Nicklebag and Little Axe.

Biography

Fowler's first recordings were with the group The Total Eclipse for the album ''A Great Combination'' released 1975. In the early 1980s he was a member of The New York City Peech Boys with DJ

Larry Levan Lawrence Philpot (July 20, 1954 – November 8, 1992), known as Larry Levan ( ), was an American DJ best known for his decade-long residency at the New York City night club Paradise Garage, which has been described as the prototype of the moder ...

and keyboard player Michael De Benedictus. The group had

dance Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...

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 A material is a matter, substance or mixture of substances that constitutes an Physical object, object. Materials can be pure or impure, living or non-living matter. Materials can be classified on the basis of their physical property, physical ...

album '' One Down'', where he was credited as a songwriter on several tracks. In 1982 Fowler sang on the Celluloid Records release ''Do The Smurf For What It's Worth''. Fowler guested on

Herbie Hancock Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American jazz musician, bandleader, and composer. He started his career with trumpeter Donald Byrd's group. Hancock soon joined the Miles Davis Quintet, where he helped to redefine the role of ...

's classic electro-funk albums ''

Future Shock ''Future Shock'' is a 1970 book by American futurist Alvin Toffler, written together with his wife Adelaide Farrell, in which the authors define the term "future shock" as a certain psychological state of individuals and entire societies, and a ...

'' (1983) and '' Sound-System'' (1984), as well as the 1985 albums ''Compact Disc'' by

Public Image Ltd Public Image Ltd (abbreviated and stylized as PiL) are an English post-punk band formed by lead vocalist John Lydon (previously, as Johnny Rotten, lead vocalist of the Sex Pistols), guitarist Keith Levene (a founding member of the Clash), bassi ...

and ''Language Barrier'' by Sly & Robbie. In 1986, he sang a song written by

Philip Glass Philip Glass (born January 31, 1937) is an American composer and pianist. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century. Glass's work has been associated with minimal music, minimalism, being built up fr ...

(music) and

Paul Simon Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter known for his solo work and his collaborations with Art Garfunkel. He and Garfunkel, whom he met in elementary school in 1953, came to prominence in the 1960s as Sim ...

(lyrics), which appeared on

's '' Songs from Liquid Days''. In 1987 he sang backup for

James Blood Ulmer James "Blood" Ulmer (born February 8, 1940) is an American jazz, free funk and blues music, blues guitarist and singer. Ulmer plays a Gibson Byrdland guitar. His guitar sound has been described as "jagged" and "stinging". His singing has been ...

on '' America – Do You Remember the Love?'', and the next year he appeared on

Bootsy Collins William Earl "Bootsy" Collins (born October 26, 1951) is an American bass guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Rising to prominence with James Brown in the early 1970s before joining the Parliament-Funkadelic collective, Collins established himse ...

's '' What's Bootsy Doin'?''. Fowler was the lead singer for the group Tackhead for several albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He has also appeared on albums from

Herb Alpert Herb Alpert (born March 31, 1935) is an American trumpeter, pianist, singer, songwriter, record producer, arranger, conductor, painter, sculptor and theatre producer, who led the band Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass (sometimes called "Herb Alpe ...

, Little Axe, Todd Terry,

Michael Hutchence Michael Kelland John Hutchence (22 January 1960 – 22 November 1997) was an Australian singer and songwriter. He was the co-founder, lead singer and lyricist of the rock band INXS from 1977 until his death in 1997. The band sold over 50 ...

, (formerly of

INXS INXS (a phonetic play on "in excess") were an Australian rock band, formed as the Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney. The founding members were bassist Garry Gary Beers, main composer and keyboardist Andrew Farriss, drummer Jon Farriss, gu ...

) and Tackhead. In 1988 Fowler found himself touring with

Steven Seagal Steven Frederic Seagal ( ; born April 10, 1952) is an American actor, producer, screenwriter, martial artist, and musician. A 7th-Dan (rank), dan Black belt (martial arts), black belt in aikido, he began his adult life as a martial arts instru ...

The Rolling Stones

In 1985, Fowler was hired to record

Mick Jagger Sir Michael Philip Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English musician. He is known as the lead singer and one of the founder members of The Rolling Stones. Jagger has co-written most of the band's songs with lead guitarist Keith Richards; Jagge ...

's first solo album, '' She's the Boss''. This proved to be the beginning of a lasting business and personal relationship, not only with Jagger, but with all the current members of the Rolling Stones, as he has also performed on the solo albums of

Charlie Watts Charles Robert Watts (2 June 1941 – 24 August 2021) was an English musician who was the drummer of the Rolling Stones from 1963 until his death in 2021. Originally trained as a Graphic designer, graphic artist, Watts developed an interest i ...

Keith Richards Keith Richards (born 18 December 1943) is an English musician, songwriter, singer and record producer who is an original member, guitarist, secondary vocalist, and co-principal songwriter of the Rolling Stones. His songwriting partnership wi ...

and

Ron Wood Ron is a shortening of the name Ronald. Ron or RON may also refer to: Arts and media * Big Ron (''EastEnders''), a TV character * Ron (''King of Fighters''), a video game character *Ron Douglas, the protagonist in '' Lucky Stiff'' played by Joe ...

