Grammy and Oscar-Nominated Singer Stephen Bishop at TCAN on 11/23

As a singer-songwriter, Bishop came to fame with the major hit “On and On.” His heartfelt lyrics and well-crafted melodies helped him get discovered by Art Garfunkel in the 70s, when he was penning songs for a wide range of artists including Barbra Streisand and Chaka Khan. With two Grammy nominations, plus an Oscar nomination for “Separate Lives” from White Nights, Bishop’s place in smooth listening music history has been firmly cemented.

Bishop’s playful sense of humor and wry wit comes through in this exclusive interview with TCAN, where he discusses his upcoming show and his experience working on classic movies like Animal House and White Nights. For more information, visit the TCAN website.

Q. Did the arts play a major role in your childhood? How did music/the performing arts shape who you are?
A. The Beatles shaped who I am. When they came along, I was swept up with all of it. At 13 years old, I began to write songs and I haven't stopped even now at 16.

Q. You've been heard on a lot of movie themes and projects -- which one is your favorite? What are you most proud of over your career?
A. ANIMAL HOUSE, I guess. My song "Separate Lives," from the movie White Nights. That was a passionately written song and I'm very proud of that one.

Q. Who are your biggest musical influences?
A. Randy Newman, Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Bacharach and David

Q. What can audiences in Natick expect from your show? 
A. Can Can girls from the Fifties...No, a fun show with hit songs.

Q. You've also appeared as an actor in a number of iconic films. Is acting a passion of yours? Which of those films was the most fun to work on? 
A. Acting isn't really a passion of mine…too much competition here in L.A. I worked on a film called, Someone to Love. That was a lot of improvisation. It was really fun, but Animal House is probably the most memorable.

For more information, visit the TCAN website.