About the author
Shelley Fisher is an international entertainer, songwriter, actor, educator, and author. He is a member of The History Makers. His contributions to the Civil Rights crusade range from participating in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's struggle for fair housing in Chicago in the 1960s to working in the trenches as a precinct captain and delegate in the State of Nevada to elect Senator Barack Hussein Obama the first Black President of the United States of America. Born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, he moved to Chicago at age ten and became wrapped up in street gang activity. He enlisted in the United States Air Force at age 16 and was honorably discharged. He joined a magazine crew supervised by Pierce Theodore Ramsey, one of the Tuskegee Airmen known as 'The Red Tails' who helped Fisher attain his GED Diploma. Shelley enrolled at Crane Jr. College in Chicago in 1963 where Dr. James L. Mack, Chairman of the Music Department discovered his vocal talent. By 1966, he was a principal in Oscar Brown, Jr.'s production 'Summer in The City' and the regular vocalist with the Morris Ellis Orchestra. Also, in 1966-67 Fisher co-founded Aries Records, Incorporated with Howard 'Doc' White. Aries Records was one of the first independent Black recording labels. Fisher's songs include 'Girl, I Love You' recorded by Garland Green, which was the premier release on MCA's (Music Corporation of America) Uni Revue label, their first attempt to target the R&B (Rhythm and Blues) market. Soul singer Lou Rawls recorded Fisher's music on Capital Records. His copyrights are also distributed on the Motown label. He wrote and performed 'Lonesome Traveler' for the Finish motion picture 'Drifting Cloud', nominated for The Golden Palms Award in Cannes, France 1996. Shelley co-starred in the film 'Calliop' and played the role of 'Piano Player' in 'Letter to Three Wives' with Loni Anderson, 'Three Wishes of Billy Greer' (starring Ralph Machio), and the 'Famous Crime Scenes series (Michael Jackson Episode)'. Fisher has worked and lived in Vancouver, B.C. Canada, Osaka, Japan, and Oslo, Norway. After 23 years of living abroad, he was repatriated to the United States, choosing Las Vegas as his home city where he headlined at the MGM Mirage Resort in the Baccarat Lounge from 2001 through 2004 when a single roll-over automobile calamity left him unable to play the piano. Fisher reinvented himself and his stage persona and launched Dem Boys from Chicago, a homage to Nat 'King' Cole, Lou Rawls, and Joe Williams on cruise ships and in concert halls internationally.