. After Fowler had already performed as a

session musician A session musician (also known as studio musician or backing musician) is a musician hired to perform in a recording session or a live performance. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a reco ...

with individual members of the Rolling Stones on their solo projects, he was chosen to join the Stones on their '' Steel Wheels'' world tour, in 1989. Mick Jagger spoke about his choice of Fowler to sing

saying that Fowler impressed him because he had a wide vocal range, many musical influences, and stamina. He has remained as a regular backup singer on tours with the Stones since then. Fowler was a feature vocalist on three of Watts'

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

solo albums. The other members of the Rolling Stones have utilized his vocal talents on their solo projects, including Richards' '' Main Offender'' and Wood's solo projects.

Songwriting and projects

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 and recorded them on Wood's albums. 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 Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and rock 'n' roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from African ...

and R&B heavyweights in the music industry working with him. They include

Darryl Jones Darryl Jones (born December 11, 1961) is an American bassist. He has been recording and touring with the Rolling Stones since 1993. He has also played in bands with Miles Davis and Sting, among others. Career Darryl Jones was born on Decemb ...

and Lisa Fischer of

Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for over six decades, they are one of the most popular, influential, and enduring bands of the Album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the band pione ...

fame; studio

and record producer Waddy Wachtel, the

Red Hot Chili Peppers The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1982, consisting of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Flea (musician), Flea (bass), John Frusciante (guitar), and Chad Smith (drums). Their music incorporates elements of a ...

Robert Plant Robert Anthony Plant (born 20 August 1948) is an English singer and songwriter. He was the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Led Zeppelin from its founding in 1968 until their breakup in 1980. Since then, he has had a successful solo ca ...

, Dave Abbruzzese (formerly of

Pearl Jam Pearl Jam is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. One of the key bands in the grunge, grunge movement of the early 1990s, Pearl Jam has outsold and outlasted many of its contemporaries from the early 1990s, ...

), Joe Elliot (of

Def Leppard Def Leppard are an English Rock music, rock band formed in Sheffield in 1977. Since 1992, the band has consisted of Rick Savage (bass, backing vocals), Joe Elliott (lead vocals), Rick Allen (drummer), Rick Allen (drums), Phil Collen (guitar, ...

), and

Ivan Neville Ivan Neville (born August 19, 1959) is an American multi-instrumentalist musician, singer, and songwriter. He is the son of Aaron Neville and nephew to the other members of The Neville Brothers. Career Neville has released four solo albums and ...

. His newest project is called the IMF's. In May 2011, he appeared as a special guest joining Argentine musician Charly Garcia playing a concert in

Montevideo Montevideo (, ; ) is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Uruguay, largest city of Uruguay. According to the 2023 census, the city proper has a population of 1,302,954 (about 37.2% of the country's total population) in an area of . M ...

Uruguay Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast, while bordering the Río de la Plata to the south and the A ...

Discography

With The Rolling Stones and their 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) ''

A Bigger Bang ''A Bigger Bang'' is the twenty-second studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released through Virgin Records on 5 September 2005. It was the band's last album of original material recorded entirely with Charlie Watts on drum ...

'' (Rolling Stones) * (2005) '' Rarities 1971–2003'' (Rolling Stones) * (2008) '' Shine a Light'' (Rolling Stones) * (2010) '' I Feel Like Playing'' (Ronnie Wood) * (2012) ''Light the Fuse'' (Rolling Stones) (a digital download through Google Music) * (2012) ''GRRR!'' (Rolling Stones) compilation album * (2013) ''Hyde Park Live'' (Rolling Stones) * (2015) ''From the Vault – Live at the Tokyo Dome'' (Rolling Stones) * (2015) ''Sticky Fingers Live'' (Rolling Stones) * (2015) ''Hyde Park Live'' (Rolling Stones) * (2015) ''Crosseyed Heart'' (Keith Richards) * (2016) ''Totally Stripped'' (Rolling Stones) * (2016) ''Havana Moon'' (Rolling Stones) * (2017) ''Sticky Fingers – Live At The Fonda Theatre 2015'' (Rolling Stones) * (2018) ''San Jose '99'' (Rolling Stones) * (2018) ''Voodoo Lounge Uncut'' (Rolling Stones) * (2019) ''Bridges to Bremen'' (Rolling Stones) * (2019) ''HONK'' (Rolling Stones) compilation album incl. live CD (Lim. ed.) * (2019) ''Bridges to Buenos Aires'' (Rolling Stones) * (2020) ''Steel Wheels Live'' (Rolling Stones) * (2021) ''A Bigger Bang Live'' (10" Vinyl, 2 track, RSD 2021) * (2021) ''A Bigger Bang: Live on Copacabana Beach'' (Rolling Stones) * (2022) ''Licked Live in NYC'' (Rolling Stones) * (2022) ''Grrr Live!'' (Rolling Stones)

With others

* (1982) ''Smurf For What It's Worth'' (The Smurfs) * (1982) ''Don't Make Me Wait'' ( Peech Boys) * (1982) ''Life Is Something Special'' (Peech Boys) * (1982) '' One Down'' (

) * (1982) ''

'' (

) * (1983) ''I Need You Now'' ( Sinnamon) * (1983) ''Crazy Cuts'' ( Grandmixer DST) * (1984) ''Do You Believe'' (The Mariner's Baptist Church Choir) Beat Street soundtrack and movie * (1984) '' Sound-System'' (Herbie Hancock) * (1985) '' Starpeace'' (

Yoko Ono Yoko Ono (, usually spelled in katakana as ; born February 18, 1933) is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist. Her work also encompasses performance art and filmmaking. Ono grew up in Tokyo and moved to New York ...

