Eddie Fisher

At 82 years old, Eddie Fisher has this physical status:

Edwin Jack "Eddie" Fisher (August 10, 1928 – September 22, 2010) was an American singer and actor.

During the first half of the 1950s, he was one of the most well-known musicians, selling millions of albums and hosting his own television show.

After Taylor's husband, film director Mike Todd, was killed in a plane crash, Fisher divorced his first wife, actress Debbie Reynolds, to marry Reynolds' best friend, actress Elizabeth Taylor.

The enigma was widely announced, giving Fisher's unfavorable exposure.

He married Connie Stevens later in life.

Carrie Fisher and Todd Fisher, Fisher, and Retired Fisher were among Reynolds' Fishers, as well as Joely Fisher and Tricia Leigh Fisher with Stevens.

Early life

Fisher was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 10, 1928, the fourth of seven children born to Gitte "Kate" Tisch (née Minicker, later Stup), and Joseph Fisher (né Tisch; 1900-1922), both Jewish immigrants from the Russian Empire. His father's surname was originally Tisch, but by the 1940 census, it had been changed to Fisher. Fisher's family used to call him "Sonny Boy," a term that derives from Al Jolson's film The Singing Fool (1928). Sidney, Nettie, Miriam, Janet, Alvin, and Eileen were among his siblings. After 33 years of marriage, Kate and Joseph divorced when Fisher was an adult, and Kate married Max Stup.

Fisher attended Thomas Junior High School, South Philadelphia High School, and Simon Gratz High School. He knew he had a gift as a vocalist from an early age, and he began performing in numerous amateur competitions, which he eventually won. He made his radio debut on WFIL, a local Philadelphia radio station. He appeared on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, a famous radio show that later went on television. Fisher dropped out of high school in the middle of his senior year in order to pursue his dream.

Personal life

Fisher had five marriages and four children:

Eddie: My Life, My Loves, Fisher's 1981 autobiography (ISBN 978-0-0601-4907-9). Been There, Done That, Done That, was his second autobiography written in 1999 (ISBN 978-1-5311-9694-3). Fisher's singing career isn't explored in the new book, but it did a good job in adding new sexual details that were too strong to be published before. "I'm thinking of having my DNA fumigated," Carrie's daughter wrote at the time of the book's publication.

Fisher had numerous affairs with women when he first appeared at The Tropicana Hotel in 1957, contributing to his turbulent marriage to Debbie Reynolds. Pat Sheehan, a model, was one of his most notable ventures. Fisher refused to divorce Reynolds, who eventually parted ways. Reynolds would divorce Reynolds two years later and marry Elizabeth Taylor.

Debbie Reynolds said she could comprehend being targeted "for the world's most beautiful woman," referring to Taylor, who was previously a close friend. In a television film directed by Carrie Fisher, These Old Broads, in which their characters mocked the ex-husband they shared, named "Freddie Hunter," Taylor and Reynolds revived their friendship and chastised Fisher.

Fisher admitted to heroin use and gaming, which contributed to his career woes, as well as his monetary issues.

In the 1964 US presidential election, Fisher endorsed Lyndon B. Johnson.

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Career

Fisher was crooning with Buddy Morrow and Charlie Ventura's bands by 1946. Eddie Cantor of Grossinger's Catskill Resort Hotel in the Borscht Belt was heard in 1949. Cantor's so-called discovery of Fisher was later described as a completely contrived, "manipulated" deal by Milton Blackstone, Grossinger's public relations manager. After appearing on Cantor's radio show, he became a national celebrity and gained national recognition. He then signed RCA Victor's recording deal.

Fisher was drafted into the United States Army in 1951, moved to Fort Hood, Texas, for basic instruction, and spent a year in Korea. He served as the official vocal soloist for The United States Army Band (Pershing's Own) and a tenor section member of the United States Army Band Chorus (an integral of Pershing's Own) from 1952 to 1953, and was stationed at Fort Myer in the Washington, D.C. Military District. During his active service career, he made occasional guest television appearances, most notably as "PFC Eddie Fisher" in uniform. He began to perform in top nightclubs and appeared in a variety of television shows, including Coke Time with Eddie Fisher on NBC (1953-1957). Fisher appeared on The Perry Como Show, Club Oasis, The Martha Raye Exhibition, The George Gobel Show, The Chesterfield Supper Club, and The George Gobel Show (NBC) (1957–1959, alternating with Gobel's series).

Fisher's flamboyant and empathetic tenor voice made him a teenage idol and one of the early 1950s' most popular singers. Between 1950 and 1956, he had 17 songs in the Top ten and 35 in the Top 40. He signed a then-new Tropicana Las Vegas contract in 1957 and continued to work there for at least 4 weeks a year for 5 years.

Fisher costarred with then-wife Debbie Reynolds in the musical comedy Bundle of Joy in 1956. He and second wife Elizabeth Taylor appeared in the 1960 drama Butterfield 8. Mike Todd, a showman and producer who died in a plane crash in 1958, was his best friend. Fisher's affair, her divorce from Reynolds, and Todd's widowship caused a show business fiasco. NBC cancelled Fisher's television show in March 1959 due to unfavorable publicity surrounding the affair and divorce.

He established two scholarships at Brandeis University, one for classical and one for popular music, named Eddie Cantor, beginning in 1959.

Victor RCA Victor's 1960 debut dropped him and he briefly performed on his own label, Ramrod Records. He later recorded for Dot Records. He had his first commercial recording of "Sunrise, Sunset" from Fiddler on the Roof at this time. This technically qualifies as the highest quality Fisher can introduce, though it is not always associated with him. Eddie Fisher Today and Young and Foolish were two of his collections (both 1965). The Dot contract was not lucrative in terms of record sales, and he returned to RCA Victor in 1966 and had a minor hit with Nelson Riddle's song "Games That Lovers Play," which became the name of his best-selling album. In the mid-1950s, singles rather than albums were the primary medium for issuing recordings. You Ain't Heard Nothin' Buthin' Until 1968, his last album for RCA Victor was an Al Jolson tribute. He attempted a comeback tour in 1983, but it was not a success. Eddie Fisher's last released album on the Bainbridge record label was released in 1984. Fisher attempted to prevent the album from being released, but After All. William J. O'Malley's album was assembled by him and arranged by Angelo DiPippo. DiPippo, a well-known arranger, worked with Eddie for hours to improve his vocals, but it became impractical. His last recordings (never released) were made with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in 1995. These songs were "the best singing of his life," according to arranger-conductor Vincent Falcone in his 2005 autobiography, "Just Between Us." Fisher appeared in top concert halls all around the country and in Las Vegas showrooms. He appeared at the Palace Theater in New York City as well as London's Palladium. Fisher dominated a five-week Broadway show at Winter Garden in 1962, deeming it a thrill of his youth to perform in the venue Al Jolson had envisioned.

Fisher became famous for his pop culture iconry. "I Want Eddie Fisher For Christmas," Betty Johnson's "I Want Eddie Fisher For Christmas" album, which includes references to a number of hit songs, has landed at No. 1. During an 11-week chart run in late 1954, 28 people appeared in the Music Vendor national survey.

At 6241 Hollywood Boulevard, one for filming, and one for television at 1724 Vine Street, Fisher has two actors on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for recording.

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