Nightclub Owner | The HistoryMakers

Lois Fisher

Lois Eve Fisher, also known as “Eve Rene,” was born Lois Eve Greene on September 5, 1927, in Thibodaux, Louisiana. Fisher’s parents were Georgia Milton Greene, a teacher, and Allen Earl Greene, a contractor. Growing up, Fisher attended Valena C. Jones Elementary School (where she was a classmate of Andrew and Walter Young) in New Orleans; she also attended McDonald’s #6 School and graduated from Washington High School in Thibodaux in 1944. Encouraged by her uncle, Adam Lambert, Fisher began performing “Stardust” and other popular songs as a teen; she later received voice training at Southern University.

In 1945, Fisher left Southern University and found work as a clerk at the United States Army’s Camp LaShay. Soon after, Fisher was singing with the Paul Barbrien Band. Fisher then auditioned with Duke Ellington and toured with Winonie Harris, Tampa Kid, Harold King, Big Joe Turner and Cecil Gant. In 1946, Fisher left the road when she briefly married and settled in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1951, she met and toured with Lessly “Count” Fisher; around the same time, she also worked in Cincinnati, Covington, and Indianapolis, where she cut a record, Love is Strange. Eventually Fisher reunited with Count Fisher in Indianapolis; the couple later married and together established the Carousel Club. Over the years, the Fishers developed a loyal audience by featuring entertainers like Rodney Dangerfield, June Christie, Leroy Vinegar, Freddie Hubbard, George Kirby, Redd Foxx, Moms Mabley, Jimmy McGriff, Jack McDuff, John Coltrane and James Brown. From 1963 to 1965, the couple operated the Chateau de Count and Eve near the Indiana State Capitol; there, they showcased Roy Hamilton, Lula Reed and Motown.

In 1966, Fisher and her husband moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where they played at the London House. Fisher earned her B.A. degree in music and art in 1985 from Grand Valley College; from 1989 to 1997, she worked for the clerk of courts in Grand Rapids.

Accession Number

A2007.083

Sex

Female

Interview Date

3/10/2007

Last Name

Fisher

Maker Category

EntertainmentMakers

MusicMakers

Marital Status

Married

Middle Name

Eve

Occupation

Nightclub Owner

Singer

Organizations

Schools

Washington High School

Valena C. Jones Elementary School

McDonogh No. 35 Senior High School

McDonogh Elementary School

Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College

First Name

Lois

Birth City, State, Country

Thibodaux

HM ID

FIS02

Favorite Season

None

State

Louisiana

THM DA Link

http://marc.thehistorymakers.org/thmdigital/A2007.083.htm

Web Clip 1

https://thmdaprodmedia.blob.core.windows.net/media/story/video/481810

Favorite Vacation Destination

None

Favorite Quote

None

Bio Photo

Speakers Bureau Region State

Michigan

Birth Date

9/5/1927

Birth Place Term

Thibodaux

Speakers Bureau Region City

Grand Rapids

Country

United States

Favorite Food

Gumbo (Creole Shrimp)

Short Description

Nightclub owner and singer Lois Fisher (1927 - ) and her spouse, Lessly “Count” Fisher, owned and operated the Carousel Club in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the Chateau de Count and Eve in Indianapolis, Indiana. As a singer she toured with Harold King, Big Joe Turner and Cecil Gant in the 1940s.

Employment

Chateau de Conte et Eve

Carousel Club

The Dew Drop Inn

Camp Harahan

Paul Barbarin's Band

Favorite Color

Blue

Web Clip 2

https://thmdaprodmedia.blob.core.windows.net/media/story/video/481812

Timing Pairs

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DAStories

Tape: 1 Story: 1 - Slating of Lois Fisher's interview

Tape: 1 Story: 2 - Lois Fisher lists his favorites

Tape: 1 Story: 3 - Lois Fisher describes her mother's family backgroud

Tape: 1 Story: 4 - Lois Fisher remembers her great uncle, Adam Lambert

Tape: 1 Story: 5 - Lois Fisher describes her maternal family's migration to Louisiana