) * (1985) ''

Language Barrier A language barrier is a figurative phrase used primarily to refer to linguistic barriers to communication, i.e. the difficulties in communication experienced by people or groups originally speaking different languages (or different dialects in ...

'' ( Sly & Robbie) * (1986) ''Futurista'' (

Ryuichi Sakamoto was a Music of Japan, Japanese musician, composer, keyboardist, record producer, singer and actor. He pursued a diverse range of styles as a solo artist and as a member of the Synthesizer, synth-based band Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO). With his ...

) * (1986) ''Media Bahn Live'' (Ryuichi Sakamoto) * (1986) '' Songs from Liquid Days'' (

) * (1986) ''Axis'' (Jonas Hellborg) * (1986) ''

Album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...

'' ( Public Image, Ltd.) * (1987) '' America – Do You Remember the Love?'' (

) * (1988) '' What's Bootsy Doin'?'' (

) * (1988) ''Bass'' (Jonas Hellborg) * (1990) ''Strange Things'' ( Tackhead) * (1990) ''

Liberty Liberty is the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views. The concept of liberty can vary depending on perspective and context. In the Constitutional ...

'' (

Duran Duran Duran Duran () are an English pop rock band formed in Birmingham in 1978 by singer Stephen Duffy, keyboardist Nick Rhodes and guitarist/bassist John Taylor (bass guitarist), John Taylor. After several early changes, the band's line-up settled ...

) * (1991) ''Videohead'' (Tackhead) * (1991) ''Johnnie B. Bad'' ( Johnnie Johnson) * (1992) ''No Other World'' (Shining Path) * (1992) '' Onobox'' (Yoko Ono) * (1993) ''

Stain A stain is a discoloration that can be clearly distinguished from the surface, material, or medium it is found upon. They are caused by the chemical or physical interaction of two dissimilar materials. Accidental staining may make materials app ...

'' (

Living Colour Living Colour is an American rock music, rock band from New York City, formed in 1984. The band consists of guitarist Vernon Reid, lead vocalist Corey Glover, drummer Will Calhoun and bassist Doug Wimbish who replaced Muzz Skillings in 1992. T ...

) * (1994) ''Jazz Passengers in Love'' ( Roy Nathanson's Jazz Passengers) * (1996) ''12 Hits and a Bump'' (Nicklebag) * (1997) ''Power Inc.'' (Tackhead) * (1999) ''

'' (

) * (1999) ''Colors'' (

) * (2000) ''Hot Night Tonight'' ( Barbara Lynn) * (2001) ''Best of Material'' (Material) * (2004) '' Champagne & Grits'' ( Little Axe) * (2008) '' Along Came a Spider'' (

Alice Cooper Vincent Damon Furnier (born February 4, 1948), known by his stage name Alice Cooper, is an American rock singer and songwriter whose career spans sixty years. With a raspy voice and a stage show that features numerous props and stage illusion ...

) * (2008) '' Ever Changing Times'' (

Steve Lukather Steven Lee "Luke" Lukather (born October 21, 1957) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer, best known as the sole continuous founding member of the rock band Toto. His reputation as a skilled guitarist led to ...

) * (2010) ''

All's Well That Ends Well ''All's Well That Ends Well'' is a play by William Shakespeare, published in the First Folio in 1623, where it is listed among the comedies. There is a debate about the date of its composition, with possible dates ranging from 1598 to 1608. ...

'' (Steve Lukather) * (2010) '' Bought for a Dollar, Sold for a Dime'' (Little Axe) * (2013) ''Ronin'' (Tao Of Sound) * (2023) ''Heavy Hitters II'' (George Lynch and Jeff Pilson)

Personal discography

* (2006) ''Friends With Privileges'' (Bernard Fowler) (Sony Japan) * (2015) ''The Bura'' (Bernard Fowler) (MRI) * (2019) ''Inside Out'' (Rhyme & Reason Records)

References

External links

* Bernard Fowlerat Allmusic.com
Bernard Fowler interview at allaboutjazz.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fowler, Bernard 1960 births Living people 20th-century African-American male singers 20th-century American male singers 20th-century American singers African-American male singer-songwriters American male singer-songwriters American funk singers American rhythm and blues singers American session musicians Atlantic Records artists Tackhead members

Biography

The Rolling Stones

Songwriting and projects

Discography

With The Rolling Stones and their solo projects

With others

Personal discography

See also

References

External links