Shug Fisher (born George Clinton Fisher Jr.; September 26, 1907 – March 16, 1984) was an American

character actor A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to b ...

, singer, songwriter, musician, and comedian. During his 50-year entertainment career, he performed in many

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

films, often as a member of the

Sons of the Pioneers The Sons of the Pioneers are one of the United States' earliest Western singing groups. Known for their vocal performances, their musicianship, and their songwriting, they produced innovative recordings that have inspired many Western music perf ...

in serials and in

B movie A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double feature ...

s starring

Roy Rogers Roy Rogers (born Leonard Franklin Slye; November 5, 1911 – July 6, 1998) was an American singer, actor, and television host. Following early work under his given name, first as co-founder of the Sons of the Pioneers and then acting, the rebra ...

. Fisher also was cast in supporting roles on a variety of television series, although most frequently on ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central character ...

'' and ''

The Beverly Hillbillies ''The Beverly Hillbillies'' is an American television sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from 1962 to 1971. It had an ensemble cast featuring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer Jr. as the Clampetts, a poor, backwoods family from ...

''. His comic trademarks included his ability to

stutter Stuttering, also known as stammering, is a speech disorder in which the flow of speech is disrupted by involuntary repetitions and prolongations of sounds, syllables, words, or phrases as well as involuntary silent pauses or blocks in which the ...

at will and his bemused facial expressions.

Childhood and early years

Fisher was born in

Grady County, Oklahoma Grady County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 52,431. Its county seat is Chickasha. It was named for Henry W. Grady, an editor of the ''Atlanta Constitution'' and southern orator.

, in Tabler (near

Chickasha Chickasha is a city in and the county seat of Grady County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 16,036 at the 2010 census. Chickasha is home to the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. The city is named for and strongly connected ...

) into a farming family, the youngest of four children born to a Scots-Irish father and part-

Choctaw The Choctaw (in the Choctaw language, Chahta) are a Native American people originally based in the Southeastern Woodlands, in what is now Alabama and Mississippi. Their Choctaw language is a Western Muskogean language. Today, Choctaw people are ...

mother.Sue Matheson, ''The John Ford Encyclopedia'', page 83, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2019 He gained the nickname "Shug" (short for sugar) at a young age, which he explained as, "My mama gave it to me 'cause I was such a sweet baby."McAlester News-Capital, June 30, 2019
/ref> In 1917, the family moved by

covered wagon The covered wagon or prairie wagon, historically also referred to as an ambulance or prairie schooner, was a vehicle usually made out of wood and canvas that was used for transportation, prominently in 19th-century America. With roots in the he ...

Pittsburg County, Oklahoma Pittsburg County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 45,837. Its county seat is McAlester. The county was formed from part of the Choctaw Nation in Indian Territory in 1907. County leade ...

, near Indianola. Soon thereafter, Fisher was drawn to the

mandolin A mandolin ( it, mandolino ; literally "small mandola") is a stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally plucked with a pick. It most commonly has four courses of doubled strings tuned in unison, thus giving a total of 8 ...

and the

fiddle A fiddle is a bowed string musical instrument, most often a violin. It is a colloquial term for the violin, used by players in all genres, including classical music. Although in many cases violins and fiddles are essentially synonymous, th ...

. His father refreshed his own fiddling ability and Fisher learned

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...

to back him, and at age 16, he was playing with his father at local square dances. He could not afford a fiddle case and instead protected his instrument with a

pillow case A pillow is a support of the body at rest for comfort, therapy, or decoration. Pillows are used in different variations by many species, including Human, humans. Some types of pillows include throw pillows, body pillows, decorative pillows, ...

tied to the saddle horn. After watching a comedian with a traveling

medicine show Medicine shows were touring acts (traveling by truck, horse, or wagon teams) that peddled "miracle cure" patent medicines and other products between various entertainments. They developed from European Charlatan, mountebank shows and were common i ...

in 1924, he decided to pursue a career in entertainment. The following year, Fisher, his father, and a friend drove a

Ford Model T The Ford Model T is an automobile that was produced by Ford Motor Company from October 1, 1908, to May 26, 1927. It is generally regarded as the first affordable automobile, which made car travel available to middle-class Americans. The relati ...

to California's

San Joaquin Valley The San Joaquin Valley ( ; es, Valle de San Joaquín) is the area of the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California that lies south of the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta and is drained by the San Joaquin River. It comprises seven c ...

