Ernie Fields Orchestra Biography
26 August 1905, Nacogdoches, Texas, USA, d. 11 November 1997. Trombonist, arranger and bandleader Fields fronted his own outfit in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area from the 30s, and recorded for various labels, including Vocalion Records, Frisco, Bullet and Gotham. During the 50s he became an arranger for pop and rock sessions, and ran his own R&B band. In 1958 he became co-founder of the Rendezvous label, and had a million-seller with his swinging revival of the 1939 Glenn Miller favourite, "In The Mood". He followed that with his own individual interpretations of other standards, such as "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and "The Charleston", but without the same success. He was also involved with the Rendezvous act, B. Bumble And The Stingers, who had hits with "Bumble Boogie" and "Nut Rocker", before Rendezvous folded in the early 60 and Fields retired from the music business in 1966. His son, saxophonist and producer Ernie Fields Jnr., has worked with soul, R&B and funk artists including Bobby Bland, Rick James, Marvin Gaye and Fred Wesley.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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