b. Edwin Jack Fisher, 10 August 1928, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Fisher was a 'bobby sox idol', one of the most popular US singers of the 50s, with a strong, melodic voice. He sang with the bands of Buddy Morrow and Charlie Ventura at the age of 18, and his nickname was 'Sonny Boy' because of his affection for Al Jolson songs. In 1949 he gained nationwide exposure on Eddie Cantor 's radio show. Signed to RCA Victor Records, and accompanied by Hugo Winterhalter, Fisher had a string of US Top 10 hits through to 1956, including 'Thinking Of You', 'Turn Back The Hands Of Time', 'Tell Me Why', 'I'm Yours', 'Maybe'/'Watermelon Weather' (duets with Perry Como), 'Wish You Were Here' (number 1), 'Lady Of Spain', 'I'm Walking Behind You' (number 1), 'Oh My Pa-Pa' (number 1), 'I Need You Now' (number 1), 'Count Your Blessings', 'Heart', 'Dungaree Doll' and 'Cindy, Oh Cindy'. Five of those won gold discs. He also made the US Top 40 album charts in 1955 with I Love You. His career was interrupted from 1952-53 when he served in the US Armed Forces Special Services, and spent some time in Korea. After his discharge he became immensely popular singing in top nightclubs, and on his own television series, Coke Time and The Chesterfield Supper Club, with George Gobel. In 1956 he co-starred with his first wife, Debbie Reynolds, in the film musical Bundle Of Joy; and had a straight role in Butterfield 8 (1960), in which his second wife, Elizabeth Taylor, won an Academy Award for Best Actress. During the 60s, beset by drug and financial problems, he switched record labels and recorded Eddie Fisher At The Winter Garden for his own Ramrod Records, and Eddie Fisher Today!for Dot Records. He returned to RCA and had a minor singles hit in 1966 with 'Games That Lovers Play', which became the title of a bestselling album. His last album for RCA was a Jolson tribute, You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet. During the late 60s he married and divorced actress Connie Stevens, and in the 70s attempted several unsuccessful comebacks. In 1990, following extended periods of treatment at the Betty Ford Centre, Fisher announced that he was finally cured of his drug problems and intended to resume work. His daughter by Debbie Reynolds, actress Carrie Fisher, appeared in the hit movies Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return Of The Jedi, and When Harry Met Sally. The film Postcards From The Edge, reputedly based on her drug problems and her life with Debbie Reynolds, was released in 1990.
DISCOGRAPHY:
Fisher Sings 10-inch album (RCA Victor 1952)
I'm In The Mood For Love (RCA Victor 1952/55)
Christmas With Fisher 10-inch album (RCA Victor 1952)
Irving Berlin Favorites 10-inch album (RCA Victor 1954)
May I Sing To You? (RCA Victor 1954/55)
I Love You (RCA Victor 1955)
Academy Award Winners (RCA Victor 1955)
Bundle Of Joy film soundtrack (RCA Victor 1956)
Thinking Of You (RCA Victor 1957)
As Long As There's Music (RCA Victor 1958)
Scent Of Mystery film soundtrack (Ramrod 1960)
Eddie Fisher At The Winter Garden (Ramrod 1963)
Eddie Fisher Today! (Dot 1965)
When I Was Young (1965)
Games That Lovers Play (RCA 1966)
People Like You (RCA 1967)
You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet (RCA 1968)
COMPILATIONS:
The Best Of Eddie Fisher 10-inch album (RCA Victor 1954)
Eddie Fisher's Greatest Hits (RCA Victor 1962)
His Greatest Hits (RCA 1965)
The Very Best Of Eddie Fisher (MCA 1988)
VIDEOGRAPHY:
A Singing Legend (1994)
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
The Eddie Fisher Story, Myrna Greene
My Life, My Loves, Eddie Fisher
FILMOGRAPHY:
All About Eve (1950)
Bundle Of Joy (1956)
Butterfield 8 (1960)
|