, where he worked as a fruit-picker, and a cable and tool dresser in oil fields. He continued to perform, playing fiddle at social events and square dances. In 1927, he was asked to appear on '' The Fresno Bee's'' radio station, KMJ, but only for the publicity. He later said, "publicity was fine, but you can’t eat it...My motto was, pay me something, or I don’t play."

Los Angeles calls

In 1931, Tom Murray, who had recently left the Beverly Hill Billies, offered Fisher a spot with his new group, the Hollywood Hillbillies, based in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

. Fisher learned to play the

bass fiddle The double bass (), also known simply as the bass () (or by other names), is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed (or plucked) string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra (excluding unorthodox additions such as the octobass). Similar i ...

with the group and claimed he was one of the first to play the instrument in a country band. The Hillbillies appeared on the ''Hollywood Breakfast Club'' radio show and were fairly popular around Los Angeles but had little income to show for it. In late 1933, Fisher and Ken Carson left the group to join several members of the Beverly Hill Billies who had moved to

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...

. The original group was the brainchild of the general manager of KPMC-AM, who promoted the members as authentic "hillbilly" musicians who he'd "discovered." As part of the ruse, the members always adopted hillbilly names, so Fisher became Aaron Judd and Carson was Kaleb Winbush. After a short time, Fisher returned to Los Angeles, appearing on Stuart Hamblen's ''Covered Wagon Jubilee'' program.

Ohio Valley radio career

In 1935, Fisher took an extended road tour with Roy Faulkner, The Lonesome Cowboy, from

XERA-AM XERA is a radio station in Mexico, broadcasting on 760 AM in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas. The callsign was most famous for its use on a border blaster at Villa Acuña, Coahuila. XERA also broadcasts on FM at 101.5 MHz. It is not l ...

Del Rio, Texas Del Rio is a city and the county seat of Val Verde County in southwestern Texas, United States. The city is 152 miles west of San Antonio. As of 2020, Del Rio had a population of 34,673. History The Spanish established a small settlement south o ...

. During an appearance in

Council Bluffs, Iowa Council Bluffs is a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States. The city is the most populous in Southwest Iowa, and is the third largest and a primary city of the Omaha–Council Bluffs ...

, Fisher was approached by Hugh Cross to join him, under

sponsorship Sponsoring something (or someone) is the act of supporting an event, activity, person, or organization financially or through the provision of products or services. The individual or group that provides the support, similar to a benefactor, is k ...

of the Georgie Porgie Breakfast Food Company, as an act for ''

WWVA Jamboree The ''Wheeling Jamboree'' is the second oldest country music radio broadcast in the United States after the ''Grand Ole Opry''. The Jamboree originated in 1933 in Wheeling, West Virginia on WWVA (AM), WWVA, the first radio station in West Virginia ...

''. Fisher agreed and the two went to

Wheeling, West Virginia Wheeling is a city in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Located almost entirely in Ohio County, of which it is the county seat, it lies along the Ohio River in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and also contains a tiny portion extending ...

. Under the moniker of Hugh and Shug's Radio Pals, a reflection of their frequent radio appearances, they performed with Mary Ann Vestes and recorded for

Decca Decca may refer to: Music * Decca Records or Decca Music Group, a record label * Decca Gold, a classical music record label owned by Universal Music Group * Decca Broadway, a musical theater record label * Decca Studios, a recording facility in W ...

for four years, enjoying a faithful radio audience. In 1939, the two moved to

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...

, where they appeared on

WLW-AM WLW (700 AM) is a commercial news/talk radio station licensed to Cincinnati, Ohio. Owned by iHeartMedia, WLW is a clear-channel station, often identifying itself as The Big One. WLW operates with around the clock. Its daytime signal provide ...

's '' Boone County Jamboree'' and where Fisher met and married Peggy Summers of

Bolivar, Missouri Bolivar is a city and county seat of Polk County, Missouri, United States. As of a 2019 estimate by the U. S. Census Bureau, the city population was 11,067. History Bolivar began as a settlement around Keeling Spring, with the majority of settle ...

. At the station, he also became friends with a young

Merle Travis Merle Robert Travis (November 29, 1917 – October 20, 1983) was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and guitarist born in Rosewood, Kentucky, United States. His songs' lyrics often discussed both the lives and the economic expl ...

