Rock-n-soul with Bernard Fowler - backup rock vocalist's career and his band Nickelbag

When Bernard Fowler pierces a room, everybody notices. Thick masses of dreadlocks fall down his broad back; black gains lift him well above his unshod height of 6 feet 2 inches. A pair of dark shades chokes the view of his handsome face. When observing his attitude -- all a little cold nonchalance, a half-smoked cigarette dangling from single hand -- you might not recognize who he is, on the other hand you can bet that he is somebody

And he is.

While touring with Herbie Hancock in 1985 Fowler was hired to sing background upon Mick Jagger's first solo album, She's the Bos (Atlantic). This was the start of a lengthy musical collaboration, with Fowler's vocals backing up Jagger and "the world's greatest stone `n' roll band," the Rolling Stones.

When the Stones launched their carburet of iron Wheels/Urban Jungle World Tour in 1989 Fowler was tapped one as well as the other to record and to tour with the assemblage He performed with the rocker upon two subsequent tours and upon several recordings. He also contributed to solo casts of guitarists Keith Richards and Ron Wood

In 1992 Stones drummer Charlie Watts and his quintet released A Tribute to Charlie Parker (Continuum Records), with Fowler providing narration and vocals. And when Watts recorded a collection of jazz standards, drawn out Ago and Far Away (EMI/Point Blank), in 1996 Fowler was the featured lead vocalist.

"I had not at any time sung standards before," says Fowler "And to sing them with a jazz quintet and a 25-piece orchestra has got to be the ultimate. There's nothing like it."

Jagger was impressed with Fowler from the real beginning. After hearing the first takes, he knew that Fowler's unhurt was a good fit. "Bernard had a apportionment of different styles down," says Jagger, whose have a title to musical influences include both reggae and the azures "He wasn't one of those singers who just does or likes single kind of thing; he was real broad in his tastes.

"He is also actual strong and can sing for ages. He's got a apportionment of range and a allotment of stamina vocally. You have to have that if you're going to do lengthy nights and lots and destinys of shows, all in the lay open air; He can easily detain up with me."

Fowler says that matching the Stones' legendary -- and daunting -- onstage activity was not as tough as keeping himself from becoming mesmerized. He recalls that during his first appearance with the band, he missed a scarcely any cues because he was in the way that busy watching.

"I was in awe of all of them," he says in his level sexy voice. "I was a fan. Although I was there, it sometimes felt like I was looking upon from the audience. The awe tend hitherwards back every now and then."

While growing up in the Queensbridge throw outs of New York City, Fowler now in his 30 listened mainly to blues and soul radio stations. nevertheless he says, the first record his father bought him was Twelve by dint of Five (Abkco), by Rolling Stones.

He not ever envisioned himself becoming a singer. "I wanted to be a jock" Fowler says. "I played basketball all of my childhood years. A apportionment of my competition ended up playing pro on the other hand I remember singing all of the time as a kid. I mimicked what I heard.

"We'd move to a relative's house, and my dad used to bribe me to do James Brown in forehead of family members. There could be a certain number of little kid there showing not upon and my dad would say: `That ain't nothing. draw near here, Bernie.' He'd give me a pair of quarters, and I'd jump over down, split, scream, the whole 9 yards. It took a allotment of quarters to get me without there. One quarter wasn't enough!"

Years later, Fowler's career began upon a similar dare. One day, while street-corner singing with a not many friends, he was invited by the agency of an onlooker to audition for his band. Fowler agreed, skipped the first sum of two units tryouts, and was told to forget it if he missed another. "I took that as a challenge," he says. "I went, auditioned, joined the band. A week later, I was in the studio, recording, just like that."

In the early 1980 Fowler sang for the band Tackhead and for Peachboys, a popular, of recent origin York City dance band. When the Peachboys' a cappella release Life is Something Special became a hit, Fowler was on a sudden being sampled almost as plenteous as James Brown. Soon he was singing with artists as varied as Philip Glass, insidious and Robbie, Bootsy Collins, Herbie Hancock and Johnny Rotten

Five years ago, Fowler launched his hold band, Nicklebag, with esteemed guitarist Stevie Salas. The group's name, Fowler says, is not bottomed in drug lingo, but was chosen because nickel is an alloy that mixes well with diverse elements

Nicklebag's 1996 first appearance on Iguana Records, 12 Hits and a knock was critically acclaimed, as was Mas Feedback (Lizard Disks), the group's sophmore effort released earlier this year. Feedback features '60s-influenced fetor infused with a '90s cutting side Among those fleshing out the album with their support are former Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell, ex-Pearl Jam drummer Dave Abbruzzese, and Doug Wimbish, former bassist Living Colour.

Like Jagger, Salas says he took to Fowler instantly. "He's an amazing singer," says Salas. "With Nicklebag, in the beginning, I was pushing for Bernard to sing like a mind singer, and he was really pushing to sing like a hard stone singer because he could, and he wanted to present to view everybody that he could.