Carmen Fields

A native of Tulsa, OK, Carmen Fields listened to her father, Ernie Fields share stories of his days on the road traveling with his nationally famous orchestra. They always come back to "T-Town." He started traveling with his group barely a decade after the infamous 1921 Race Massacre in Tulsa and continued through World War 2 years--a time that coincided with America's rigid segregation and sometimes dangerous hostility to Blacks. In researching the book, she sought out alums from the organization to confirm and add to the many stories. The Ernie Fields story is one of challenges and perseverance until he finally achieved recognition of a gold record for his rock-and-roll rendition of the big band standard, "In the Mood." Territory bands were an important training ground for many musicians who moved through the Ernie Fields group and others. The last chapter is a "Roll Call" and salute to journeyman musicians famous and unknown, alike. Carmen Fields is an award-winning former print and broadcast journalist in the Boston area. In addition to journalism, her career includes stints in corporate communication and no-profit media relations. A graduate of Lincoln University (MO) and Boston University, she was awarded an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters from Salem State College.