Eddie Fisher (singer)

Eddie Fisher (born August 10, 1928) is an American singer and entertainer.

He was born Edwin Jack Fisher in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the fourth child of seven born to Joseph Fisher and Katherine Monacher, who were Russian Jewish immigrants. His father's surname was originally Fisch, but became Fisher upon entry to the United States.

To his family, Fisher was always called "Sonny Boy" or "Sonny," which may have been an allusion to a song made famous by Al Jolson. It was known at an early age that he had talent as a vocalist and he started singing in numerous amateur contests, which he usually won. He sang on the radio in high school and was later on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, a popular contest that was broadcast over the radio before moving to television.

By 1946, Fisher was crooning with the bands of Buddy Morrow and Charlie Ventura. He was heard in 1949 by Eddie Cantor at Grossinger's Resort in the Borscht Belt. After performing on Cantor's radio show he was an instant hit and gained nationwide exposure. He was then signed to a contract with RCA Victor.

Fisher was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1951 and sent to Texas for basic training. He served a year in Korea.

The photos of him in uniform during his time in the Service did not hurt his civilian career, after his discharge he became even more popular singing in top nightclubs. He also had a variety television series, Coke Time with Eddie Fisher (NBC) (1953)-(1957), appeared on Perry Como's show, The Chesterfield Supper Club, the George Gobel Show, and had another series, The Eddie Fisher Show (NBC) (1957)-(1959).

A pre-Rock and Roll vocalist, Eddie Fisher's strong and melodious tenor made him a teen idol and one of the most popular singers of the 1950s. He had seventeen songs in the Top 10 on the music charts between 1950 and 1956 and thirty-five in the Top 40, which included the 1955 song "I Love You."

In 1956, Fisher costarred with wife Debbie Reynolds in the musical comedy Bundle Of Joy. He played a serious role in the 1960 drama Butterfield 8 with wife Elizabeth Taylor.

His best friend was showman/producer Mike Todd, who died in a plane crash in 1958. Fisher's affair and subsequent marriage to Todd's famous widow caused a show business scandal because he and his first wife, also famous, had a very public divorce.

Eddie Fisher has had five wives, actress Debbie Reynolds (married 1955-divorced 1959), actress Elizabeth Taylor (married 1959-divorced 1964), actress Connie Stevens (married 1967-divorced 1969), Terry Richard (married 1975- divorced 1976) and Betty Lin (married 1993). Betty Lin died on April 15, 2001.

Fisher is the father of two children by Reynolds, actress Carrie Fisher and Todd Fisher, and he is the father of two children by Stevens, actress Joely Fisher and actress Tricia Leigh Fisher.

In the 1960s, he changed recording labels, moving to Ramrod Records. He also recorded for Dot Records. He then returned to RCA and had a minor singles hit in 1966 with the song Games That Lovers Play, which became the title of his best selling album. His last album for RCA was an Al Jolson tribute, You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet.

Fisher has performed in top concert halls all over the United States and headlined in major Las Vegas showrooms.

In 1981, he wrote his autobiography, Eddie: My Life, My Loves (ISBN 0060149078). He wrote another book in 1999 titled Been There, Done That (ISBN 031220972X).

Eddie Fisher has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for Recording, at 6241 Hollywood Boulevard, and one for TV, at 1724 Vine Street.

Hit songs

• "A Man Chases A Girl (Until She Catches Him)"
• "Anytime" (1951)
• "Cindy, Oh Cindy"
• "Count Your Blessings" (1954)
• "Dungaree Doll"
• "Heart" (1955)
• "I Need You Now" (no. 1) (1954)
• "I'm Walking Behind You" (no. 1) (1953) (with Sally Sweetland)
• "I'm Yours" (1952)
• "Lady Of Spain" (1952)
• "Many Times" (1953)
• "Maybe" (1952) (duet with Perry Como)
• "Oh My Pa-Pa" (no. 1) (1953)
• "Tell Me Why" (1951) (also a big hit for The Four Aces, whose Al Alberts co-wrote the song)
• "Thinking Of You" (1950)
• "Turn Back The Hands Of Time"
• "Watermelon Weather" (duet with Perry Como)
• "Wish You Were Here" (no. 1) (1952)

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)