At 13, Stephen Bishop found himself at a crossroads. Stephen Bishop
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A clarinetist with hopes of becoming a history teacher, he was forever changed after watching the Beatles one night on "The Ed Sullivan Show."
Bishop convinced his brother to buy him an electric guitar. He bought a "Mel Bay" chordbook and began to learn to play guitar and make up chords, writing his first song, "Surf's Turf," a pathetic sounding instrumental.
Still, encouraged by the effort, Bishop formed a band called "The Weeds" and began to play at frat parties.
After winning second place at the Claremont Battle of the Bands, Stephen ventured on to Los Angeles. He walked the streets with his $12 acoustic guitar, playing songs for various music publishers, eventually landing a publishing deal at $50 a week for E.H. Morris Publishing.
Featuring Stephen Bishop Honolulu Music Fest 2001
When: 2 to 9:30 p.m. tomorrow
Where: Waikiki Shell
Tickets: $17.50 to $37.50 at Ticket Plus outlets
Call: 526-4400
Special guests: Jimmy Borges and His Jazz All-Stars, Martin Pahinui, George Kuo, Kawika Kahiapo and Frank Delima, 3 Scoops, Simplicity, Honolulu the Band, Soulfree, The Sultans
From these humble roots, the singer went on to sign with ABC Records and release his first album in 1976, "Careless," with its two hits, "Save it for a Rainy Day," and "On and On." The album went gold, as did his followup album, "Bish."
The singer-songwriter will be in town tomorrow to headline Honolulu Music Fest 2001, taking place at the Waikiki Shell.
He'll perform songs from his new CD, "Blue Guitars," and will likely throw in a few favorites from the past.
He's known for having sang the theme song, "It Might Be You," from the movie "Tootsie," as well as for writing and/or singing 13 other songs for films such as "Animal House" and "White Nights."
His songs have been sung by artists such as: Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Barbra Streisand, Art Garfunkel, Kenny Loggins, Johnny Mathis, Phoebe Snow, even Luciano Pavarotti.
Bishop has been nominated for a two Grammy Awards and an Oscar for his song, "Separate Lives," from "White Nights."
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