Saturday, September 25, 2010

Eddie Fisher - Pre-Rock n Roll Teen Idol


SONGS I LOVE:

Eddie Fisher, who invaded the Singapore air-waves about 60s years ago, has passed on at 82 (1928 - 2010). One of the great names during the pre-rock n roll period, Fisher's good looks and strong tenor voice made him an early 50's teen-idol.

Between 1950 and 1956, he had 17 songs in the Top Ten and 35 songs in the Top Forty. He was an influence in the 60s pop music scene in later years.

Even as a young boy, I could either whistle, hum or sing Eddie Fisher's Any Time (1951), Lady Of Spain (1952), *Oh My Papa (1953) and Cindy Oh Cindy (1956). Although Eddie Calvert's trumpet instrumental Oh My Papa still echoes in my head - it was the Top Ten US and UK hit in 1954 - Fisher's rendition was breaking the heartstrings for me.

Cindy Oh Cindy was the requesters' favourite on radio when Eddie Fisher covered it. It was playing day and night over the broadcast stations in Singapore, Asia and world wide.


The singer was the father of Carrie Fisher who acted as Princess Leia in Star Wars and was married to famous Hollywood personalities, Debbie Reynolds, Elizabeth Taylor and Connie Stevens.

Fisher hit the international headlines when he divorced Reynolds (I hear the cotton woods whisperin' above, Tammy...) and married Taylor, who later left him for Shakespearean superstar Richard Burton.

*Oh mein Papa (1939), a German original, was by Paul Burkhard. The English lyrics were written by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons.

"Oh my papa, to me he was so wonderful,/Oh my papa to me he was so good.../Gone are the days when he would take me on his knees,/And with a smile, he'd change my tears to laughter.../Deep in my heart I miss him so to-day..."

Would anyone still write a song about his/her father today?


Information: Wikipedia.

Original article: Andy Lim





9 comments:

Unk Dicko said...

I love his songs. Cindy oh Cindy is still popular among older folks. As for Oh My Papa...I still get requests for this at oldie Singalongs.
RIP...Eddie Fisher.
His music lives on!

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Hi Dick,
Yes, even great singers have to go. And Eddie Fisher is one.

Glad that older folks still remember his songs. And you sing them too. Wow!

Thanks for visiting.

Lam Chun See said...

I am afraid, he was a bit before my time. Not familiar with his songs, but he was famous though. The earliest pop stars that I could follow regularly were probably Cliff Richard and the Shadows and others of that era; e.g Freddie and the Dreamers, Manfred Mann, Animals etc.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Actually Eddie Fisher was very popular amongst 60s music fans too. Sinatra and Dino are older but I guess he is not as popular.

Thanks for visiting young man.

Jan said...

Hi there Andy,

My father is a big fan of Singapore's 60s music. I'll be in Singapore for 2 days in October and would love to buy him some of these oldies but goodies, in particular The Quests' stuff but I don't know where go to. Would you be so kind as to let me know the details of a few shops that would stock Singapore's 60s music?

Thank you,

Jan

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Hi Jan,
Thank you for reading the blog. Glad to note that your dad appreciates 60s music.

It's best you send me your email address so I can provide you with some details. It's unethical for me to recommend you the shops publicly as mine is not a business blog.

Your email will be deleted immediately from this page after I have noted it.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Capturing your email add.
Will write to you soon.
Andy.

nomore said...

It still echoes me too...Great song !

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Hi nomore,
How are you? Been a while. Yes, Eddie Fisher. Really great singer and songs.

Thanks for visiting.