Musician/Singer/Songwriter/Recording Artist/Performer
Born into a musical and artistic family in New York City, Stephen was a natural in singing and acting, and he performed in school plays and musicals from elementary school through college. He wrote poems and songs in his head and on paper before becoming a self-taught guitarist at the High School of Music and Art during the folk era of the 60’s. Greatly influenced by the songs of freedom and equality and the call for social justice of the Civil Rights Movement, Stephen developed his own unique folk music style, and while in college, did his first public performances in the Greenwich Village coffee houses, such as Gerde’s Folk City and the Bitter End.
An outstanding athlete, Stephen loved sports and excelled in basketball earning a basketball scholarship to NYU. An injury stopped his hoops hopes, and he turned to music. With his future wife, Nikki, he travelled to California and became part of the flower-child-hippy revolution and the San Francisco music scene.
In San Francisco he became the lead singer and writer with an acid-rock band, “The Bycycle.” The Bycycle became booked by a major agency and performed with such acts as Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, Taj Mahal, Canned Heat, and Jimi Hendrix. When the band broke up, Stephen began his solo career and over the years has written hundreds of songs and produced a dozen albums of his music. He has performed widely across the U.S. and overseas, has sung and done voice-overs on commercials, and his music has been in films and video soundtracks. An award-winning songwriter, his songs have been covered by such well known artists as Jose Feliciano and Luther Vandross.
"When I was with The Bycycle in 1969 and we opened for Jimi Hendrix, I met him at our soundcheck backstage. That was a very memorable moment. Years later I was working with music/film producer Alan Douglas in LA, who had been on Jimi Hendrix’s management team when Jimi died in London. Alan was then working on a live-performance film about Jimi Hendrix, when he commissioned me to write “The Ballad of Jimi Hendrix” for the soundtrack of the movie. Having met Jimi and personally experiencing his performance that day, I felt qualified and challenged to write the song. I wrote and demo’d the song and Alan said that he had brought it to BB King and that King liked it and was set to record it. But then Alan got into a legal conflict with the Hendrix family over the publishing rights, which caused quite a stir in the industry. This ended with Alan losing in court, and the film was never made. Meanwhile the song was with EMI publishing. Shortly before our move to Virginia, EMI notified me that the copyright to the song had expired, and that the song was now my property. Having gotten settled in our new Virginia home, as I was unpacking, I found the lead sheet to “Jimi, The Ballad of Jimi Hendrix” and in looking it over, my interest in the song got rekindled. So I did a re-write and have recorded an updated demo, which I am readying for release. The full strategy for that release is still to be worked out."
Stephen performing as the lead singer with The Bycycle at the San Jose Pop Festival, 1969, opening for Jimi Hendrix. The bassist is Dan Healy.
Stephen has been primarily an independent artist selling his products directly to his audiences and keeping a contact list. He is an engaging performer who loves to interact with his audiences and encourages people to sing-along. Accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, he is a peace and environmental activist whose timely message in song, stories, and poetry have made him a popular performer, always warmly and enthusiastically received by his audiences.
(1980) Seeds of Peace (ASI Records)
1. Seeds of Peace 2. Ediza 3. You Can’t Be Sure Anymore 4. Beethoven Raga
5. Minstrel Man 6. Little Children’s Song 7. Steady As She Goes 8. Go For It
9. Guru In You 10. Hard Times Will Be Gone
Musicians include:
S. L. Fiske, vocals and guitar
Miguel Rivera, congas
Michael Josefs, guitar
Neil Seidel, guitar
Lar Coughlan, percussion
Peter Spellman, guitar
Frank Serafine, orchestration and flute
Jeff Breeh, bass
Tony Selvage, violin
Juniper L’Orange, bg vocals
Engineered by Hal Hellerman, Carl Lange, Alan Kozlowski,
and Tom Herzel
(1984) Transformation (ASI Records)
Co-produced by Malcolm Cecil
1. Transformation 2. Bridges of Love (Fiske/Josefs) 3. Let Me Love You
4. My Sweet Media 5. Song For a Minute 6. Peacemakers’ Planetary Anthem
7. American Scout 8. A Chance to Live (Fiske/Josefs) 9. Destiny’s Road
10. Peacemakers
Musicians include:
S. L. Fiske, vocals and guitar
Bobby Lyle, keyboards
Pops Popwell, bass
Joe Blocker, drums
M. Subramanium, violin
The Waters Sisters, bg vocals
Malcolm Cecil, acoustic bass
Rick Lawson, drums
Engineered by Malcolm Cecil and Pat Hubbard
(1986) Touch (Fiske Music)
1. Prelude: Morning Song 2. Open My Love 3. Touch 4. By God’s Touch
5. Held Like a Baby (Spellman/Fiske) 6. Classical Touch 7. New Dawn. 8. Tickles 9. The Hug Song
Musicians include:
S. L. Fiske, vocals and guitar
Zavier, guitar
Tony Selvage, violin
Peter Spellman, guitar
Larry Tuttle, bass
Miguel Rivera, congas
The Goils, bg vocals
Engineered by Scott Fraser
1983 – The Hundredth Monkey
Co-produced by Ken Keyes, Jr.
