Herb Fisher

By Marv Goldberg

© 2026 by Marv Goldberg

Herb Fisher was a vocalist and pianist, who wrote most of the songs he recorded, including his only national chart hit. This will be another short bio; he seemed to go out of his way to appear at places that didn't advertise and, with only a couple of exceptions, never seemed to appear anywhere but Los Angeles.

Herbert Fisher was born on June 25, 1928 in Monterey County, California - probably Pacific Grove. (This date is from the California Birth Index.) However, every other official record (Social Security, California Death Index, and World War 2 Draft Registration), has a birth date of June 23, 1928. There are always errors in these things; he told Social Security that he was born in Los Angeles. (Let me throw in that his Social Security number was issued in Utah, although I can't prove that he ever set foot there.)

His parents were Eugene Fisher and Arlivia Guyton, who'd married in 1923. (You can imagine what census-takers did with "Arlivia"; it usually came out "Olivia".) Besides Herb, they had six other children: Dorene, Eugene, Jr, Harriet, Francis, Joses Jeanett, and William (and yes, her name actually was "Joses Jeanett"). His mother was mentioned as having been an organist and choir director.

In the 1930 census, Arlivia (amazingly spelled correctly) is living with her parents in Pacific Grove, California (in Monterey County). She says she's married, but husband Eugene isn't there. Because it was important for the census-taker to redeem himself for the horrible sin of spelling her name correctly, all five current children (including sons Eugene, Herbert, and Francis) were recorded as "granddaughter". Poor Herbert was enumerated as "Herberta".

By 1935, the family had moved to Los Angeles. Eugene and Arlivia were together in the 1937 & 1939 Los Angeles city directories, but Eugene never appeared in any census after 1920. In the 1940 census, "Olivia" now has seven children. She still says she's married but Eugene is still not around; he would die, in August 1949, in Los Angeles.

I guess it's time we took a look at Herb Fisher, the entertainer.

On March 14, 1950, without ever having been mentioned as being a singer, he recorded four songs for Modern Records: "This Is My Story", "They'll Be There (Till The End Of Time)", "I'm Yours To Keep", and "People And Money Are Funny". At the time, he had a trio, but who they were was never disclosed.

In May, Modern issued "This Is My Story" (the A side), backed with "I'm Yours To Keep", as "Herb Fisher And His Trio". They were reviewed in the May 13, 1950 Billboard:

This Is My Story (67): Fisher displays a promising blues singing style in the warbling of this forced blues ballad effort.

I'm Yours To Keep (73): Well performed and sung medium blues could pick up some city location action.

Although it was the B side, "I'm Yours To Keep" was the winner, entering Billboard's national "Most-Played Juke Box Rhythm & Blues Records" chart on July 15, at #6. It was on that chart for three more non-consecutive weeks (through September 16), although #6 was the highest position it reached. The song also made the "Best-Selling Retail Rhythm & Blues Records" chart, rising as high as #4, in three non-consecutive weeks.

The September 8, 1950 California Eagle had a big article about Herb's brother, Eugene Fisher, Jr., an up-and-coming sculptor (and former boxer). The final paragraph concerns us:

Member of a talented family, Eugene Fisher has a brother, Herb, who is a recording artist recently signed with Hollywood Mercury[?!?!]. His cousin is motion picture actress Suzette Harbin of "Foxes And Harrow" and the "Jackie Robinson Story" fame. [Suzette Harbin's mother was a Guyton, as was Herb's.]

Also in September, Modern issued "People And Money Are Funny" (mistitling it "People Have Money Are Funny"), coupled with "They'll Be There (Till The End Of Time)". This time, credit went to the "Herb Fisher Trio", but this is the last time credit was anything except plain "Herb Fisher". They were reviewed in the September 9 Cash Box and the October 21 Billboard:

Cash Box: Herb Fisher keeps his wax fame sizzling hot with this pair of fresh releases. Both ends feature Herb on vocals and make for wonderful listening pleasure. Top deck ["They''ll"] is a smooth affair, while the flip ["People"] parrots the title [proving that the reviewer didn't pay attention to the difference between the title and the lyrics]. Disk rates ops' attention - and then a spot on the phonos.

