Shelley Fisher

Shelley Fisher was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He is an international entertainer known for his songwriting, screen acting roles and production talents.He moved to Chicago at the age of ten years old and grew up on the city’s West side.

Fisher began his musical career by studying theory, composition and vocal technique with James L. Mack in the Chicago Junior College System and vocal coach Gisela Gottling at The Chicago Conservatory of Music at Roosevelt University. For several years he was the featured vocalist with the popular Morris Ellis Orchestra.

HISTORY His first professional opportunity came as a principal in the Oscar Brown Jr. musical production “Summer In The City” (Harper Court Theater), in 1966. His performance of “Elegy” (To A Plain Black Boy) led to him opening for Stevie Wonder at the originalRegal Theater in Chicago. Since that time Shelley has shared billing or recorded with other world renown artists such as the original group Earth, Wind & Fire, The Dells, Eartha Kitt and B.B. King.

CURRENT Shelley's ‘Tribute Act’ “Dem Boys From Chicago”™ is a flexible 75+ minute show celebrating the music of Nat “King” Cole, Lou Rawls and Joe Williams. His Tribute to Nat “King” Cole has received praise throughout Europe, Scandinavia, Japan and Las Vegas.

RECENT CREDITS In 2009, he appeared in Osaka, Japan as the ‘Special Guest’ of Pianist, Composer Zenshow Ohtsuka in celebration of Zenshow’s 55th Anniversary, accompanied by the Arrow Jazz Orchestra in the NHK Concert Hall in Osaka. Shelley performed in the “New York Bar”, of the Park-Hyatt Hotel, Tokyo, Japan from June 20 - September, 2010. Fisher performs his Tribute act on major cruise ships (Carnival Cruises and Holland American Lines) as ‘Guest Entertainer’.

PRODUCER In 1997, Shelley wrote, and produced “CELEBRATION” at the NRK TV (Norwegian TV) and toured from Scandinavia to Switzerland earning high praises throughout the European Union including Poland.

LAS VEGAS (MGM/Mirage Shelley Fisher has made his home in Las Vegas, NV since 2000. He was the ongoing headline act in the ‘Baccarat Bar’, MGM Mirage Casino & Resorts from 2002-2005. Fisher performs on cruise ships, in lounges, for corporate events and music festivals. His musical arrangements range from a simple 'Trio' to a twenty-one piece orchestra and when requested with ‘backing tracks’.

He broke two attendance records in 2007 with performances in Den Hague, Holland and at ‘Puntaldia’, the Jazz Music Festival on the Island of Sardegna, Italy.

SONGWRITER Fisher arrived in Los Angeles in 1970 and soon found steady work playing piano and singing for the “jet set” in watering holes like ‘The Sportsmen's Lodge’ (Sherman Oaks) and Frank Sinatra’s spot “Jilly’s” in Palm Springs. His songwriting abilities began to get notice when “Girl, I Love You” launched the career of Chicago R&B/Soul legendGarland Green. “Yesterday’s Dreams” (Lou Rawls on Capital Records), “Plainsville, U.S.A.” (Jimmy Randolph on Motown Records) and “King Size Bed” (The Valentine Brothers on Sony Records) are but a few of the titles in Fisher’s catalogue.

ACTOR In 1972, he landed a co-starring role in the comedy motion picture “Calliope”. He played the role of “Piano Player in “Three Wishes of Billy Grier” starring Ralph Macchio and in “Letter to Three Wives” with Loni Anderson. Shelley wrote and performed the original music for the motion picture “Drifting Clouds” (”Kauas Pilvet Karkaavat”), written and directed by Finnish producer Aki Kaurismaki. This film won second prize at the 1996 Cannes (France) Film Festival.

In 2009, Fisher played Dr. Conrad Murray in the Michael Jackson Episode of VH1 Television series “Famous Crime Scene Investigations”. To see a complete list of his film credits, visit: http://www.imdb.com/shelleyfisher.

EDUCATOR Shelley returned to his hometown Chicago in 1977 and the infamous gang infested community Cabrini-Green as Artist in Residence’. There he taught the ‘Blues’ as a cultural heritage in two Chicago’s Public Schools. The program of his design was funded by the Illinois Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. The program was successful and continues to be funded, benefiting the Community and other Blues Artists as well.

CHARITABLE EFFORTS His latest release, a single titled “Give It Up” (Kickin’ Drug Abuse), is a Hip-Hop/Dance program song that he wrote and produced. It features Shelley and Norwegian singing sensation Alice Myrbostad and targets substance abuse. All monies generated from sales of this production are donated to prevention of Drug Abuse. The track is available on iTunes, CD Baby, amazon.com, emusic.com and most other digital download sites.

Awards

Aritist in Residence, Chicago Public Schools, 1977. Sponsored by NEA (Illinois Arts Council)

Gear

1. Lead Vocal 1 (Straight stand) (Shure Wireless) 2. String Synth (Keyboard line out (LEFT) (needs direct box) 3. Keyboard line out (RIGHT) (needs direct box) 4. Bass line out/amp (Bass rig has balanced XLR out) 5. Guitar Mic for amp (Boom Stand) (Shure SM-57 or equivalent) 6. Drum Vocal (Sneez) (Boom Stand) (Shure SM-58 or equivalent) 7. Kick Drum Mic (Audio Technica AT-25 or equivalent) 8. Snare Drum Mic (Shure SM-57 or equivalent or clip mic) 9. Tom 1 Mic –Left (Shure SM-57 or equivalent or clip mic) 10. Tom 2 Mic – Right (Shure SM-57 or equivalent or clip mic) 11. Tom 3 Mic – Floor or Overhead 1 (Shure SM-57 or equivalent or clip mic) If Sound Engineer has more channels on the mixer: 12. Hi Hats 13. Overhead 1 14. Overhead 2