Eddie Fisher, the only true teen idol between Sinatra and Elvis?

[F R]

fisher had a beautiful tenor voice and charted with several dozen songs
(i think) from 1950 to 1955. he as the biggest thing as far as the bobby
soxers were concerned during that period.

was there anyone else between sinatra and elvis that one could compare
to him, when it came to white teen-age girls? i can think of no one.
maybe johnny ray comes close but i never considered him as a "teen
idol".


frank

[Mark Dintenfass]

Post by F R
fisher had a beautiful tenor voice and charted with several dozen songs
(i think) from 1950 to 1955. he as the biggest thing as far as the bobby
soxers were concerned during that period.
was there anyone else between sinatra and elvis that one could compare
to him, when it came to white teen-age girls? i can think of no one.
maybe johnny ray comes close but i never considered him as a "teen
idol".

I suspect Johnny Ray may have been more a "teen idol" than Fisher.
Anyway, my sister, who was a teenager in the early 50s, was wild for
him.

[Roger Ford]

Post by F R
fisher had a beautiful tenor voice and charted with several dozen songs
(i think) from 1950 to 1955. he as the biggest thing as far as the bobby
soxers were concerned during that period.
was there anyone else between sinatra and elvis that one could compare
to him, when it came to white teen-age girls? i can think of no one.
maybe johnny ray comes close but i never considered him as a "teen
idol".

I think Johnnie Ray was definitely more the "teen idol" of the
two---certainly he was on this side of the pond. One listen to his 10"
"At The London Palladium" LP (the first ever live pop LP I think) lets
you hear the girls in the audience who are screaming adoringly at him



ROGER FORD
-----------------------

"Spam Free Zone" - to combat unwanted automatic spamming I have added
an extra "b" in my e-mail address (***@bblueyonder.co.uk).
Please delete same before responding.Thank you!

[F R]

I think Johnnie Ray was definitely more the "teen idol" of the
two---certainly he was on this side of the pond. One listen to his 10"
"At The London Palladium" LP (the first ever live pop LP I think) lets
you hear the girls in the audience who are screaming adoringly at him
ROGER FORD
-----------------------

fisher was much bigger in the states than ray, roger. he had his own
t.v. show called "coke time", charted with many more hits than ray, i
believe, and was younger and "cuter".
he was drafted into the military during the korean war, and like elvis,
it gave him a certain empathy amongst americans that he was serving his
country.

perhaps ray was more of a "sensation" because his style was unique and
even controversial in some quarters, but as a "heart throb", i think EF
easily outstripped ray, who i liked better than fisher, btw.

frank

[Roger Ford]

Post by Roger Ford
I think Johnnie Ray was definitely more the "teen idol" of the
two---certainly he was on this side of the pond. One listen to his 10"
"At The London Palladium" LP (the first ever live pop LP I think) lets
you hear the girls in the audience who are screaming adoringly at him
ROGER FORD
-----------------------
fisher was much bigger in the states than ray, roger. he had his own
t.v. show called "coke time", charted with many more hits than ray, i
believe, and was younger and "cuter".
he was drafted into the military during the korean war, and like elvis,
it gave him a certain empathy amongst americans that he was serving his
country.
perhaps ray was more of a "sensation" because his style was unique and
even controversial in some quarters, but as a "heart throb", i think EF
easily outstripped ray, who i liked better than fisher, btw.

When I was very young my favorite singers were the famous Columbia
trio Guy Mitchell,Frankie Laine and Johnnie Ray who I liked best of
all then. Even at that young age I never liked Fisher very much (and
you're right he was much less popular over here) tho I do remember
liking "Cindy Oh Cindy". Even today I can't help humming along on the
exceedingly rare ocassions that song comes on the car radio.

ROGER FORD
-----------------------

"Spam Free Zone" - to combat unwanted automatic spamming I have added
an extra "b" in my e-mail address (***@bblueyonder.co.uk).
Please delete same before responding.Thank you!

[Theo Morgan]

I'm a great fan of Eddie Fisher, but (as a younger person who wasn't
around then) I find JR's style far more exciting. I know both had teen
adoration - perhaps JR moreso in Britain?

Of course both weren't without scandal, and I think in both cases
their private lives had a knock-on effect with their careers. JR was
dropped by Columbia in 1959, following a court case involving libel;
EF left (? or was dropped by) RCA in 1958 I think because his affair
with Liz Taylor completely overshadowed any record he made.

