Guitarist Eddie Fisher passes at 64

One of the most proficient musicians in the world of R&B, jazz and jazz fusion passed away on Monday, July 9, 2007, after suffering with prostate cancer. Guitarist Eddie Fisher died at his home in Centreville, Illinois. He was 64.

From humble origins, Eddie Fisher rose to be superstar, adored by millions.

Edward Thomas Fisher was born March 4, 1943 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Fishers’ wife Christina told the American that Eddie’s father, who had a feeling for the blues guitar, got Eddie involved in music at the age of 10. In 1961 after graduating from high school at the age of 17, Fisher left Little Rock and moved to Memphis Tennessee, where he worked with Robert Tally, Isaac Hayes, Willie Mitchell, Andrew Love, Steve Cropper, and Booker T. and the M.G’s.

Fisher later toured with Solomon Burke and became the band director for Albert King before moving to the St. Louis area in the early 60’s. In 1963, Fisher became the guitarist for Leo’s Five, a jazz group hosted by Leo Gooden at the Blue Note Club in Alorton, Il.

Members of the group were Don James, Hamiet Bluiett, Larry Protho, Kenny Rice, Charles “Little Man” Wright and Fred Jackson. Regular visitors to the Blue Note Club were Miles Davis, Oliver Nelson, David Sanborn, Yusef Lateef, Redd Foxx, Lou Rawls, Sonny Stitt, Chuck Berry, Johnnie Johnson and Michael McDonald.

In 1969 Eddie Fisher recorded the album The Third Cup at Oliver Sain’s Archway Studios in St. Louis. After the recording became a local hit it was later distributed by the Chess label out of Chicago, where it obtained international recognition. His next release The Next One Hundred Years for Chess made him an international celebrity.

Fisher eventually left Chess and signed with All Platinum Records where he recorded his third album Hot Lunch. He also produced local artists and with his wife Christina, formed Nentu Records where he recorded his next two albums Fisher and The Promise.

Fisher toured Europe frequently with a group of musicians from St. Louis. The trips covered Scandinavia, Norway, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Spain and France.

Eddie Fisher supported and collaborated with Eugene B. Redmond and the late Katherine Dunham and was an avid supporter of the area’s art communities. In 2001, the Eugene B. Redmond Writers Club honored Fisher in the City Council Chambers of the East St. Louis Municipal Building.

“Eddie Fisher was one of the great musicians who never received the recognition he deserved,” Redmond said. “He was a genius, not unlike Little Milton, Albert King, Charlie Christian, Chuck Berry and Grant Green. He was also the epitome of family life.”

In 2004 Fisher performed for and was inducted into the Arkansas Jazz Hall of Fame.

Fisher’s latest recording was 42nd Street, a tribute to his memories of the Blue Note Club at 42nd and Missouri Avenue in Alorton, Il. Also, demand for The Third Cup prompted them to re-release the CD, and last year it became a huge seller again.

Most recently, Fisher and Christina built a community-based Village Theatre in Centreville, Illinois and began producing blues, jazz and gospel concerts and comedy shows.

There will be a musical tribute and Going Home Celebration Saturday, July 14 at 10 a.m. at Greater New Hope Baptist Church, 2300 Missouri Ave. in East St. Louis.