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Benny FieldsAmerican singer
Date of Birth: 14.06.1894
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of Benny Fields
- Early Career
- Later Career
- Revival and Later Years
- Later Life and Legacy
- Benny Fields passed away in 1959 in New York City at the age of 65.
Biography of Benny Fields
Benny Fields was an American singer, popular during the early 20th century, best known for his work with Blossom Seeley in the legendary vaudeville team. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and began his career in Chicago.
Early Career
Fields started singing at Al Tierney's cafe on 22nd Street in Chicago. His soft, unobtrusive songs, especially compositions like "Melancholy Baby," were well-loved by the cafe's patrons. It wasn't long before Fields caught the attention of Blossom Seeley, who was in need of an assistant for her vaudeville project. At first, Fields accompanied the more famous Blossom, but soon enough, Seeley made him a full partner. Fields' relaxed style complemented Seeley's wonderful voice, and together they captivated their audiences. The duo regularly performed concerts and made occasional recordings for major studios.
Later Career
In the late 1920s, Warner Bros. used some of the duo's melodies to add a comedic effect to their short films series called "Vitalphone." Fields also frequently appeared on the radio, often separately from Seeley, in popular projects like "The Ziegfeld Follies." Fields began his solo career in 1933 in New York City. He actively worked in movies during this period, but his main focus remained on performing in various New York shows. In 1941, Fields recorded four songs with Soundies, two of which were featured in the project "The Big Broadcast."
Revival and Later Years
Fields disappeared from the public eye for some time until his unexpected comeback in 1944. The struggling company PRC approached Fields to be part of one of their ambitious projects, the musical "Minstrel Man," directed by Joseph H. Lewis. The success of the musical was largely attributed to Fields' talent, and critics praised his wonderful voice and acting skills. Inspired by their first successful collaboration, PRC considered making a biographical film about the lives of Seeley and Fields. Unfortunately, this project didn't materialize until 1952.
Later Life and Legacy
In the end, the film "Somebody Loves Me" was released under the Paramount banner, with Betty Hutton and Ralph Meeker playing the lead roles. By that time, Seeley and Fields had stopped performing in public. However, in the late 1950s, George Burns persuaded them to perform one of their old numbers at his private party, which included mostly young guests. Despite their initial concerns, the magic of Seeley and Fields' collaboration captivated even the youngest audience members.
Shortly after the release of "Somebody Loves Me," the duo recorded three more albums for Decca, MGM, and Mercury and made several appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Unfortunately, their revival did not lead to greater success.
