He is a keyboard player, singer, conductor, record producer and songwriter born Philip Hunter FIeld in East Orange, New Jersey, who started out by studying the piano when he was seven years old and debuting at Carnegie Hall by the time he was ten. He won several awards while still young and received a summa cum laude honors rfom the Music Educators’ Council of New Jersey. He performed throughout Europe with Pingry School Chamber Orchestra and Choirs as a conductor.
He studied at Oberlin Conservatory and while in attendance there he wrote “Are You Single” for Aurra, which became his first gold record. He moved on to become a co-songwriter and member of the band Mtume from 1983-1986.
He has also written, performed and produced for artists that include Mary J. Blige, Gwen Guthrie, Tawatha Agee , Roy Ayers and Toni Braxton.
He was accompanist and Artist Director of the North Jersey Philharmonic Glee Club from 1995 to 2005 and since then he has held the position of Director. He has also been a keyboard instructor and accompanist for the Newark Boys Chorus.
In the field of musical education he has been on the faculty of the Cicely L. Tyson Community School of Performing & Fine Arts and it was there that he was given the Key to the City for outstanding achievements in the arts.
Mtume Recordings
Juicy Fruit (James Mtume )
Juicy Fruit Part II (Reprise)(James Mtume )
Here he is the conductor in a performance of “Soon-Ah Will Be Done” by the North Jersey Philharmonic Glee Club….
Source:
- http://www.southvalleysound.com/philfield.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mtume
- http://www.allmusic.com/artist/philip-field-mn0001669145
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/142157-Philip-Field