Tape: 1 Story: 6 - Lois Fisher describes her mother's upbringing

Tape: 1 Story: 7 - Lois Fisher describes her father's family background

Tape: 1 Story: 8 - Lois Fisher describes her parents' marriage

Tape: 1 Story: 9 - Lois Fisher describes her earliest childhood memory

Tape: 2 Story: 1 - Lois Fisher describes the sights, sounds and smells of her childhood

Tape: 2 Story: 2 - Lois Fisher remembers accompanying her father to work

Tape: 2 Story: 3 - Lois Fisher remembers her mother's personality

Tape: 2 Story: 4 - Lois Fisher recalls living with her maternal great-grandmother

Tape: 2 Story: 5 - Lois Fisher remembers celebrating Mardi Gras

Tape: 2 Story: 6 - Lois Fisher describes her parents' personalities and her likeness to her father

Tape: 2 Story: 7 - Lois Fisher remembers Calvary United Methodist Church in Thibodaux, Louisiana

Tape: 2 Story: 8 - Lois Fisher describes her chores

Tape: 2 Story: 9 - Lois Fisher remembers Andrew Young

Tape: 2 Story: 10 - Lois Fisher describes her early education

Tape: 2 Story: 11 - Lois Fisher recalls her early interest in music

Tape: 2 Story: 12 - Lois Fisher remembers singing at white country clubs

Tape: 3 Story: 1 - Lois Fisher recalls the ghost stories of her childhood

Tape: 3 Story: 2 - Lois Fisher remembers Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Tape: 3 Story: 3 - Lois Fisher recalls the code of conduct at Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College

Tape: 3 Story: 4 - Lois Fisher remembers working at Camp Harahan in New Orleans, Louisiana

Tape: 3 Story: 5 - Lois Fisher remembers the start of her musical career

Tape: 3 Story: 6 - Lois Fisher recalls refusing an audition with Duke Ellington's band

Tape: 3 Story: 7 - Lois Fisher remembers settling in Indianapolis, Indiana

Tape: 3 Story: 8 - Lois Fisher remembers meeting Lessly "Count" Fisher

Tape: 4 Story: 1 - Lois Fisher remembers working for the Marcello family

Tape: 4 Story: 2 - Lois Fisher recalls performing for white audiences

Tape: 4 Story: 3 - Lois Fisher remembers the musical scene in New Orleans, Louisiana

Tape: 4 Story: 4 - Lois Fisher recalls fleeing Peter Marcello's harassment

Tape: 4 Story: 5 - Lois Fisher remembers working in Ohio and Kentucky

Tape: 4 Story: 6 - Lois Fisher remembers her first record

Tape: 4 Story: 7 - Lois Fisher recalls being hired by Lessly "Count" Fisher

Tape: 4 Story: 8 - Lois Fisher describes the community of black entertainers in Indianapolis, Indiana

Tape: 5 Story: 1 - Lois Fisher recalls the performers at the Carousel Club, pt. 1

Tape: 5 Story: 2 - Lois Fisher remembers John Coltrane's performance at the Carousel Club

Tape: 5 Story: 3 - Lois Fisher recalls the performers at the Carousel Club, pt. 2

Tape: 5 Story: 4 - Lois Fisher remembers singing with the Count Fisher Trio

Tape: 5 Story: 5 - Lois Fisher remembers the Chateau de Count et Eve in Indianapolis, Indiana

Tape: 5 Story: 6 - Lois Fisher describes her confrontations with white patrons

Tape: 5 Story: 7 - Lois Fisher talks about the organized crime in Indianapolis, Indiana

Tape: 5 Story: 8 - Lois Fisher remembers moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan

Tape: 5 Story: 9 - Lois Fisher remembers her husband's law enforcement career

Tape: 5 Story: 10 - Lois Fisher describes the racial demographics of Grand Rapids, Michigan

Tape: 5 Story: 11 - Lois Fisher remembers Grand Valley State College in Allendale, Michigan

Tape: 5 Story: 12 - Lois Fisher recalls working at the welfare department in Indianapolis, Indiana

Tape: 6 Story: 1 - Lois Fisher remembers the community of Idlewild, Michigan

Tape: 6 Story: 2 - Lois Fisher describes her retirement

Tape: 6 Story: 3 - Lois Fisher describes her hopes and concerns for the African American community