Sons of the Pioneers

When the U.S. entered

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

in 1941, Fisher returned to Los Angeles to work in

defense Defense or defence may refer to: Tactical, martial, and political acts or groups * Defense (military), forces primarily intended for warfare * Civil defense, the organizing of civilians to deal with emergencies or enemy attacks * Defense industr ...

jobs, primarily at

Lockheed Aircraft Lockheed (originally spelled Loughead) may refer to: Brands and enterprises * Lockheed Corporation, a former American aircraft manufacturer * Lockheed Martin, formed in 1995 by the merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta ** Lockheed Ma ...

in Burbank. Art Rush, head of the

Hollywood Victory Committee The Hollywood Victory Committee was an organization founded on December 10, 1941, during World War II to provide a means for stage, screen, television and radio performers that were not in Armed forces, military service to contribute to the war eff ...

, requested his help arranging entertainment for defense workers during the war. In 1943, Fisher and Ken Carson were invited to join the

after the group's Pat Brady and Lloyd Perryman were drafted into the service. Replacing Brady as bassist and comedian, Fisher eagerly joined Carson, Tim Spencer,

Bob Nolan Bob Nolan (born Clarence Robert Nobles; April 13, 1908 – June 16, 1980, name changed to Robert Clarence Nobles in 1929) was a Canadian-born American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was a founding member of the Sons of the Pioneers, and compo ...

, and

Hugh Hugh may refer to: *Hugh (given name) Noblemen and clergy French * Hugh the Great (died 956), Duke of the Franks * Hugh Magnus of France (1007–1025), co-King of France under his father, Robert II * Hugh, Duke of Alsace (died 895), modern-day ...

and Karl Farr late that year, having appreciated the band's music and personally known its members prior to the group's inception. During this tenure, the group appeared in a string of

movies, recorded songs for the

John Ford John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), known professionally as John Ford, was an American film director and naval officer. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers of his generation. He ...

movies ''

Wagon Master ''Wagon Master'' is a 1950 American Western film produced and directed by John Ford and starring Ben Johnson, Harry Carey Jr., Joanne Dru, and Ward Bond. The screenplay concerns a Mormon pioneer wagon train to the San Juan River in Utah. The ...

'' in

1949 Events January * January 1 – A United Nations-sponsored ceasefire brings an end to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The war results in a stalemate and the division of Kashmir, which still continues as of 2022. * January 2 – Luis ...

and ''Rio Grande'' in 1950, and performed the theme song for ''

The Searchers ''The Searchers'' is a 1956 American Technicolor VistaVision epic Western film directed by John Ford and written by Frank S. Nugent, based on the 1954 novel by Alan Le May. It is set during the Texas-Native American wars, and stars John Wa ...

'' in 1956. Fisher wrote a number of songs for the Pioneers, including "Out On The Open Range", "Ridin' Down To Santa Fe", later recorded by Merle Travis, and "Forgive And Forget". In 1946, Fisher and Travis co-wrote "Cincinnati Lou". Fisher also wrote "That's My Paradise", "I'm Not Foolin' Now", "A Million Memories", "Pooey On You, Little Darlin'", a novelty song later recorded by

Ken Curtis Ken Curtis (born Curtis Wain Gates; July 2, 1916 – April 28, 1991) was an American singer and actor best known for his role as Festus Haggen on the CBS western television series ''Gunsmoke''. Although he appeared on ''Gunsmoke'' earlie ...

; "Lonesome Train Blues"; and recorded "Gooseberry Pie" using his fake stuttering as a comedy device. Fisher left the group in early 1946 when Brady returned from the war. In 1948, Capitol Transcriptions issued the album, ''Cowboy Jubilee'', by Shug Fisher & his Ranchmen Trio. Fisher rejoined the Pioneers in 1949 when Brady left. The highlight of this era came in 1951 when they appeared at

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhatta ...

, making them the first western band to perform there. They would also be the first to play at lavish

nightclub A nightclub (music club, discothèque, disco club, or simply club) is an entertainment venue during nighttime comprising a dance floor, lightshow, and a stage for live music or a disc jockey (DJ) who plays recorded music. Nightclubs gener ...

s in

Las Vegas Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...

Forsythe, Wayne. "The Sons of the Pioneers." ''

Country Music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...

