Stephen Longfellow Fiske
Upcoming Events
April 26-28, 2024 – Living Creative Dharma
Satchidananda Ashram – Yogaville
Invoke your creativity during a weekend of music, art, writing and movement exercises. Unearth your Dharma through creative play and experiential activities to find your true path in alignment with your higher self. Discover what makes you unique through stimulating dialogues and interactive creative processes.
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JIMI (The Ballad Of Jimi Hendrix)
In the late 60’s Stephen was then the lead singer and writer with the San Francisco acid-rock band, The Bycycle . In 1969, The Bycycle opened for Jimi Hendrix at the San Jose Pop Festival, and Stephen met Jimi during soundcheck backstage. Years later Stephen was working with music/film producer Alan Douglas in LA, who had been on Jimi Hendrix’s management team when Jimi tragically died in London in 1970. Alan was then working on a live-performance film about Jimi Hendrix, when he commissioned Stephen to write “The Ballad of Jimi Hendrix” for the soundtrack of the movie. Having met Jimi and experiencing his performance that day before 15,000, Stephen went to the task of writing the song. He demoed, and delivered the song, and Alan said that BB King was set to record it. But then Alan got into a legal issue over publishing rights, which resulted in Alan losing in court, and the film was never made. So, Jimi, The Ballad Jimi Hendrix, was never released. For many years, the “Jimi” song was with EMI publishing. Shortly before Stephen moved from Venice, CA, to Virginia, EMI notified him that the copyright to the song had expired, and that as the writer, the song was now his property. While unpacking in Virginia, Stephen found the lead sheet to “Jimi”, and his interest in the song got rekindled. He did a re-write and then with engineer/co-producer, Gopal Metro, recorded an updated version of the song, now readying for release.
Recording credits:
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 hperformed 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.
“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 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.
Discography
Seeds Of Peace
Track List:
Seeds of Peace, Ediza, You Can’t Be Sure Anymore, Beethoven Raga, Minstrel Man, Little Children’s Song, Steady As She Goes, Go For It, Guru In You, 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
Transformation (ASI Records)
Co-produced by Malcolm Cecil
Track List:
Transformation, Bridges of Love (Fiske/Josefs), Let Me Love You, My Sweet Media, Song For a Minute, Peacemakers’ Planetary Anthem, American Scout, A Chance to Live (Fiske/Josefs), Destiny’s Road, 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
Touch (Fiske Music)
Track List:
Prelude: Morning Song, Open My Love, Touch, By God’s Touch, Held Like a Baby (Spellman/Fiske). Classical Touch, New Dawn, Tickles, 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
Hundredth Monkey
Co-produced by Ken Keyes, Jr.
An accompaniment to Ken Keyes’ best-selling book, Hundredth Monkey
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
Track List:
An orchestrated journey of self-affirmation, I Believe in You, You Are a Star, You Are a Gift To Me, You Are Love, I Remember Who I Am, Meditation Song
Musicians include:
S. 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
Visions
Visions (Fiske/C. Rose), Heartsong, Eagle Fly. Steady As She Goes,Green City, Earth Chant, Electronic Boy, No Easy Answers, We Have a Dream (Fiske/Sophia), Good News, Healing Woman, Warriors of the Heart
Musicians include:
S. L. Fiske, vocals and guitar
Pat Hubbard, keyboards
Richard Hardy, woodwinds
Zavier, guitar
Brian Otto, guitar
Novi Novig, viola
Tony Selvage, electric violin
Ben Marciano, flute and percussion
Oliver Brown, percussion
Jorge Bermudez, percussion
Brent Lewis, percussion
Deke Richards, synthesizers
Keith Brush, drums
Paul Tade, drums
Ephiram Schwab, bass
Annie Hughes, Jessica Baron, Meera Alexander, bg vocals
Engineered and co-arranged by Pat Hubbard
Stephen Longfellow Fiske (Higher Octave Music)
1991Angels and Miracles (Fiske Music)
2002Earth Anthem 1 (Fiske Music)
2003Earth Anthem 2 - Remixed and Recompiled (Fiske Music)
2004Basketball Scene (Fiske Music)
2013Flow (Fiske Music)
2016Books, Writings, Essays, and Published Works
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Interfaith Minister/Presenter
Stephen has always been a non-denominational but avid spiritual explorer. He was first exposed to Interfaith through his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement and Martin Luther King’s inclusive, ecumenical, and intercultural approach to social change. Through his deep involvement with yoga and his discipleship with well-known guru Swami Satchidananda, Stephen has followed the path of “Truth Is One, Paths Are Many.” Leaving behind the rock scene, in search of a deeper meaning in life, he embraced the yogic lifestyle and became a certified Yoga Teacher for the Integral Yoga Institute. in the 1970’s he became active in the San Francisco Interfaith organization “The Meeting of the Ways” and later was ordained as an Interfaith minister by the Reverend Leland Stewart, a Universalist Minister, graduate of Harvard Divinity School, a pioneer in the Interfaith Movement, and the founder of the Unity and Diversity World Council, based in Southern California. As a minister, Stephen has organized, produced, participated in, and led conferences, convocations, festivals, and services, emphasizing Interfaith understandings and peacemaking. He has appeared widely as a guest speaker, workshop leader, and performer across the U.S. and overseas.
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Filmaker
Over the years, Stephen has produced many music videos and promotional videos for his various projects. These include The Peacemakers’ Conference (1980), the Venice Eco fest (2010), Peace Sunday (2014), and content for the Unity and Diversity World Council’s online streaming productions. Partnering with Los Angeles film maker Robert Corsini, Stephen is the founder and executive producer of The Jerusalem Prayer Project (JPP), a non-profit California multimedia production company. Through JPP Stephen and Robert produced the music videos Earth Anthem, We Carry the Dream (a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr), Close Guantanamo, and I Wish For You. For the past several years, JPP has been producing a feature documentary, Warriors of the Heart, telling the stories of grass roots peacemakers in Israel/Palestine and other parts of the world. Now in post-production, Warriors of the Heart emphasizes the imperative of Interfaith and non-violence in a turbulent and violent world.
Artist
Stephen has always had the gift of drawing, painting, and inventing art in various modalities and constructs. He attended New York’s High School of Music and Art for his art and was a fine arts major at New York University. Over the years, he has designed and art-directed multiple graphic designs in posters, flyers, notices, album covers, and publications. He has published art, along with his poetic writings, which have been offered for sale at his performances, workshops, and presentations.
View From My Apt. Bedroom Window Of The George Washington Bridge
“I grew up in Washington Heights, NYC, where the G.W. Bridge was an everyday factor in my life.”