Meanwhile, father and daughter were not the only members of the family busy scribbling ditties. Her brothers also came up with songs that have become standards. A listener's morning might begin with Good Morning Heartache courtesy of Dan Fisher, while Marvin Fisher is the fellow who established When Sunny Gets Blue. Doris Fisher was also active as a singer of songs, fitting into both the big band and orchestral settings. She was associated with Eddy Duchin's ensembles as well as a group she led herself, Penny Wise and Her Wise Guys. The Penny Wise stage name was actually created so that Fisher might not be accused of promoting herself on the strength of her famous father.
In 1938, a strange little song she tossed around with an even stranger little man resulted in her first hit. That Tutti Frutti is sometimes confused with a similarly named song recorded years later by Little Richard. What these two servings of Tutti Frutti have in common, besides being ridiculous novelty songs, is the sheer eccentricity of the performers associated with them, in Fisher's case that being guitarist, pianist and singer Slim Gaillard. Her Tutti Frutti something of a taste sensation in the hands of Gaillard's performing duo Slim Slam, Fisher then introduced a softer, less sticky mood in Whispering Grass, this time partnering the song with her father. It was perfect for the popular vocal group sound of the early '40s; the Ink Spots had a hit with it while the decade was in its infancy.
It wouldn't be long until Fisher found her most enduring songwriting partner, the lyricist Allan Roberts. The pair's procession of hits could easily be compared to the flow of pizzas from an Italian kitchen at the height of the dinner hour -- especially Angelina (The Waitress at the Pizzeria). That song became established as part of Louis Prima's repertoire. Other songs written by Fisher and Roberts include Invitation to the Blues., Tampico and That's Good Enough for Me. Their work attracted the attention of Hollywood, beginning with songs for the Rita Hayworth vehicle #Gilda. Fisher left the music business in 1949, moving to Detroit and delving into a new collection of interests including Americana and interior design. She launched a second career in the latter field. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, Rovi