'' (April 1975). Retrieved on 8-02-09. and starred on Mutual Radio's ''Lucky U Ranch'' program. In 1953, Fisher left to join friend Ken Curtis in television and motion pictures but again returned to the Pioneers in 1955, replacing Deuce Spriggens. He left the Pioneers for the last time in 1959, and welcomed the break to "kinda take it easy, and do a lot of hunting and fishing."

Film and television career

A member of the

John Ford Stock Company The John Ford Stock Company is the name given to the large collection of actors used repeatedly in the films of American director John Ford. Most famous among these was John Wayne, who appeared in twenty-four films and three television episodes for ...

, Fisher had an extensive career as a character actor in Western B-movies and feature films starting in 1943. Many of his early roles were as a performer with the Sons of the Pioneers in Roy Rogers'

singing cowboy A singing cowboy was a subtype of the archetypal cowboy hero of early Western films. It references real-world campfire side ballads in the American frontier, the original cowboys sang of life on the trail with all the challenges, hardships, and d ...

movies. He was also the voice of Uncle Pecos, an animated mouse, in the 1955 ''

Tom and Jerry ''Tom and Jerry'' is an American Animated cartoon, animated media franchise and series of comedy short films created in 1940 by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Best known for its 161 theatrical short films by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the series c ...

'' short, ''

Pecos Pest This is a complete list of the 164 shorts in the ''Tom and Jerry'' series produced and released between 1940 and 2014. Of these, 162 are theatrical shorts, one is a made-for-TV short, and one is a 2-minute sketch shown as part of a telethon. ...

'', and is uncredited with the guitar improvisation on the cartoon's version of " Froggie Went A-Courtin". Fisher also had many supporting roles during a 27-year television career. From 1955–60, he made regular appearances on ABC-TV’s country music variety show, ''

Ozark Jubilee ''Ozark Jubilee'' is a 1950s United States network television program that featured country music's top stars of the day. It was produced in Springfield, Missouri. The weekly live stage show premiered on ABC-TV on January 22, 1955, was renamed ' ...

'', as a comedian and singer. Then he joined Curtis’ first-run syndicated TV adventure series, '' Ripcord'' between 1962 and 1963 portraying airplane pilot Charlie Kern. He made 22 appearances on ''

'' from 1962 to 1974 in various minor roles, and played Shorty Kellums in 19 episodes of ''

'' from 1969–70. Fisher also appeared repeatedly on ''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 13, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 432 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running western, the second-longest-running western series on U ...

'', '' The Virginian,'' ''

Daniel Boone Daniel Boone (September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyond the we ...

'' and ''

The Dukes of Hazzard ''The Dukes of Hazzard'' is an American action comedy TV series that was aired on CBS from January 26, 1979 to February 8, 1985. The show aired for 147 episodes spanning seven seasons. It was consistently among the top-rated television series ...

''.

Death

Shug Fisher spent his final years living in

Studio City, California Studio City is a neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California, in the southeast San Fernando Valley, just west of the Cahuenga Pass. It is named after the studio lot that was established in the area by film producer Mack Sennett in 1927, ...

. He died on March 16, 1984, after a lingering illness, with old friend Ken Curtis by his side in Woodland Hills in Los Angeles. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Filmography

*''

Swing Your Partner ''Swing Your Partner'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Frank McDonald and written by Dorrell McGowan and Stuart E. McGowan. The film stars Myrtle Wiseman, Scotty Wiseman, Barbara Jo Allen, Dale Evans, Ransom M. Sherman and Harry Ch ...

'' (1943) - Himself *''

Hoosier Holiday ''Hoosier Holiday'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Frank McDonald (director), Frank McDonald and written by Dorrell McGowan and Stuart E. McGowan. The film stars George D. Hay, Isabel Randolph, Shug Fisher, Lillian Randolph, Dale Evan ...

'' (1943) - Himself *'' Jamboree'' (1944) - Himself *'' The Yellow Rose of Texas'' (1944) - Bass Player Shug (uncredited) *''

Song of Nevada ''Song of Nevada'' is a 1944 American musical Western film directed by Joseph Kane, and starring Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Plot Rancher John Barrabee is upset his daughter doesn't want to stay in the West; instead, she is a New York City nigh ...

'' (1944) - Shug - Sons of the Pioneers (uncredited) *''

San Fernando Valley The San Fernando Valley, known locally as the Valley, is an urbanized valley in Los Angeles County, California. Located to the north of the Los Angeles Basin, it contains a large portion of the City of Los Angeles, as well as unincorporated ar ...