An accompaniment to Ken Keyes’ best-selling book, Hundredth Monkey
(1988) I Believe in You (A Stephen Fiske/Alan Cohen Production)
A collaboration between S. L. Fiske and author Alan Cohen
Includes a guided meditation by Alan
An orchestrated journey of self-affirmation
1. I Believe in You 2. You Are a Star 3. You Are a Gift To Me 4. You Are Love 5. I Remember Who I Am 6. Meditation Son
Musicians include:
L. Fiske, vocals and guitar
Pat Hubbard, keyboard and bass
Richard Hardy, woodwinds
Zavier, guitar
Jorge Bermudez, percussion
Jessica Baron, Annie Hughes, bg vocals
Engineered by Pat Hubbard
(1989) Visions (Fiske Music)
5. Green City 6. Earth Chant 7. Electronic Boy 8. No Easy Answers
9. We Have a Dream (Fiske/Sophia) 10. Good News 11. Healing Woman
12. Warriors of the Heart (Fiske/Josefs)
Musicians include:
S. L. Fiske, guitar, vocals
Pat Hubbard, keyboard
Richard Hardy, woodwinds
Zavier, guitar
Brian Otto, guitar
Jai Josefs, guitar
Novi Novig, viola
Tony Selvage, electric violin
Ben Marciano, flute, whistle, percussion
Oliver Brown, percussion
Jorge Bermudez, percussion
Brent Lewis, percussion
Deke Richards, synthesizer
Keith Brush, drums
Paul Tade, drums
Ephriam Schwab, bass
Annie Hughes, Jessica Baron, Meera Alexander, Maureen McCrink, Michael Horn, Linda Jackson, Lindy Adams, Jeanne Fitzsimmons, bg vocals
Engineered and co-arranged by Pat Hubbard
(1992) Stephen Longfellow Fiske (Higher Octave Music)
Produced by Skipper Wise and co-produced by S.L.Fiske
1. Heartsong 2. Eagle Fly 3. Easy Come, Easy Go 4. The Walls Are Falling
5. No Easy Answers 6. Bridges of Love (Fiske/Josefs)
7. Warriors of the Heart (Fiske/Josefs) 8. O, Earth Beautiful 9. Green City
10. Visions 11. Earth Anthem
Musicians include:
S. L. Fiske, guitar, vocals
Mark Lavang, keyboards, string arrangements
Pat Hubbard, keyboards
Oliver Brown, congas
Brent Lewis, congas
Jorge Bermudez, percussion
Tim Timmermans, percussion
John Mahan, drums
Tom Tucciarone, bass
Ephriam Schwab, bass
Peter White, lead guitar
Garry Meek, tenor sax
Ben Marciano, wooden flute, heart whistle
Jeff Order, piano
Neal Morse, electric guitar, bg vocals
Zavier, 12 string guitar
Tony Selvage, electric viola
Novi Novig, electric viola
Richard Hardy, flute
Ed Cohen, string arrangements
Jai Josefs, keyboards
Annie Hughes, Jessica Baron, Meera Alexander, Michael Horn, Harold Payne, Maureen McCrink, Esther Terry, bg vocals
Producer: Skipper Wise
Executive Producers: Matt Marshall , Dan Seleen
Engineer: Tom McCauley, Pat Hubbard, Dominic Camardella
Recorded at Hub Studio and Moving Hands Studio (LA, CA), and Sound Design (Santa Barbara, CA)
(1995) Funny Tunes (Fiske Music)
6. Roller Blading Momma 7. My Sweet Media 8. Violence and Smut
9. Song for a Demo Tape 10. Guru in You 11. No Labor But Love
Musicians include:
S. L. Fiske, guitar, vocals, conga, percussion
Richard Hardy, flute
Jeff Breeh, bass, bg vocals
Barry Fasman, keyboard, string arrangement, drum program
Oliver Brown, congas, percussion
Denice Kauffman, harmonica, bg vocals
Lisa Fasman, bg vocals
Zavier, lead guitar
Pat Hubbard, keyboard
Tollak Olestad, harmonica
Bobby Lyle, piano
