English

As Nixon’s third-rate hamburglars bungled their way into the Watergate Hotel; as Scorsese’s “Mean Streets” burst a new vision of American life onto the screen; and as the Cold War raged in the halls of power at the Kremlin; Max Fisher was born about six blocks away.

 “The Russian winter was vicious, but nothing’s as cold as a Russian woman’s heart,” said Max, in a soon-to-be-completed, soon-to-be-started interview in People.  “My four years under the Soviets - man, that was every kid’s dream.  I mean, I got clothes, housing, education, playtime, daily doses of Marxism-Leninism, but when they found out that I wasn’t down with their Revolution, I had to split.”

 Looking west, he found Brooklyn, America’s fourth largest city, home to The Sweathogs, The Warriors, the future Beastie Boys, a 22-year-old Spike Lee, and a very frightening 13-year-old Mike Tyson.  Max knew none of them.  

 “It was Travolta that did it for me.  I mean, Fever was the first thing I ever saw, and his disco moves touched me in a profoundly deep way. I was ready to take America by storm in a white, three-piece suit and platform shoes myself!  I still want to!  I want to real bad!  Somebody stop me!”

 Hence, young Max could not dance, and he chose a life of music to impress the ladies, suffering through the next eight years of lessons of classical piano, theory, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, Bach, and the occasional Bon Jovi.  Venturing further south, Max discovered South Central New Jersey circa 1986—a labyrinth land of large hair and shopping malls, androgynous heavy metal and ripped jeans—where his family eventually settled in Princeton.  Unsettled, it was there where he picked up his first guitar and fell in love with the music of the musicians who would always remain his source of inspiration: Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Astor Piazzolla, Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Son House, Ray Charles, Peter Gabriel, Police, Joni Mitchell, and Tom Waits. Deciding to seriously pursue music, Max then studied guitar with Rodney Jones (Dizzy Gillespie, Rosie O’Donnell Show, Professor Manhattan School of Music) and Regis Ferruzza (disciple of Andrea Segovia).

 In 1991, Max, along with piano extraordinaire George Hazelrigg and bass legend Khari Simmons formed the band “Terminal Blue.”  “We needed the money,” was their motto.  

 “These days, Khari is playing and recording for India Arie, and George is collaborating with the likes of Bryan Ferry Never in my wildest imagination could I have thought that possible. Ah, America, love it or leave it,” says Max.

 With all the money that he made from his time in Terminal Blue, Max was able to afford to move back into his parents’ home, then in Washington, D.C.  It was there at Veneman’s Music that he met Mark Williams, another like-minded maniac of all things guitar, who in turn introduced our hero to producers Doug Derryberry (Bruce Hornsby) and John Alagia (Dave Matthews).  Thus, Max fell into the DC music scene, performing his own original material at venues as diverse as Utopia, the 9:30 Club, Iota, and Staccato; in New York at Sine-E, Knitting Factory, the Bottom Line, and CB’s Gallery; and, on his best behavior, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

 Since finding his groove, Max has played guitar for Chris Keup (producer/co-writer for Jason Mraz and Jonathon Rice) and has recorded several tracks with members of India Arie’s band.  In addition, he has recorded with Jason Mraz and has appeared on the soundtrack of “You Don’t Know What I Got,” starring Ani DiFranco.  In support of his debut EP, Eat the Young, which featured most notably the Late Pam Bricker (Thievery Corporation) and blues master Robert Lighthouse, as well as Brian Jones and Stewart Myers (Agents of Good Roots, and countless other artists), Max was invited to perform at another prestigious venue in Washington; this time at a private musical function in the White House.  Among many other talents, he now has security clearance and friends in high places – at least for now.

 A tour of both Belgium and Russia followed—yes, he actually sings in French and accent-free Russian, dabbles in Portuguese and can speak in tongues—and has plans to return there this summer.  The well-known Russian star, Sasha Gradsky has called Max “a natural musician.”  However, among Max’s newest fans is his childhood idol, reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, who this past November, after hearing Max perform a cover of his The Harder They Come before he accepted the Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Award, took Max aside to say, “Man, I never heard my song like that before. It really touched me. Thank you.” When Max replied, “I would like to touch you too one day,” Mr. Cliff looked perplexed and asked someone for directions to the nearest exit.

 These days Max lives in Philadelphia keeping mostly a low profile.  He helps old ladies carry their bags, rescues dogs, and volunteers as a neighborhood vigilante (only on Tuesdays, however). On occasion Max also delves in political espionage (international only). But have no fear; wherever there is good music, Max plays a part in it.  Whether he is producing, writing, playing guitar, singing, or placing sucking cups on his head – the type that are connected to brain scan machines- and wishing his musician comrades good energy, he continues his work.