'' (1944) - Bass Player - Sons of the Pioneers (uncredited) *''

Lights of Old Santa Fe ''Lights of Old Santa Fe'' is a 1944 American Western Musical film directed by Frank McDonald with a screenplay by Gordon Kahn and Bob Williams. The film stars Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Plot A rodeo owner struggles to make her show a succes ...

'' (1944) - Shug, Bass Player - Sons of the Pioneers (uncredited) *''

Grissly's Millions ''Grissly's Millions'' is a 1945 American mystery film directed by John English and written by Muriel Roy Bolton. The film stars Paul Kelly, Virginia Grey, Don Douglas, Elisabeth Risdon, Robert Barrat and Clem Bevans. The film was released o ...

'' (1945) - Tim (uncredited) *''

Utah Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to it ...

'' (1945) - Bass Player - Sons of the Pioneers (uncredited) *''

Bells of Rosarita '' Bells of Rosarita '' is a 1945 American musical Western film starring Roy Rogers and directed by Frank McDonald. Plot Cowboy balladeer Roy Rogers meets Sue Farnum (Dale Evans), a girl returning from back East, who is cheated out of her inhe ...

'' (1945) - Bass Player Shug, Sons of the Pioneers (uncredited) *''

The Man from Oklahoma '' The Man from Oklahoma '' is a 1945 American western film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and George 'Gabby' Hayes. It was produced and distributed by Republic Pictures.Hurst p.232 Plot Jim Gardner, hoping to ...

'' (1945) - 'Shug' - Member Sons of the Pioneers (uncredited) *'' Along the Navajo Trail'' (1945) - 'Shug' - Member Sons of the Pioneers (uncredited) *''

Sunset in El Dorado '' Sunset in El Dorado '' is a 1945 American Western film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Roy Rogers. Cast * Roy Rogers as Himself * Trigger as Roy's horse * Dale Evans as Lucille Wiley/Kansas Kate * George 'Gabby' Hayes as Gabb ...

'' (1945) - Shug - Member Sons of the Pioneers (uncredited) *'' Don't Fence Me In'' (1945) - Shug - Bass Player - Sons of the Pioneers (uncredited) *''

Song of Arizona ''Song of Arizona'' is a 1946 American Western film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and George "Gabby" Hayes. It was produced and distributed by Republic Pictures. Plot Gabby Whittaker ("Gabby" Hayes) is in trou ...

'' (1946) - Shug - Sons of the Pioneers (uncredited) *''

Ding Dong Williams ''Ding Dong Williams'' is a 1946 American comedy film directed by William Berke, and written by Brenda Weisberg and M. Coates Webster. The film stars Glen Vernon (under his real name, Glenn Vernon), Marcy McGuire, Felix Bressart, Anne Jeffreys, ...

'' (1946) - 'Shug' - Member Sons of the Pioneers (uncredited) *''

Home on the Range "Home on the Range" is a classic cowboy song, sometimes called the "unofficial anthem" of the American West. Dr. Brewster M. Higley (also spelled Highley) of Smith County, Kansas, wrote the lyrics as the poem "My Western Home" in 1872 or 1873 ...

'' (1946) - Shug- Member Sons of the Pioneers (uncredited) *''

Rainbow Over Texas ''Rainbow Over Texas'' is a 1946 American Western (genre), Western film in which Roy Rogers plays himself as a famous cowboy-singer returning to Texas. Directed by Frank McDonald (director), Frank McDonald from a story by Max Brand, it co-stars ...

'' (1946) - Bass Player (uncredited) *''

My Pal Trigger ''My Pal Trigger'' is a 1946 American Western musical film directed by Frank McDonald. The screenplay by Jack Townley and John K. Butler was based upon a story by Paul Gangelin. The film stars Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, George “Gabby” Hayes, ...

'' (1946) - Shug - Member Sons of the Pioneers (uncredited) *''

Under Nevada Skies '' Under Nevada Skies '' is a 1946 American western film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and George 'Gabby' Hayes. It was produced and distributed by Republic Pictures. Cast * Roy Rogers as himself * Trigger ...