Rick Lawson, drums
Pops Popwell, bass
Jessica Barron, Rebecca Conley, Annie Hughes, B. Fasman, Susan D. Aladdin, the Water Sisters, bg vocals
Written, produced, and arranged by S.L.Fiske
Co-produced, co-arranged, and engineered by Barry Fasman
Recorded and mixed at Foz Sound
(2002) Angels and Miracles (Fiske Music)
4. The Heart of Love 5. River Raga 6. Distant Memories 7. Seeds of Peace
8. What Is Your Wish? 9. Angel of Lila 10. The Best of It
11. When You Believe in You (Fiske/Payne) 12. Angels and Miracles Reprise
Musicians include:
S. L. Fiske, guitar, vocals, percussion
Jeff Breeh, bass
Richard Hardy, flute
Oliver Brown, percussion
Scarlet Rivera, violin
Drew Hester, drums
Evan Gavriel Fiske, dumbek
Dennis Knicely, floor drum
Dennis Nelson, acoustic electric guitar
Harold Payne, acoustic guitar
Eloah Shaddai, Sophia, Tina Meeks, Meera Alexander, Lois Blaisch, bg vocals
Written, produced, and arranged by S.L.Fiske
Co-produced, co-arranged, and engineered by Barry Fasman
Recorded and mixed at Foz Sound
(2013) Basketball Scene (Fiske Music)
5. Little Man 6. He’s a Big 7. Lady of the Court 8. Go For It 9. Shoot’n Hoops
Musicians include:
S. L. Fiske, guitar, vocals, percussion
Barry Fasman, keyboards
Jeff Breeh, bass
Oliver Brown, percussion
Richard Hardy, flute
Hal Ratliff, piano
Christo Pallani, timbali, percussion
Crystal Davis, Eloah Shaddai, bg vocals
Written, produced, and arranged by S.L.Fiske
Co-produced, co-arranged, and engineered by Barry Fasman
Recorded and mixed at Foz Sound
(2014) Earth Anthem – How Do You Want Your World? (Fiske Music)
4. Bridges of Love 5. Picture Window 6. Deep Down Inside 7. We Are One
8. Peacemakers 9. One Voice 10. Earth Anthem Peace Chant
Musicians include:
S. L. Fiske, guitar, vocals, percussion
Barry Fasman, keyboard, orchestration
Mark Lavang, string arrangement
Carlos Garcia, percussion
Oliver Brown, percussion
Tim Timmermans, percussion
Stephen Barry, percussion
Jeff Breeh, bass
Scarlett Rivera, violin
Jeff Order, piano
Drew Hester, drums
Neil Morse, electric guitar
Greg Cruz, electric guitar
Bobby Lyle, piano
Eloah Shaddai, Tina Meeks, Christina Rose, Joni Allen, Esther Terry, Neil Morse, the Waters Sisters, Stephanie Valadez, the Sizwe Vocal Ensemble, Lindy Brown, Miriam Emhoff, bg vocals
Written, produced, and arranged by S.L.Fiske
Co-produced, co-arranged, and engineered by Barry Fasman
Recorded and mixed at Foz Sound
(2016) Flow (Fiske Music) (CD only)
1. Jerusalem Prayer 2. River Raga 3. Classical Touch 4. Seeds of Peace
5. What is Your Wish? 6. Flow 7. Angel of Lila 8. Pergossa (Fiske/Rivera)
9. Peace of Prayer
Musicians include:
S. L. Fiske, guitar, vocals, percussion
Barry Fasman, keyboard, orchestration
Yuval Ron, oud
Evan Gavriel Fiske, percussion
Oliver Brown, percussion
Gregg Johnson, tablas
Richard Hardy, flute
Jeff Breeh, bass
Larry Tuttle, bass
Zavier, guitar
Dennis Nicely, floor drum
Crystal Davis, Mitra Rahbar, Stephanie Valadez, bg vocals
Written, produced, and arranged by S.L.Fiske
Co-produced, co-arranged, and engineered by Barry Fasman
Additional engineering by Scott Fraser
Recorded and mixed at Foz Sound