The sad (IMO) thing is that modern historians think the 'teen idol'
was something brought about by RnR, which we know is not the case at
all. I think image became more important at this point (TV sales
rising probably had something to do with it) yet Sinatra - then Fisher
and Ray had the young girls devoted. Who else? He hardly had 'matinee
idol' looks, but I think Frankie Laine attracted huge crowds of
young(ish) girls when he visited the UK in 1953. Guy Mitchell had the
looks but did he attract this kind of following?

Theo

[Robert J. Boyne]

Post by Roger Ford

Post by Roger Ford
I think Johnnie Ray was definitely more the "teen idol" of the
two---certainly he was on this side of the pond. One listen to his 10"
"At The London Palladium" LP (the first ever live pop LP I think) lets
you hear the girls in the audience who are screaming adoringly at him
ROGER FORD
-----------------------
fisher was much bigger in the states than ray, roger. he had his own
t.v. show called "coke time", charted with many more hits than ray, i
believe, and was younger and "cuter".
he was drafted into the military during the korean war, and like elvis,
it gave him a certain empathy amongst americans that he was serving his
country.
perhaps ray was more of a "sensation" because his style was unique and
even controversial in some quarters, but as a "heart throb", i think EF
easily outstripped ray, who i liked better than fisher, btw.

When I was very young my favorite singers were the famous Columbia
trio Guy Mitchell,Frankie Laine and Johnnie Ray who I liked best of
all then. Even at that young age I never liked Fisher very much (and
you're right he was much less popular over here) tho I do remember
liking "Cindy Oh Cindy". Even today I can't help humming along on the
exceedingly rare ocassions that song comes on the car radio.

Yes Guy Mitchell ruled followed by Johnny Ray for me.

Post by Roger Ford
ROGER FORD

**********************************************************************

Robert Singing The Blues Boyne.
--
Robert J. Boyne.Tradewinds Real Estate.North Vancouver/British Columbia.Cell.604-644-6973.
***************************************************************************************
" I have the good sense to know that unheard songs are often sweeter".
Email - ***@shaw.ca
Home page - www.2realtyguys.com

[D***@aol.com]

Post by Roger Ford
I think Johnnie Ray was definitely more the "teen idol" of the
two---certainly he was on this side of the pond. One listen to his 10"
"At The London Palladium" LP (the first ever live pop LP I think) lets
you hear the girls in the audience who are screaming adoringly at him
ROGER FORD
-----------------------
fisher was much bigger in the states than ray, roger. he had his own
t.v. show called "coke time", charted with many more hits than ray, i
believe, and was younger and "cuter".
he was drafted into the military during the korean war, and like elvis,
it gave him a certain empathy amongst americans that he was serving his
country.
perhaps ray was more of a "sensation" because his style was unique and
even controversial in some quarters, but as a "heart throb", i think EF
easily outstripped ray, who i liked better than fisher, btw.
frank

fisher was much bigger in the states than ray, roger. he had his own
t.v. show called "coke time", charted with many more hits than ray, i
believe, and was younger and "cuter".
he was drafted into the military during the korean war, and like
elvis,
it gave him a certain empathy amongst americans that he was serving
his
country.


I think Ray's gaity was percieved by the general audience back in
the conservative 50's!!!

If the two were competing in today's time, society's fucked- up
ethos would have Johnnie blowing Eddie away and hosting prime time's
"Cock Time" on network t.v., baby!!!


Dennis C from Tennessee

[Dean F.]

Post by F R
fisher had a beautiful tenor voice and charted with several dozen songs
(i think) from 1950 to 1955.

To each his own, but I personally can't stand Fisher's voice.

[Roger Ford]

On Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:20:26 -0700 (PDT), "Dean F."

Post by Dean F.

Post by F R
fisher had a beautiful tenor voice and charted with several dozen songs
(i think) from 1950 to 1955.

To each his own, but I personally can't stand Fisher's voice.

I feel the same way. His voice was just totally bland and emotionless.
In any contest between Johnnie Ray and him then for me it's a no
brainer.

I'd rather hear the overdone melodramatics of Ray with at least *some*
genuine emotion than the cold sterile wasteland that was Fisher



ROGER FORD
-----------------------

"Spam Free Zone" - to combat unwanted automatic spamming I have added
an extra "b" in my e-mail address (***@bblueyonder.co.uk).
Please delete same before responding.Thank you!

