MELVIN FIELDS

FIELDS, MELVIN, a Jazz Musician. July 30, 1922 - April 14, 2011 Mel Fields, who spent the majority of his life in New York City but later years in Miami was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to the late Louis Bernfeld and Mildred Schoenkopf. Mel's father Louis immigrated to the United States, via steerage, with most of the residents of the family's village from the family from Hungary, arriving at Ellis Island in 1880. Louis met Mildred in the lower East Side where most of the village had moved and they were married in 1917. Mel' s mother and father separated when Mel was 15 years old and Mel thereafter lived with his grandmother and two uncles. The uncles were formative in Mel's early education, since they were communists who believed that the rich and poor should share the world's resources jointly. Mel's beliefs in the unity of all races and economic equality greatly influenced his attitudes throughout his life. Mel's compassionate, nonjudgmental gentleness along with being well read formulated the way he lead his life. Mel's independence of thought at age 13 led him to reject the ritual of bar mitzvah, which was virtually unheard of. He graduated from high school at age 16 and entered the Army at age 20. During his military service, Mel's older brother Herbie Fields became a world renown clarinet and alto saxophonist, forming a big band, which Mel began managing. During his management, Mel came into contact with Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Lionel Hampton, Billie Holiday, Curly Russell, Dizzy Gillespie, and many other musicians. Mellived for a time with Chet Baker. Mel continued to manage Herbie's band after leaving the army. After Word War II, Mel attended Pace University, successful completed his accounting degree and became a Certified Public Accountant, specializing in music royalty payments throughout his career. In the 1960s, Mel met and later married Donna Lee Russell, the daughter of Curly Russell, a renown jazz bassist. They traveled extensively by car throughout the United States during holidays and vacations. Other than a brief period when they resided in Los Angeles, they spent most of their life in NYC and in 1999 moved to Miami, where Donna became an Assistant Public Defender. Despite the disparity between private practice and the Public Defender's Office in the 11th Circuit, Mel was supportive and proud of her dedication to "law in the service of human need" the creed of the City of New York University School of Law, from which she graduated in 1995. During their stay in Los Angeles, Mel and Donna took pleasure in traveling by car throughout the western United States, Canada and Mexico. Their most memorable road trip, when they moved back to New York City in 1968 took them from California up to Fairbanks, Alaska via the Yukon River and back through Canada to return to New York City. Mel succumbed to emphysema after suffering for many years. He died at home in the arms of his wife Donna. Mel will be remembered by his many friends who loved him for his gentleness, graciousness and affection. He is especially remembered by his wonderful dog Cleopatra, his constant companion. A memorial service will be held at their home at 500 NW 157 Street, Miami, FL on Wednesday April 20, 2011 at 6 pm. Instead of flowers, please contribute to your favorite charity. View this Guest Book at www. MiamiHerald.com/obituaries.