Tape: 6 Story: 4 - Lois Fisher reflects upon her life

Tape: 6 Story: 5 - Lois Fisher lists her children

Tape: 6 Story: 6 - Lois Fisher reflects upon her legacy and describes how she would like to be remembered

Tape: 6 Story: 7 - Lois Fisher narrates her photographs

DASession

1$1

DATape

4$5

DAStory

7$1

DATitle

Lois Fisher recalls being hired by Lessly "Count" Fisher

Lois Fisher recalls the performers at the Carousel Club, pt. 1

Transcript

So but you went to Indianapolis [Indiana] in--shortly thereafter (simultaneous).$$(Simultaneous) Now I left Ohio and went back to Indianapolis.$$Okay.$$And that's when I started working with Count [HistoryMaker Lessly "Count" Fisher]--$$Okay.$$--at the Joy Lounge [sic.]. Was it the Joy Lounge? Bar Music [ph.].$$This is with Count Fisher, right?$$Yeah, I started working with Count Fisher.$$Okay, so how did that work out?$$Well, at first I was working in a liquor store and Count came in and I used to sing in the little bar next to the liquor store, which was called the Hub Bub [Indianapolis, Indiana]. That's where Wes Montgomery and all them used to come in.$$He's from Indianapolis?$$Indianapolis, yeah. So Wes would come in and I'd go in there and sing with them. So one night, Wes asked me to come to this after-hour place and audition for a job so I said okay. So I left my job and I went to this club, it was an after-hour place and Wes told me, he said, "You sit here and wait until we finish jamming on this number and I'm gonna call you up." I said, "Okay." Well, before he could call me up the police came in and raided the place and he ran out and left me.$$So, did you get arrested?$$Yes, I did. (Laughter) And Count and Dizzy Gillespie was standing outside watching when I went to jail.$$And Dizzy Gillespie?$$Yeah. And I went to jail and I got out, and Count came and he said, "I'm gonna give you a job." And that's when he gave me the job with him.$$Okay, so did you perform with Wes Montgomery's group that one time?$$No. I quit speaking to him. I wouldn't talk to him anymore because he ran off and left me in this club.$$Okay, so he had recruited to perform with him at this club (simultaneous)--$$(Simultaneous) Yeah, at this place. He wanted me to start working with him at the place--$$But it didn't work?$$--and it was an after-hour joint. So he wasn't--hadn't become big either at the time.$We were talking about some of the people you all worked with and we were talking about Redd Foxx and George Kirby, now, what was Rodney Dangerfield like? Was he as rained upon in real life as he was on stage?$$I can show you a picture of him, he doesn't look anything like he looks now, used to look. But he was at the Embers [Indianapolis, Indiana] which was in the--down in the next block from where we were. And he would come down at night and sit in the Carousel [Carousel Club, Indianapolis, Indiana] and listen to us. I didn't have anything to say to him. I don't think Count [HistoryMaker Lessly "Count" Fisher] had anything to say to him but we would just see him, you know.$$Okay, what about Moms Mabley?$$Moms (simultaneous)--$$(Simultaneous) She was really popular at what point, had all these albums.$$That's right, Moms Mabley would come. Moms Ma- I remember when we were at the Knife and Fork [ph.] and Moms Mabley came in one night, and she had on this black suit and had a cap on and all, and this beautiful girl walked in with her. And all the guys in the Knife and Fork start trying to talk to her, and she let them come up and talk to her and then all of a sudden she said, "I think it's about time you guys leave my girl alone 'cause that's my girl." And everybody said, "Well, all right." But she, she was very quiet when--$$When she wasn't on stage?$$When she wasn't on stage, she was very quiet.$$And she didn't look the same--I guess she--did she always dress like she did on stage?$$No, no, she would dress in--she always wore a black suit or a brown suit.$$Like a man's suit?$$Like a man's suit, and she wore, you know, a cap or a hat. And she had her teeth in and everything, she looked real nice, nothing like she did on stage.$$So you would think that most people probably wouldn't recognize her if they didn't--$$Some of them probably wouldn't, but she was not a bad-looking woman when, you know, she dressed up right.$$Was her voice still the (makes sound) like that, deep?$$Still the same voice, yeah, but she had like a deep voice and she didn't go into that Moms thing.

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