'' (1946) - Bass Player *''

Roll on Texas Moon '' Roll on Texas Moon '' is a 1946 American Western film directed by William Witney and starring Roy Rogers. Cast * Roy Rogers as Himself * Trigger as Roy's Horse (The Smartest Horse in the Movies) * George 'Gabby' Hayes as Gabby Whittaker * D ...

'' (1946) - Bass Player - Sons of the Pioneers (uncredited) *''

Heldorado '' Heldorado '' is a 1946 American Western film starring Roy Rogers set during the annual Helldorado Days celebrations in Las Vegas. It was the last teaming of Roy and comedy relief sidekick Gabby Hayes. Hayes shares a scene with Pat Brady w ...

'' (1946) - Stable Foreman (uncredited) *''

Springtime in the Sierras ''Springtime in the Sierras'' is a 1947 American Trucolor Western film directed by William Witney and starring Roy Rogers, Trigger, Jane Frazee and Andy Devine. The film is now in the public domain. Plot Singing cowboy Roy Rogers and the So ...

'' (1947) - Shug - Member of Sons of the Pioneers (uncredited) *''

On the Old Spanish Trail ''On the Old Spanish Trail'' is a 1947 American Trucolor Western film starring Roy Rogers and directed by William Witney. Plot Cast *Roy Rogers as Roy Rogers *Trigger as Trigger, the Smartest Horse in the West *Tito Guízar as Rico / Th ...

'' (1947) - Spectator (uncredited) *''The Last Roundup'' (1947) - Marvin (uncredited) *'' Susanna Pass'' (1949) - Jailbird with Guitar (uncredited) *''Riders of the Pony Express'' (1949) - 'Doc' Baker *''

Stallion Canyon ''Stallion Canyon'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by Harry L. Fraser and written by Hy Heath Walter Henry "Hy" Heath (July 9, 1890 – April 3, 1965) was an American entertainer, songwriter, composer and writer. Born in Oakville, T ...

'' (1949) - Red *''

Everybody's Dancin' ''Everybody's Dancin is the tenth studio album by the funk band Kool & the Gang Kool & the Gang is an American R&B/soul/funk band formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964 by brothers Robert "Kool" Bell and Ronald Bell, with Dennis "Dee T ...

'' (1950) - 'Shug' - Member Sons of the Pioneers *''

Rio Grande The Rio Grande ( and ), known in Mexico as the Río Bravo del Norte or simply the Río Bravo, is one of the principal rivers (along with the Colorado River) in the southwestern United States and in northern Mexico. The length of the Rio G ...

'' (1950) - Regimental Singer / Bugler (uncredited) *'' Silver City Bonanza'' (1951) - Bassist (uncredited) *''

Fighting Coast Guard ''Fighting Coast Guard'' is a 1951 American adventure film directed by Joseph Kane and written by Kenneth Gamet. The film stars Brian Donlevy, Forrest Tucker, Ella Raines, John Russell, Richard Jaeckel, William Murphy and Martin Milner. The fil ...

'' (1951) - 'Shug' - Member Sons of the Pioneers *'' Mister Roberts'' (1955) - Johnson *''

'' (1955, Short) uncredited, voice of Uncle Pecos and music solos *''

The Giant Gila Monster ''The Giant Gila Monster'' is a 1959 science fiction horror film directed by Ray Kellogg and produced by Ken Curtis. This low-budget B-movie starred Don Sullivan, a veteran of several low budget monster and zombie films, and Lisa Simone, the ...

'' (1959) - Old Man Harris *''

Sergeant Rutledge ''Sergeant Rutledge'' is a 1960 American Technicolor Western film directed by John Ford and starring Jeffrey Hunter, Constance Towers, Woody Strode and Billie Burke. Six decades later, the film continues to attract attention because it was one ...

'' (1960) - Mr. Owens (uncredited) *''

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance ''The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance'' () is a 1962 American Western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and James Stewart. The screenplay by James Warner Bellah and Willis Goldbeck was adapted from a 1953 short story written by ...

'' (1962) - Kaintuck (uncredited) *''

Cheyenne Autumn ''Cheyenne Autumn'' is a 1964 American epic Western film starring Richard Widmark, Carroll Baker, James Stewart, and Edward G. Robinson. It tells the story of a factual event, the Northern Cheyenne Exodus of 1878–79, told in "Hollywood style ...

