Stephen Bishop, a renowned singer/songwriter, was born on November 14, 1951, in the picturesque city of San Diego, California.
Inspired by the iconic British rock band, the Beatles, after watching them perform on "The Ed Sullivan Show," Bishop's passion for music was ignited. During his high school days, he formed a band called the Weeds, which performed at local fraternity parties.
In the late 1960s, Bishop made the bold decision to relocate to Los Angeles, California, driven by his ambition to become a successful professional musician. It took him seven long years to finally get signed by ABC Records, but the wait was well worth it.
Bishop's breakthrough came in 1976 when he was discovered by none other than the legendary singer-songwriter, Art Garfunkel. At the time, Bishop was working for a music publishing company, penning hits for notable artists such as Chaka Khan, Barbra Streisand, and The Four Tops.
His debut album, "Careless," not only spawned hit singles like "On and On" and "Save It For a Rainy Day," but also earned a gold certification and garnered a Grammy Award nomination. The follow-up album, "Bish," also received critical acclaim.
However, it was Bishop's work as a film composer that brought him the most success. He contributed his talents to a variety of movies, including "The China Syndrome," "Roadie," "Summer Lovers," "Tootsie," "Unfaithfully Yours," "Micki & Maude," "The Money Pit," "The Boy Who Could Fly," "Heart & Souls," "How to Deal," and "The Hitcher."
One of his most notable film scores was for the movie "White Nights," which featured the iconic duet "Separate Lives" performed by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin. The song reached the top spot on the Billboard charts and earned an Academy Award nomination.
Bishop's impressive catalog of songs has been covered by a diverse range of artists, including Eric Clapton, Steve Perry, Kenny Loggins, Phoebe Snow, Johnny Mathis, Art Garfunkel, Stephanie Mills, and David Crosby.
In addition to his music career, Bishop has also appeared in small roles in four films directed by John Landis. He is perhaps best remembered for his hilarious cameo as a folk singer in the classic comedy "Animal House," where he gets his acoustic guitar smashed by John Belushi.
Even today, Bishop continues to record occasional albums and performs in concerts all around the world, sharing his unique voice and talent with fans of all ages.
