Wild Man Fischer

Wild Man Fischer is to singing what Jean Dubuffet was to painting and sculpture. If the French master of Art Brut opened up an entire genre of expression for artists not "legitimated" by society, Larry Fischer is the archetype of the Singing Outsider. If one searches beyond the anecdotal gossip, one can piece together the life of this most unusual vocalist. Perhaps this whole saga can be traced back to the influence of Paul Anka. For it was in 1961 that Fischer, inspired by his favorite pop stars, started singing songs of his own devising in a loud voice, accompanied by sudden joyous bursts of rhythmic wordless ululation and percussive clucking noises in his throat. Banished to his room by his mother, he sang even louder while continuing to invent his own kind of music. In 1962, Fischer was thrown out of school for singing in class. Unable to rationalize her son's behavior, and scandalized as Fischer's expulsion extended the problem past the privacy of their home, his mother had him committed in 1963 to Camarillo State Hospital, where he was diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic. This type of incarceration was a not uncommon response to nonconformity during the 1950s and early '60s -- Lou Reed's folks had him subjected to electroshock treatments for cross-dressing and acting rebellious. Mrs. Fischer's son was an easy target, for he had developed a singing style largely based upon the art of screaming. Released in 1964, Fischer continued to sing whenever and wherever possible. He appeared on Sorrento Beach, performing an original song about Sorrento Beach, then ran away as the public applauded. He showed up at many talent shows and was spotted by Solomon Burke, who took Fischer on tour with him. It was Burke who dubbed him "Wild Man Fischer." Unfortunately, Fischer was...