Ernie Fields obit

Ernie FIELDS Obituary

 

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FIELDS, Ernie Jr. Hollywood based-musician and music contractor Ernie Fields, Jr. died unexpectedly in his sleep March 8, 2024. He was 89 and lived in Pasadena, CA.

He was a reliable recording session regular playing saxophone on many gold and platinum albums. As a top contractor, he hired musicians that support such broadcasts as "American Idol" and "The Voice". He was also a part of many live show performances for Aretha Franklin, guest conductor for the Ray Charles orchestra, FreedomFest, the London televised concert honoring Nelson Mandela's 70th birthday, foreign tours with the modern funk band of trombonist, Fred Wesley and the farewell European tour of popular French singer Johnny Hallyday. He was born in Tulsa, OK July 29, 1934 and took to instruments with ease. After graduating from Howard University in 1960, he first traveled with his father, big band leader, Ernie Fields. When he wearied of life on the road, he settled in Los Angeles in the 1970s and began making his way as an arranger and multi-instrumentalist. He is credited with "showing the ropes" to countless younger musicians. He is survived by daughters, Pam Williams of Tulsa, OK, Michelle Fields-Wilson and Lisa Fields-Miller both of Georgia; a sister, Carmen Fields (Lorenz Finison); their daughter, Karly Finison, all of Needham, MA; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

He worked with blues, soul and funk artists including B. B. King, Bobby Bland, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Rick James, and Marvin Gaye.

Fields graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1951 and then attended Howard University, playing with his father's band during breaks. In the 1990s he began touring with trombonist Fred Wesley, playing bagpipes as well as saxophone.

Fields wrote the score for the 1978 film Disco Godfather.

On the April 6, 2010 episode of American Idol, Fields played the didgeridoo during Crystal Bowersox's performance of the Lennon and McCartney composition "Come Together".

Ernie Fields Jr. was music contractor for American Idol, The Voice, and X Factor.