They'll Be There (BB: 82): A strikingly original lyric and theme make this ballad job an eargetter [sic], engagingly warbled by Fisher in a smooth, easy-gliss style.

People Have Money Are Funny (72): Up boogie blues also has a fresh lyric approach, but doesn't pack direct appeal of flip.

On September 15, 1950, he had another Modern session, at which he recorded: "Don't Want Nobody Else", "Too Many Fish In The Sea", "Don't Take Me Away" (a Korean War song), and "Doggone Shame".

Finally, Herb appears somewhere! On September 30, 1950, he was one of the acts at the Elk's Ballroom on South Central Avenue. Also there were the Johnny Crawford Orchestra and Percy Mayfield.

On October 21, 1950, Modern announced that it was going to issue a new series of 10-inch LPs featuring many of their artists. These were in the 2000 series, but, as far as anyone knows, Volumes 1 and 2 (2001 and 2002) were never released. They made it with Volume 3 (2003), which contained the continually-mistitled "People Have Money Are Funny". I don't have an actual date for its release, but it was sometime in early 1951.

On November 12, 1950, Herb and Mickey Champion appeared, along with Jack McVea's orchestra, at the Elk's Ballroom. The write-up, in the November 9 Los Angeles Sentinel talked about Jack and Mickey, but had little to say about Herb: "... whose number, 'I'm Yours To Keep', skyrocketed him to nationwide fame a year ago..." It was only about six months old and still selling, but who's counting?

Also in November, Modern released "Too Many Fish In The Sea", backed with "Don't Take Me Away". They were reviewed in the December 2 Cash Box and the December 16 Billboard:

Cash Box: Herb Fisher comes through with two interesting vocal arrangements here. The first side ["Fish"] is a jump number which features good guitar work in the background. On the lower half, he sings the blues with a good beat in his distinctive style. This deserves ops attention.

Too Many Fish In The Sea (BB; 72): Fisher chants a philosophical blues with a rather tepid theme and lyric. Combo lays down a neat shuffle boogie.

Don't Take Me Away (BB; 67): This medium boogie blues is a between-the-lines protest against being drafted.

The December 23 Billboard reported: "Modern's Herb Fisher and Smokey Hogg off on p.-a. tours on the Coast." However, Hogg was in Atlanta at the end of the year and Herb was in Phoenix, where he appeared at Riverside Park on the 24th and at the Service Men Center on New Year's Eve.

When Billboard published their list of 1950's "Top Rhythm And Blues Records According To Retail Sales", Herb's "I'm Yours To Keep" was #26 out of 30 (#1 was Joe Liggins' "Pink Champagne"). Herb beat out Dinah Washington's "It Isn't Fair" (#27), Larry Darnell's "I'll Get Along Somehow" (#28), Amos Milburn's "Bad Bad Whiskey" (#29), and Little Esther & Mel Walker's "Deceivin' Blues" (#30). Although the song had climbed higher on the Juke Box chart, it wasn't on that 1950 recap at all.

On January 21, 1951, another show at the Elk's Ballroom, this time with Pee Wee Crayton and Little Willie Littlefield. All the January 18 Los Angeles Sentinel had to say about him was: "Herb Fisher is a vocalist with great possibilities. His waxing of 'I'm Yours To Keep' earned him instant recognition." It really seems like they don't know what to say about Herb.

