Dave Fisher, founding member and lead singer of the 1960s folk group the Highwaymen, whose recording of the Civil War anti-slavery song "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore" became a #1 pop hit in 1961.
"The original Highwaymen, along with the Kingston Trio and, later, Peter, Paul and Mary, were among those responsible for popularizing original American music — call it folk, blues, country, whatever," Kris Kristofferson said Wednesday. "Those of us who were able to walk through the doors they opened are grateful."
The Highwaymen's only other release to make the Top 20 was "Cotton Fields," at the time a nearly forgotten song by folk-blues musician Leadbelly. Because of the Highwaymen's version, the song worked its way into the folk-rock lexicon and later was treated to versions by Creedence Clearwater Revival and the Beach Boys, among others.
Fisher died May 7 at his home in Rye, N.Y., of myelofibrosis, a rare blood disease. He was 69.
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-david-fisher-20100513,0,6094934.story
