Day: March 16, 2026

Note: The following is from the 1909 Billy Sundat souvenir program, c. 1909.

Frederick George Fischer

THE Rev. W. A. Sunday says that “Fred” Fischer (he always calls him by the pet name of “Fred”) is the best chorus conductor in the world. The evangelist ought to know. He has been with all the great evangelists from Moody and Sankey to Torrey and Chapman, and is acquainted with the most successful chorus leaders and soloists in the work to-day. Mr. Sunday’s high ideals of what the leader of gospel song in his meetings, at least, must approximate unto are attainable only by those who are born leaders of men. He is after results, and believes the gospel can be sung into people as well as preached into them.

He has been with Mr. Sunday nine years. That alone speaks volumes. He has qualities that wear well. He is first of all a Christian and always a gentleman. He has proved resourceful enough to stand the strain, the changes and the demands of the years. He knows what the people want and gives it to them.

When Mr. Fischer leaves a city all the choirs and congregations uniting in the meetings note the impulse of his splendid work. They want to sing. So a revival in congregational singing takes place. And every local chorus leader knows better how to conduct a chorus and what people like to sing or listen to.

Nature and art have done much for this remarkable man, but the grace of God has done more. And it is noticeable that he never allows his chorus or himself to sing for entertainment or simply to kill time. The motive which dominates Fred Fischer is responsible for the remarkable results, and stands the test of time. For no one is so cordially welcomed wherever he has been than Fischer.

Frederick George Fischer was born at Mendota, Ill., July 11, 1872. His mother, who was a sister of Peter Bilhorn, (of the well known Bilhorn Bros., publishers, Chicago) was burned to death when Fred was a year and a half old. When ten years of age the family moved to Laramie, Wyo. He entered the big moulding works in that city and became an expert mechanic in the bolts and nuts department. At eighteen he was converted in the Baptist church at Laramie, and was awakened to his inheritance, a rare voice, and to his call to a wider service, the evangelistic field. Failing sight forced the diffident young man to mention his ambition to his uncle, Peter Bilhorn, who discovering his nephew possessed a voice worth cultivating, gave Fred every advantage for its cultivation, always with the object in view of using his voice to the glory of God.

After studying voice culture under such masters as F. W. Root, Frank Webster, and W. W. Hinshaw, in Chicago, Mr. Fischer started out on the strength of his Lord’s commission “to sing the gospel to every creature.”

In January, 1900, Mr. Fischer’s chance came. He was ready in all but an adequate wardrobe. And those who have been accustomed to see the always immaculately dressed and groomed musical director since he has been with Mr. Sunday, have no idea of the struggle he had to look decent, nine years ago, when Sunday wired him to take charge at Bedford, Iowa. He split the only coat he had under the arms in his anxiety to make things go, and to show he could “deliver the goods” he knew Sunday wanted. He made good, and has kept on doing so ever since. Mr. Oliver and Fred Fischer are the only musical directors Mr. Sunday has had in his nearly seventeen years of public work.

What there is in his line Mr. Fischer knows by heart. His audiences will do what he asks them because he has a purpose in some of his strange requests. Everything Fischer does leads up to decision and service for Christ. And that is why when the invitation is given, and half his chorus will sometimes leave to work among the undecided, this modest, patient, and loyal gentleman sticks to his post, and the true reason why,—everybody loves Fred Fischer.