Ernie Fields Jr. (July 29, 1934 – March 8, 2024) was an American baritone saxophonist and session musician.

Ernie Fields Jr.
Born(1934-07-29)July 29, 1934
Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
DiedMarch 8, 2024(2024-03-08) (aged 89)
Pasadena, California, U.S.
GenresFilm score, jazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer

Son of notable musician Ernie Fields,[1] he worked with blues, soul and funk artists including B. B. King, Bobby Bland, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Rick James, and Marvin Gaye.[2]

Fields graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1951[3][4] and then attended Howard University, playing with his father's band during breaks.[5] In the 1990s he began touring with trombonist Fred Wesley, playing bagpipes as well as saxophone.[1]

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,[6] The Voice, and X Factor.[7]

Fields lived in Pasadena, California. He died in his sleep on March 8, 2024, at the age of 89.[8]

Discography

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2013 Made in California The Beach Boys Saxophone
2012 Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. B.B. King B.B. King Sax (Baritone)
2011 A Woman Falling Out of Love Aretha Franklin Contractor
2010 American Idol: Season 9 Music Contractor, Flute, Saxophone
2010 Mainstream Straight-Ahead Stix Hooper Sax (Baritone)
2009 American Idol Season 8 Woodwind
2009 You Fooled Me/Prime Time Grey & Hanks Saxophone
2008 One Kind Favor B.B. King Sax (Baritone)
2007 The Heat of the Blues Albert King Main Personnel, Flute, Saxophone
2006 It's Never Too Late Marla Gibbs Woodwind, Contractor
2006 Milestone Profiles Jimmy Smith Sax (Baritone)
2005 A Time to Love Stevie Wonder Contractor
2005 Genius & Friends Ray Charles Contractor
2005 Ma Vérité Johnny Hallyday Production Executive
2005 Shelter in the Rain Stevie Wonder Contractor
2004 Reflections Of Lamont Dozier Production Arrangement
2003 Portrait Paul Cacia Saxophone
2003 The Opening Act Paul Cacia Saxophone
2003 Wuda Cuda Shuda Fred Wesley Flute, Bagpipes, Sax (Alto), Sax (Tenor), Horn Arrangements, Group Member, Composer
2002 An American Original Lamont Dozier Production Arrangement
2001 Fourever The Four Tops Saxophone
2001 The Cosmic Storyteller Unicorn Saxophone
2000 Live from the Nation's Capital Buddy Collette Woodwind
1998 VH1 Divas Live Saxophone, Contractor, Music Contractor
1997 A Dramatic Christmas: The Very Best Christmas Of All The Dramatics Sax (Tenor)
1997 Teen Beat, Vol. 4 Performer
1997 The Very Best of Diane Schuur Diane Schuur Saxophone
1996 Groovy, Vol. 1: A Collection of Rare Jazzy Club Tracks Saxophone
1996 Surrender to Jonathan Jonathan Richman Horn
1995 Conversation Peace Stevie Wonder Sax (Tenor)
1995 Jamie/Guyden Story Performer
1995 The Master 1961-1984 Marvin Gaye Sax (Alto)
1994 The Best of Parlet Parlet Horn
1993 Caché Kirk Whalum Sax (Baritone)
1993 Get the Feeling Two Tons o' Fun Horn
1993 Miki Sings Billie: A Tribute to Billie Holiday Miki Howard Contractor
1993 Reggae Ambassadors: 20th Anniversary Collection Third World Sax (Alto), Sax (Baritone)
1993 Sum Serious Blues Jimmy Smith Sax (Baritone)
1993 The Best of Third World Third World Sax (Alto), Sax (Baritone)
1993 The Ultimate Collection Albert King Saxophone
1992 Worthy Rodney Friend Horn
1991 Atlantic Blues [Box] Sax (Tenor)
1991 Burnin' Patti LaBelle Saxophone
1991 Pure Schuur Diane Schuur Saxophone
1990 Dingo [Motion Picture Soundtrack] Miles Davis / Michel Legrand Music Consultant
1989 Higher Ground Vernessa Mitchell String Contractor, Horn Conductor
1987 Katt Walk Kathy Mathis Horn
1986 Atlantic Blues: Vocalists Sax (Tenor)
1985 More than Music Phil & Brenda Nicholas Contractor
1984 Ladies & the Babies Frankie Lee Sax (Tenor)
1983 All the Way Strong Third World Sax (Alto), Sax (Baritone)
1983 On the Line Michael Wycoff String Contractor
1982 Love Changes O.C. Smith Saxophone
1981 Swing Street Cafe Joe Sample / David T. Walker Main Personnel, Horn
1981 This Kind of Lovin' The Whispers Saxophone
1980 Aretha Aretha Franklin Horn Arrangements
1980 Night Song Ahmad Jamal Sax (Baritone)
197? On Our Way Teegarden & VanWinkle Horn
1979 Bustin' Out of L Seven Rick James Saxophone
1979 Happy Holidays to You The Whispers Sax (Baritone)
1979 Til Tomorrow Comes Raul de Souza Saxophone
1979 Wild and Peaceful Teena Marie Saxophone
1978 Acting Up Marlena Shaw Contractor, Copyist
1978 Here, My Dear Marvin Gaye Sax (Alto)
1978 We Meet Again Martha Reeves Flute
1977 Bundle of Joy Freddie Hubbard Sax (Baritone)
1976 Albert Albert King Flute, Saxophone
1976 Yesterday's Dreams Alphonso Johnson Flute, Saxophone, Sax (Baritone)
1973 Let's Get It On Marvin Gaye Copyist
Dependable Charles Drain Flute, Sax (Baritone)
Joue Pas de Rock'n'roll Pour Moi Johnny Hallyday Sax (Baritone)
Quelque chose de Tennessee Johnny Hallyday Sax (Baritone)

Selected filmography

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2013 A Home For The Holidays With Celine Dion Music Contractor
2012 The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards Music Contractor
2012 X Factor Music Coordinator

References

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  1. ^ a b Chadbourne, Eugene. "Ernie Fields Jr". Allmusic.com. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  2. ^ World, Michael Smith Tulsa. "Ernie Fields Jr. comes home to Tulsa for Cain's Ballroom show about history, blues and jazz". Tulsa World. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  3. ^ World, Michael Smith Tulsa. "Ernie Fields Jr. comes home to Tulsa for Cain's Ballroom show about history, blues and jazz". Tulsa World. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  4. ^ Watson, Julie Wenger. "Ernie Fields Jr. honors his father's musical legacy". TulsaPeople Magazine. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  5. ^ World, James D. Watts Jr Tulsa. "Ernie Fields Jr. to recreate 'Golden Age of Greenwood'". Tulsa World. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  6. ^ "Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame". www.okjazz.org. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  7. ^ World, Michael Smith Tulsa. "Ernie Fields Jr. comes home to Tulsa for Cain's Ballroom show about history, blues and jazz". Tulsa World. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  8. ^ "Ernie Fields". Legacy. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
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