Biography
In the late 1980s Climie Fisher joined an overlooked surge of British acts seeking U.S. listeners with a refined blend of blue-eyed soul and understated funk grooves. Acts such as Johnny Hates Jazz, Waterfront, and Curiosity Killed the Cat formed part of that wave. The duo comprised vocalist Simon Climie and keyboardist Rob Fisher, the latter already known as half of Naked Eyes. The pair first crossed paths during session work at Abbey Road Studios in England, where frustration over the scarcity of strong pop material led them to form a partnership. Their debut album, Everything, arrived in 1988 under the production guidance of Steve Lillywhite and Stephen Hague. Veteran songwriter Dennis Morgan joined as co-writer on multiple cuts, among them the major successes “Love Changes (Everything)” and “Rise to the Occasion.” The former reached number two on the British charts and remains the group’s best-recognized track Stateside. A follow-up LP, Coming in for the Kill, surfaced in 1989 before the act disbanded. Rob Fisher died on August 25, 1999, at age 39. Simon Climie later co-wrote and produced the bulk of Eric Clapton’s album Pilgrim, co-produced the Clapton–B.B. King collaboration Riding With the King, and contributed production to Clapton’s Reptile.
Albums
