Robert Morgan Fisher is an accomplished songwriter, and writer of short fiction. He’s a winner of the 2021 Montana Humor Prize, the 2018 Chester Himes Prize, and a finalist for the 2019 Steinbeck Award. He’s combining his skills for this show at Boulevard Music, accompanied by spoken word performer Tom Hubbard. Fisher told the News about all that and more…
When did you start playing and performing?
I started playing when I was seven, and performing in my teens.
Describe your sound/style?
Americana with a strong emphasis on storytelling. I’m a short story writer and most of my songs over the years are narrative.
What are your career highlights so far?
I’ve won a lot of awards for my songs and fiction. One of my songs won the International Narrative Songwriting Competition (“Angel Within”), another won the 2012 Hollywood Music and Media Folk Song of the Year (“Don’t You Wanna Go to Mars?”) and is actually ON Mars—it went up in the Maven Rocket.
What recorded music is available — particularly the most recent?
All my songs are available via the usual streaming portals and I’ll have CDs at the show. I have three acclaimed albums, the most recent being Notes for a Novel (2012).
Have you performed at Boulevard Music before?
Several times over the years. Gary and I go way back. Any memories? Yes, one time I played there and afterwards bought a guitar that caught my eye. When I first moved to L.A. in 1985 I lived in Mar Vista and then Santa Monica for several years so this side of town holds a lot of happy memories.
What can the audience expect from the set this time?
I’ll be accompanied by spoken word master Tom Hubbard who will recite a few short stories. We also include narrative cover songs by various artists, some rarely heard. Also, I don’t spend a lot of time explaining the song—unless that’s part of the story—I like to pack each set with as much material as possible. And Tom will be lending sound EFX when needed—we plan to make this a very memorable show with special surprise guests turning up as well.
What else do you have coming up?
I’ll be hosting a music room at the 2023 Far-West Folk Alliance in October in Woodland Hills.
Robert Morgan Fisher and Tom Hubbard perform A Night of Narrative: Stories in Song at 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 12 at Boulevard Music. Go to boulevardmusic.com for more information.
Elsewhere this week
The Culver Hotel will be hosting the likes of Sylvia & the Rhythm Boys, and Scotty Bramer. Go to culverhotel.com for more info.
There’s a full program of music at the Cinema Bar this week, as usual. The Hot Club of Los Angeles plays every Monday, and Wednesdays are singer/songwriter and open mic night. Other artists performing this week include Dinosaur Tooth, the Sallys, Waldo Bliss, and Ben Vaughn. Go to thecinemabar.com for more info.