Gerhard Albert Gotthilf Fischer was born in Plochingen, Swabia. He was the son of a carpenter who made music in his free time.[1] He was trained to be a sports teacher at the Lehrerbildungsanstalt in Esslingen from 1942 to 1945.[1] As a choral conductor, he was self-taught.[2] From 1946, he conducted the Concordia Gesangverein choir in Deizisau, later also other groups in the Esslingen district.[1][3] Concordia won first prize at the Schwäbischen Sängerfest in Göppingen where 150 choirs competed in the category Volks- und Kunstgesang (Volkslied and art song).[1] It sparked the founding of more groups which appeared combined as the Fischer-Chöre, with occasionally around 1,500 singers.[3]
Fischer made his television debut in 1962 in Horst Jankowski's series Sing mit Horst. The Fischer-Chöre appeared on TV first in 1969 in Wim Thoelke's series Drei mal Neun,[1] making them popular across Germany. The Fischer-Chöre sang in large size for the opening of the Olympic Summer Games 1972 in Munich.[2] At the final of the 1974 FIFA World Cup, the Fischer-Chöre performed with 1,500 singers the song "Das große Spiel" with Freddy Quinn, for 80,000 in the stadium and millions watching on television around the world.[3] Fischer then toured across Europe and the United States. From 1995 to 2008, Fischer ran a television series entitled Straße der Lieder (Road of songs) for the broadcaster SWR.[2] He was called "Karajan aus dem Remstal" (Karajan from Rems valley) and "Herr der singenden Heerschaaren" (Lord of the singing hosts).[3] His choirs performed for royals, presidents of state and several popes.[3] During 75 years as a choral conductor, he sold more than 16 million records,[4] many of them titled Sing mit Fischer (Sing with Fischer).[2]
Fischer died in Weinstadt at age 92.[4]