'' (1964) - Skinny (uncredited) *''

Git! ''Git!'' is a 1965 American drama film directed by Ellis Kadison and written by Homer McCoy. The film stars Jack Chaplain, Heather North, Leslie Bradley, Richard Webb (actor), Richard Webb, Hanna Landy and Emory Parnell. The film was released in ...

'' (1965) - Sam Lewis *'' The Cat'' (1966) - Bill Krim *''

Cyborg 2087 ''Cyborg 2087'' is a 1966 science fiction film directed by Franklin Adreon and written by Arthur C. Pierce. The film stars Michael Rennie, Karen Steele, Wendell Corey, and Warren Stevens. Plot In 2087, free thought is illegal and the populatio ...

'' (1966) - Short Station Attendant *''

The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin ''The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin'' is a 1967 American Western comedy film directed by James Neilson, produced by Walt Disney Productions, starring Roddy McDowall, Suzanne Pleshette, Hermione Baddeley, and Karl Malden. The film's screenpl ...

'' (1967) - Short Cowboy (uncredited) *'' You've Got to Be Smart'' (1967) *'' The Reivers'' (1969) - Cousin Zack *''Smoke'' (1970, TV Movie) - Leroy *''

Cutter's Trail ''Cutter's Trail'' is a 1970 American Western television film. It was the pilot for a series that was never picked up. Plot A marshal returns to his home town to find it has been taken over by outlaws. Production Parts of the film were shot at ...

'' (1969, TV Movie) - Tuttle *''

Guns of a Stranger ''Guns of a Stranger'' is a 1973 American Western film directed by Robert Hinkle and written by Charles W. Aldridge. The film stars Marty Robbins, Chill Wills, Dovie Beams, Steven Tackett, Bill Coontz and Shug Fisher. The film was released on ...

'' (1973) - Shug Meadows *''

Key West Key West ( es, Cayo Hueso) is an island in the Straits of Florida, within the U.S. state of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Island, it cons ...

'' (1974, TV Movie) - Sam Olsen *''Hog Wild'' (1974, TV Movie) - Ropejon *'' Castaway Cowboy'' (1974) - Capt. Cary *''

Huckleberry Finn Huckleberry "Huck" Finn is a fictional character created by Mark Twain who first appeared in the book ''The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'' (1876) and is the protagonist and narrator of its sequel, ''Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'' (1884). He is 12 ...

'' (1975, TV Movie) - Old Doc *''The Ghost of Cypress Swamp'' (1977, TV Movie) - Sherman Prather *''

The 3,000 Mile Chase ''The 3,000 Mile Chase'' is a 1977 NBC action television film directed by Russ Mayberry and starring Glenn Ford and Cliff De Young. Premise Secret courier Matt Considine (Cliff De Young) accepts the mission to escort chief witness Dvorak (Glen ...

'' (1977, TV Movie) - Biker *''

The Sacketts ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

'' (1979, TV Mini-Series) - Purgatorie Barkeep *''

The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again ''The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again'' is a 1979 American comedy-Western film directed by Vincent McEveety. Produced by Walt Disney Productions, it is a sequel to '' The Apple Dumpling Gang'' (1975), starring the comedy duo of Tim Conway and Do ...

'' (1979) - Bartender *''

Return of the Beverly Hillbillies ''Return of the Beverly Hillbillies'' is a 1981 American made-for-television comedy film based on the 1962–1971 sitcom ''The Beverly Hillbillies'' which reunited original cast members Buddy Ebsen, Donna Douglas and Nancy Kulp reprising their ...

'' (1981, TV Movie) - Judge Gillum

TV credits

*''

Disneyland Disneyland is a amusement park, theme park in Anaheim, California. Opened in 1955, it was the first theme park opened by The Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. Disney in ...

'' (1954) *''

Perry Mason Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and 4 short stories, all of which involve a cli ...

'' (1959) *''

'' (1955–1960) - Himself - Comedian *'' Have Gun, Will Travel'' (1957) *''

'' (1961-1970) - Toler / Driver / Gibson's Partner / Jeff *'' Ripcord'' (1962–1963) as Charlie Kern *''

'' (1962–1974) - Mule Skinner / Dobie Crimps / Obie / Jed Rascoe / Silas Shute / Chengra / Emery *'' Temple Houston'' (1963) - Augie Wren *''

Petticoat Junction ''Petticoat Junction'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from September 1963 to April 1970. The series takes place at the Shady Rest Hotel, which is run by Kate Bradley; her three daughters Billie Jo, Bobbie Jo, and B ...

