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When Toto was looking for a new singer in 1984, a tape of Fergie was passed on to Toto via Ricky "Bad English" Phillips (who would team up with Fergie 10 years later to make their album "Frederiksen/Phillips"). Shortly before leaving for a project in Germany, Fergie got the word that Toto wanted him. he briefly met with the guys and left for Germany. He hardly was in Germany when Toto urged him to return to the US and start recording what would be "Isolation".
After the "Isolation" tour, Fergie left the band or was asked to leave. Steve Lukather in 1998:
He didn't have a substance problem. He was freaked out in the studio man. He could not sing in the studio. He was fine live, once he learned it he was fine. But getting a vocal out of him in the studio was really like pulling teeth.
It became incredibly frustrating. It would take like weeks one on song to get a lead vocal. He is a great singer, and maybe he isn't like that anymore. We were too impatient I guess, and the more we pushed him, the more freaked out he was and the worse it became. He was kind of a nervous guy, and he lost his voice out on the road a lot. I don't why.
Equillibrium
Frederiksen/Phillips
FREDERIKSEN, FERGIE
Fergie was born and raised in Grand Rapids, MI where he began his career at the age of 13. He taught himself to sing and perform by listening and attending concerts of such bands as The Who, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, to name a few. He moved to Chicago in 1975 to replace friend Tommy Shaw in the band MS Funk, after which he met producer, songwriter Pat Leonard (Madonna, Matinee, Roger Waters) and formed the band Trillion on Epic Records. In 1979 Fergie left Trillion and joined forces with another rockband called => Leroux, known for their hit "Lifeline".When Toto was looking for a new singer in 1984, a tape of Fergie was passed on to Toto via Ricky "Bad English" Phillips (who would team up with Fergie 10 years later to make their album "Frederiksen/Phillips"). Shortly before leaving for a project in Germany, Fergie got the word that Toto wanted him. he briefly met with the guys and left for Germany. He hardly was in Germany when Toto urged him to return to the US and start recording what would be "Isolation".
After the "Isolation" tour, Fergie left the band or was asked to leave. Steve Lukather in 1998:
He didn't have a substance problem. He was freaked out in the studio man. He could not sing in the studio. He was fine live, once he learned it he was fine. But getting a vocal out of him in the studio was really like pulling teeth.
It became incredibly frustrating. It would take like weeks one on song to get a lead vocal. He is a great singer, and maybe he isn't like that anymore. We were too impatient I guess, and the more we pushed him, the more freaked out he was and the worse it became. He was kind of a nervous guy, and he lost his voice out on the road a lot. I don't why.
In 1995 he teamed up with his friend
Ricky Phillips to record "Frederiksen/Phillips", a collaboration which was
repeated on the 1999 => "Equilibrium" album.
His personal Website is: => www.fergiefrederiksen.com
Selective discography:
1979 Trillion, Epic Records
1980 Survivor: Eye of the Tiger (background vocals)
1981 LeRoux: So Fired Up, Capitol Records
1984 Toto: Isolation, Columbia, CBS Sony
1995 Frederiksen/Phillips (with Ricky Phillips)
1999 => Equilibrium
Related Pages
Fergie FrederiksenEquillibrium
Frederiksen/Phillips