Stephen Bishop

Stephen Bishop, born March 16, 1951 in New York City, is an American pop singer‑songwriter whose gentle tenor and introspective lyrics captured the soft‑rock sound of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Growing up in a modest Manhattan household, Bishop discovered his love for music through piano lessons and the folk‑rock records of the era, eventually forming a small band that performed in local coffeehouses. His breakthrough came when Clive Davis signed him to Columbia Records, and the 1977 single “On and On” vaulted him onto the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 11 and earning a gold certification. The follow‑up hit “It Might Be You”, featured in the film Tootsie, showcased Bishop’s knack for cinematic storytelling and garnered an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song, cementing his reputation as a skilled composer for the screen. Throughout the early 1980s Bishop released a string of well‑received albums, including *Red * Blue and Bish, collaborating with legends such as Mick Jagger, Kenny Loggins, and Carole King, while his smooth vocal style earned comparisons to James Taylor and Jackson Browne. In addition to his recording career, Bishop appeared in several movies and television shows, notably portraying a musician in The Last American Virgin and making guest appearances on The Love Boat and Taxi, demonstrating his versatility as an actor. Though his chart presence waned in the mid‑1990s, Bishop continued to tour internationally, release niche projects, and mentor emerging artists, preserving his influence within the adult‑contemporary circuit. Today, his catalog remains a touchstone for fans of melodic storytelling, and his songs are frequently covered by contemporary performers, underscoring a lasting legacy that spans more than four decades of American popular music.