'' (1963) - Salesman *'' Tammy'' (1965) - Uncle Cully *''

'' (1965–1966) - Tolliver / Jake Tench / Blacksmith / Second Man / Blacksmith / Jake Tench *'' The Virginian'' (1965–1967) - Tinker / Desk Clerk / Telegrapher / Mr. Peterson / Pony Bill Steele *''

The Legend of Jesse James ''The Legend of Jesse James'' is a 1980 country music concept album written by English songwriter Paul Kennerley, based on the story of American Old West outlaw Jesse James. The album features Levon Helm singing the role of Jesse James, Jo ...

'' (1965) - Barber *'' Laredo'' (1965-1967) - Old Charlie / Old Prospector / 1st Fighter *''

The Wild Wild West ''The Wild Wild West'' is an American Western, espionage, and science fiction television series that ran on the CBS television network for four seasons from September 17, 1965, to April 11, 1969. Two satirical comedy television film sequels w ...

'' (1966-1967) - Jeremiah / Sheriff Blayne Cord *'' The Monroes'' (1966) - Zeph *''

Cimarron Strip ''Cimarron Strip'' is an American Western television series starring Stuart Whitman as Marshal Jim Crown. The series was produced by the creators of ''Gunsmoke'', and aired on CBS from September 1967 to March 1968. Reruns of the original show we ...

'' (1967-1968) - Pinky / Smitty *''

'' (1969–1970) - Shorty Kellems / Scraggly Farmer *''

Love, American Style ''Love, American Style'' is an anthology comedy television series that aired on ABC from 1969 to 1974. The series was produced by Paramount Television. During the 1971–72 and 1972–73 seasons, it was a part of ABC's Friday primetime lineup ...

'' (1972) - Abner (segment "Love and the Country Girl") *'' This Is Your Life'' (1972) - Himself *'' Kolchak: the Night Stalker'' (1975) - Pop Stenvold *''

Petrocelli ''Petrocelli'' is an American legal drama that ran for two seasons on NBC from September 11, 1974 to March 31, 1976. Plot Tony Petrocelli is an Italian-American, Harvard-educated lawyer, who grew up in South Boston and gave up the big money and ...

'' (1975) - Toot Gannon *'' City of Angels'' (1976) - Whitey Hedges *'' How the West Was Won'' (1978) - Ziggy *''

Starsky and Hutch ''Starsky & Hutch'' is an American action television series, which consisted of a 72-minute pilot movie (originally aired as a ''Movie of the Week'' entry) and 92 episodes of 50 minutes each. The show was created by William Blinn (inspired by th ...

'' (1978) - Sam Ivers *''

Lucan Marcus Annaeus Lucanus (3 November 39 AD – 30 April 65 AD), better known in English as Lucan (), was a Roman poet, born in Corduba (modern-day Córdoba), in Hispania Baetica. He is regarded as one of the outstanding figures of the Imperial ...

'' (1978) - Whiskey Bob *''

'' (1979) - Newtie / Homer *''

Harper Valley PTA "Harper Valley P.T.A." is a country song written by Tom T. Hall which in 1968 became a major international hit single for country singer Jeannie C. Riley. Riley's record, her debut, sold over six million copies as a single, and it made her the ...

'' (1981) - Harry Haldeen (final appearance)

References

Additional resources

* *Harkins, Anthony ''Hillbilly: A Cultural History of an American Icon'' Oxford University Press, 2004

External links

Shug Fisher tribute as Sons of the Pioneer member
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Fisher, Shug 1907 births 1984 deaths People from Grady County, Oklahoma American male film actors Male Western (genre) film actors American radio personalities American male television actors American male voice actors American country singer-songwriters American male comedians American country guitarists American male guitarists American country fiddlers American double-bassists Male double-bassists Country musicians from Oklahoma Male actors from Oklahoma RCA Victor artists Decca Records artists Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) 20th-century American male actors American people of Choctaw descent American people of Scotch-Irish descent People from Pittsburg County, Oklahoma 20th-century American singers 20th-century American guitarists Singer-songwriters from Oklahoma People from Studio City, Los Angeles Western (genre) television actors Guitarists from Oklahoma Slap bassists (double bass) Sons of the Pioneers members Comedians from California 20th-century American comedians 20th-century double-bassists 20th-century American male musicians American male singer-songwriters