Frank Fields

Frank Nomer Fields (May 2, 1914 – September 18, 2005) was an American double bass player who was involved in many R&B, rock and roll and jazz recordings made in New Orleans.

He was born in Plaquemine, Louisiana. In the 1930s, he played with local jazz groups and with bandleader Claiborne Williams. After serving in the US Navy during World War II, he joined Dave Bartholomew's band as bass player, and became one of the key session musicians at Cosimo Matassa's J&M Studios in New Orleans, along with guitarist Ernest McLean, drummer Earl Palmer, pianist Salvador Doucette, and saxophonists Lee Allen and Red Tyler. Fields played on many of the seminal rhythm and blues and early rock and roll records made in New Orleans, including Fats Domino's "The Fat Man" (recorded in 1949), and many of Domino's later hits; Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" (1955) and his later records on Specialty; and recordings by Professor Longhair, Smiley Lewis, Shirley & Lee, Lloyd Price, Huey "Piano" Smith, Ray Charles and many others.

He worked as a television repair man at the same time as maintaining his career as a musician. He also played with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band until at least 1994.

He died in 2005 at the age of 91, and was buried at Port Hudson National Cemetery in Zachary, Louisiana.

Collaborations

With Fats Domino Fats Domino Rock and Rollin' (Imperial, 1956) This Is Fats Domino! (Imperial, 1956)

With Little Richard Here's Little Richard (Speciality, 1957) Little Richard (Speciality, 1958) The Fabulous Little Richard (Speciality, 1959)