On March 27, 1951, he recorded four more songs for Modern: "Wine, Wine, Wine", "Baby, Please Don't Cry", "A Foolish Man Has The Blues", and "Ride, Ride, Ride". The following month, Modern released the 6-month old "Don't Want Nobody Else" and "Doggone Shame". These were reviewed in the April 14 Billboard:

Don't Want Nobody Else (73): Medium beat boogie blues with piano and guitar laying a solid foundation under Fisher's straight-punching chanting. Material is routine.

Doggone Shame (76): Another medium boogie with Fisher and combo swinging easy - but here material is fresher than flip.

The April 19, 1951 California Eagle said that Herb was one of the artists booked, on the West Coast, by Ben Waller Enterprises. Other Waller clients you might recognize were: Dinah Washington, Ruth Brown, Johnny Otis, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Roy Milton, Joe Liggins, Percy Mayfield, Jimmy Witherspoon, Lynn Hope, Lowell Fulson, Pee Wee Crayton, and Ray Charles. All those artists got great bookings, but not, it seems, Herb Fisher.

But he did make it to L.A.'s Lincoln Theater for a Midnight Ramble on April 21. He brought with him his "new orchestra" and a tap dancer named George Davis. Again, the Los Angeles Sentinel (April 19) had this detailed biography: "Fisher's best known for his platter, 'I'm Yours To Keep'...."

The April 26 Sentinel had a little more: "Herb Fisher's newly organized-band did all right when they played in San Francisco, on a double-header with Ruth Brown's band - had about 3000 folks there." It was such a great show that it was deemed unnecessary to tell you where; there's no mention of Ruth Brown in San Francisco until after that column was printed (and no mention of Herb at all). [However, skip that show. Playing at a nearby theater was "Bird Of Paradise" with Debra Paget, Louis Jourdan, and Jeff Chandler. It's a South Seas-type movie featuring Yiddish stage actor Maurice Schwartz as the Big Kahuna. A laugh a minute (if only it were supposed to have been a comedy).]

On April 27, Herb was one of a bunch of performers at a Jefferson High School Alumni Homecoming function. Other than the Hollywood 4 Flames and Hunter Hancock, I can't say I ever heard of the others.

One more appearance at the Elk's Ballroom, this time with Pee Wee Crayton, on April 29. I've got a newspaper clipping, from an unknown source, that said:

While Crayton is the best known of the two artists, Maestro Fisher has an ever-growing following of his own. Herb is destined to gain nation-wide popularity as well.

The May 10 California Eagle talked about an upcoming benefit for cerebral palsy victims on May 13. Appearing would be Toni Harper, Jimmy Grissom, actress Louise Beavers, and Herb Fisher.

A column in the May 17, 1951 Los Angeles Sentinel finally had some relevant information:

Herb Fisher's six-piece combo is back from 'up North', where they played a three-niter, blowin' at Marin City, Vallejo, and the Primalon Ballroom in 'Frisco - did all reet, too! In the lineup were Jonesy, on bass fiddle; Buddy Floyd, on tenor; Benny White, on guitar; Ramon LaRue, at the 88; Billy Warren, on drums; and Herb doing the vocals.

This is the only time any of his band members were ever named. "Jonesy" was Clarence Jones; "Buddy" was Lorenzo Floyd, and Ramon was Ramon "Jack" LaRue, whom we've met in my Spirits Of Rhythm and Maggie Hathaway articles.

In June, Modern released "Wine, Wine Wine", backed with "Baby, Please Don't Cry". The June 23, 1951 Billboard called "Wine, Wine, Wine" a record to watch. They reviewed it on July 7:

Baby, Please Don't Cry (78): Fisher chants a soulful slow blues, set in an effective after-hours orking.

Wine, Wine, Wine (82): Socking, rocking novelty features a penetrating vocal job by Fisher, and belting combo backing. Could be a big one. [Did these contain the same musicians previously named? We'll probably never know.]

