He was born May 23, 1909, in Natchez and at the age of 12 became a member of the Jolly Boys Band. He played harmonica, accordion and organ with the Foot Warmers at the Grand Theatre in Natchez and along the Creole Trail between Natchez and New Orleans.

In New Orleans, he played with a variety of musicians, including Papa Celestin, the Creole Tuxedo Band, Bunk Johnson and Creole Serenaders and traveled as far as Chicago to play. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1941, became a second lieutenant and worked for the Navy's Geodetic Survey.

Mr. Fischer studied ministry in Alabama, received a doctorate in divinity studies and was a member of the International Ministerial Alliance, traveling to Japan and Korea in the 1980s to meet with clergy.

Survivors include one nephew, William Fischer, and four grandnephews, Darius Fischer, Marc Fischer, Bryan Fischer and Paul Fischer, all of the New York City area.