[Mike Holcombe]

Post by Roger Ford

Post by Dean F.
To each his own, but I personally can't stand Fisher's voice.

I feel the same way. His voice was just totally bland and emotionless.
In any contest between Johnnie Ray and him then for me it's a no
brainer.
I'd rather hear the overdone melodramatics of Ray with at least *some*
genuine emotion than the cold sterile wasteland that was Fisher
ROGER FORD
-----------------------

Well said, Roger. As regards Fisher, my big brother said Eddie got
beat up for singing off key during his band vocalist days (Buddy
Morrow?).

I believed my brother as he was an avid Down Beat reader.

Yours for better hearing aids, Mike H.

[Roger Ford]

On Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:30:39 -0700, Mike Holcombe

Post by Mike Holcombe

Post by Roger Ford

Post by Dean F.
To each his own, but I personally can't stand Fisher's voice.

I feel the same way. His voice was just totally bland and emotionless.
In any contest between Johnnie Ray and him then for me it's a no
brainer.
I'd rather hear the overdone melodramatics of Ray with at least *some*
genuine emotion than the cold sterile wasteland that was Fisher

Well said, Roger. As regards Fisher, my big brother said Eddie got
beat up for singing off key during his band vocalist days (Buddy
Morrow?).
I believed my brother as he was an avid Down Beat reader.

I'm not completely down on Eddie Fisher.

As I've said before any guy who gets to bed Debbie Reynolds,Elizabeth
Taylor and Connie Stevens in the same lifetime deserves some respect



ROGER FORD
-----------------------

"Spam Free Zone" - to combat unwanted automatic spamming I have added
an extra "b" in my e-mail address (***@bblueyonder.co.uk).
Please delete same before responding.Thank you!

[F R]

i can understand people not liking the type of songs fisher sang, but to
say his voice was bland and emotionless leaves me puzzled. his voice was
rich enough that he even sang an operatic aria or two on early t.v.

bing crosby and perry como must have put some of you to sleep.

frank

[y***@yahoo.com]

Post by F R
fisher had a beautiful tenor voice and charted with several dozen songs
(i think) from 1950 to 1955. he as the biggest thing as far as the bobby
soxers were concerned during that period.
was there anyone else between sinatra and elvis that one could compare
to him, when it came to white teen-age girls? i can think of no one.
maybe johnny ray comes close but i never considered him as a "teen
idol".
frank

I'd tend to give it to Johnny Ray, first, rather than Fisher (if at
all).

[j***@msn.com]

Post by F R
fisher had a beautiful tenor voice and charted with several dozen songs
(i think) from 1950 to 1955. he as the biggest thing as far as the bobby
soxers were concerned during that period.
was there anyone else between sinatra and elvis that one could compare
to him, when it came to white teen-age girls? i can think of no one.
maybe johnny ray comes close but i never considered him as a "teen
idol".
frank

In the early '50s Tony Bennett had the same number of number one hits
as Fisher and was in his mid 20s.

Joseph Scott

[F R]

In the early '50s Tony Bennett had the same number of number one hits as
Fisher and was in his mid 20s.
Joseph Scott

i take your word for it joseph, but i don't think his audience consisted
of screaming bobby-soxers as fisher's did. he wasn't a "cute" guy.

frank

[j***@msn.com]

Post by F R
In the early '50s Tony Bennett had the same number of number one hits as
Fisher and was in his mid 20s.
Joseph Scott
i take your word for it joseph, but i don't think his audience consisted
of screaming bobby-soxers as fisher's did. he wasn't a "cute" guy.

_Time_, 1/14/52:
"IDOL OF THE GIRLS
Crooner Tony Bennett, 25, is the latest idol of the bobby-sox set; in
Manhattan's Paramount Theater last week, Tony's tune-punching had the
girls squealing and curling their toes in their saddle shoes...."

Joseph Scott

[F R]

"IDOL OF THE GIRLS
Crooner Tony Bennett, 25, is the latest idol of the bobby-sox set; in
Manhattan's Paramount Theater last week, Tony's tune-punching had the
girls squealing and curling their toes in their saddle shoes...."
Joseph Scott

touche' joseph, you win. i never had that impression of him even though
by 1952 i had heard of him and probably seen him on the ed sullivan
show.... whereas fisher, seemingly to me, was more popular then, but
facts are facts, so i thank you for providing this documentation.

frank