The June 14, 1951 Sentinel had an article about an upcoming show. It said: "Charles Norris, the West Coast's 'most recorded guitar player', who is billed as the world's greatest guitar player, and his orchestra will play an engagement in San Diego's Ebony hall tomorrow (Friday, June 15) from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m." Can't say I ever heard of Norris, but it went on to say: "Guests will include: Mickey Champion, vocal; Ernie Andrews, vocal; Booty Green, dancer; and Herb Fisher, piano and vocal." This was both the only reference to Herb being a pianist and the last time Herb was ever mentioned as appearing anywhere.

Another oddball one. The August 11, 1951 Los Angeles Tribune said: "Herb Fisher has been signed by Aladdin Records, according to his manager, personable Geneva Church. Sides due out in September." I'm still waiting.

But there was a new company on the horizon. In January 1952, he had a session for Imperial Records, which produced: "Tired Of Me", "Eyes Full Of Tears", "I'll Wait For You", and "Ride, Ride, Ride". Later that month, Imperial issued "Eyes Full Of Tears", backed by "Tired Of Me".

Imperial had a February ad for "Eyes Full Of Tears" with the only known photo of Herb.

The February 9, 1952 Los Angeles Tribune finally got it right:

Blues singer Herb Fisher has been signed by Imperial Records, and his first release under this label was made in record-breaking time. He had a session on Friday, and Monday his records were ready for national distribution. Imperial feels that Herb is just that much of a potential moneymaker.

When the first record went nowhere, Imperial released "I'll Wait For You", coupled with "Ride, Ride, Ride" in April.


Nothing more about Herb for the rest of the year. There was another Imperial session in February 1953, which gave us: "In The Dark", "Why Don't You Do Right", "Cryin' In My Sleep", and "You Don't Live But Once".

Imperial issued the first two of those in March 1953 and the other two in July. The second disc was reviewed in the August 15 Billboard:

Cryin' In My Sleep (65): This is a real tear-jerker about a guy who dreams he loses his chick, but wakes up to find it isn't so.

You Don't Live But Once (62): An exhortation to have fun while you can. Emphasis on this side is on the ork, but it creates little excitement here.

Herb copyrighted both of those songs on August 24, 1953. Since he wrote most of the other tunes he recorded, I suppose he copyrighted some of them too, but I can't find any details.

And that's it. There was never another mention of Herb Fisher. I have no idea what he did with the rest of his life. Did he marry? Did he have children? Did he continue in the entertainment business? I simply don't know. There was a Herbert Fisher in the 1960 Fresno, California City Directory; he was a cook at the O K Cotton Club. Could be.

Herb Fisher died, in San Francisco, on May 30, 1980, leaving us with many unanswered questions.

Herb Fisher was always touted as being on the verge of greatness, but, sadly, it never happened. He had a good voice and even had a small hit, but that was all.

Special thanks to Jay Bruder, Bob Halverson, and Bernard Mascle.


MODERN
753 I'm Yours To Keep / This Is My Story - 5/50
        Above as Herb Fisher And His Trio
755 People Have Money Are Funny / They'll Be There (Till The End Of Time) - 9/50
        Above as Herb Fisher Trio (title should be "People And Money Are Funny")
784 Too Many Fish In The Sea / Don't Take Me Away - 11/50
810 Doggone Shame / Don't Want Nobody Else - ca 4/51
823 Wine, Wine Wine / Baby, Please Don't Cry - 6/51

   UNRELEASED MODERN
      A Foolish Man Has The Blues (recorded March 27, 1951)
      Ride , Ride , Ride (recorded March 27, 1951)

LP
2003 Modern Records, Volume 3 - various artists - early 1951
        Herb is represented by "People Have Money Are Funny".
        It only credits him, not the Trio.

IMPERIAL
5172 Eyes Full Of Tears / Tired Of Me - 1/52
5182 I'll Wait For You / Ride, Ride, Ride - 4/52
5226 In The Dark / Why Don't You Do Right - ca 3/53
5246 Cryin' In My Sleep / You Don't Live But Once - 7/53