Shug Fisher

This country singing-and-playing perennial earned the nickname of "Shug" early in life from his mother, who used to call him "sugar" as an infant. The native Oklahoman was born George Clinton Fisher in 1907, the son of a Scots-Irish father and part Choctaw mother. He learned how to play the mandolin, fiddle and guitar by the time he went on the road and later added comedy schtick to his traveling act. He finally took the plunge and headed west to California toiling in a series of side jobs (oil field cabler, tool dresser) before getting some work on radio. He joined various country groups, including the "Hollywood Hillbillies," in which he played bass fiddle, and the "Beverly Hill Billies." He finally found "gold up in them thar hills" saddling up with Roy Rogers in his western films and singing with the renown group "Sons of the Pioneers." On various radio broadcasts with the group, Shug's talents soon included songwriting. Some of his songs included "Out on the Open Range" and "Ridi