Elmer "Lee" Fields (born 1951 in North Carolina, United States) is an American soul singer, sometimes nicknamed "Little JB" for his physical and vocal resemblance with James Brown.[1] He has worked with Kool and the Gang, Hip Huggers, O.V. Wright, Darrell Banks, and Little Royal.[2] Fields has also worked with such legends such as B.B. King, Clarence Carter, Dr. John, Tyrone Davis, Johnny Taylor, Denise LaSalle, Bobby Blue Bland, Betty Wright, The Manhattans, Little Milton and Bobby Womack.[3] He recorded his first single in 1969 and is still active. His recent work is with The Expressions, including the albums Faithful Man (2012) and Special Night (2017).

In 2014, he provided additional vocals for the James Brown biographical movie, Get On Up.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2.1 Early Career (1969-1981) 2.2 Blues & Dance (1990's-2008) 2.3 The Expressions (2009-Present) 2.4 In popular culture 3 Personal life 4 Discography 4.1 With The Expressions 4.1.1 Let's Talk It Over (1979) 4.1.2 Problems 4.1.3 My World 4.1.4 Faithful Man 4.1.5 Emma Jean 4.1.6 Special Night (2017) 4.1.7 It Rains Love (2019) 5 References 6 External links Early life

Fields was born in Wilson, North Carolina, the son of Emma Jean Fields and John Fields. He was the second child of six children.

Fields had an interest in music from an early age. He decided to go to New York , at the age of 17 to pursue a music career. Although his mother (whom he later named an album in honor of) tried to convince him not to go, she ended up giving him her last 20 dollars. With moves and style inspired by James Brown, Fields soon had the nickname "Little JB"[4] He moved to Plainfield, New Jersey at the time of his marriage, in his late teens.[5]

Career Early Career (1969-1981)

In 1969, Fields released his first single on the Bedford label, "Bewildered" b/w "Tell Her I Love Her." He recorded "Gonna Make Love" on London Records in 1973. That same year, Fields released the popular 45, "Let's Talk It Over" b/w "She's a Love Maker". Fields dropped "Everybody Gonna Give Their Thing Away to Somebody (Sometime)" b/w "East Coast Rapper," on SoundPlus in 1975. Most of the second half of the 70's Fields spent cutting singles for Angle 3 Records, including "The Bull Is Coming" b/w "Funky Screw". In 1980 he released a full-length album with Angle 3 called Let's Talk It Over. [6]

When the 80's arrived with the disco era and synthesized soul, Fields got into real estate in able to maintain and provide for his family.[4]

Blues & Dance (1990's-2008)

In the 90's Fields returned singing soul-blues on the Southern circuit. He signed with Mississippi-based Ace Records and debuted Enough Is Enough. On Ace, Fields released Coming to Tear the Roof Down in 1995 and Dreaming Big Time in 1996 in which he played keyboards and synthesizers.[6]

Later that year Fields signed to Desco Records founded by Gabriel Roth and Phillip Lehman.[7][8] Sharon Jones, who was signed to Desco also at that time, sang backup for Fields on an early 45.[8] Fields was featured on the debut album Gimmie the Paw by the label's band The Soul Providers in 1997. He released several singles with in Desco and in 1999, dropped a full-length album Let's Get a Groove On. Desco later split into, Daptone Records and Soul Fire, and Fields eventually recorded for them both. "Give Me a Chance" and "Shot Down" were two 7" singles he released on Daptone over 2001-2002 and in late 2002, the album Problems, on Soul Fire.[6] In early 2005 he performed on “Stranded In Your Love” included on Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings’ Naturally LP.[3]

In 2006 French House DJ Martin Solveig approached him to do a dance track.[9] They toured in France and recorded the songs "Jealousy", "Everybody", "I'm a Good Man", and "I Want You.[3]

The Expressions (2009-Present)

Truth & Soul Records founded by Jeff Silverman & Leon Michels in 2004, recorded the single with Fields that later became "Honey Dove". Lee Fields & The Expressions released My World [10] for Truth & Soul 2009. In 2011 he followed up with the album titled Treacherous. After releasing Faithful Man in 2012 with Truth & Soul, the singer toured globally. He then dropped two albums consecutively Emma Jean in 2014 and Special Night in 2017 (on Big Crown Records by former Truth & Soul co founder Leon Michels).[6]

In January 2019, Lee Fields & The Expressions released their latest single, It Rains Love in advance of an April 2019 release date for an album likewise titled It Rains Love.[11]

In popular culture

Field's songs have frequently been sampled by R&B and hip hop artists such as J. Cole, Slum Village, Travie McCoy and most recently Travis Scott sampled the track "All I Need" from the album Emma Jean on his song "Antidote."[12]

He has lent his vocals, writing skills and been the featured artist on albums of such artists like El Michels Affair, Kraak & Smaak, Bliss n Eso and Wax Tailor.[13]

Fields music can be found on various movies, TV shows and video games. In 2008 he performed "You Don't Know What You Mean (To a Love Like Me)" for the soundtrack of the movie Soul Men.[14] Fields's track "Honey Dove" was featured during Law & Order: Special Victims Unit's thirteenth season in 2011 (Episode 10, "Spiraling Down").[15] In 2014, Fields provided additional vocals for the James Brown biographical movie, Get On Up. [16] The song "Ladies" was played in the movie Magic Mike XXL in 2015. In 2016, the song "Could Have Been" was featured on the TV series Atlanta, he was featured as the musical guest on CBS This Morning, and the song "I'll Be Around" was on the soundtrack of the movie Keeping Up With the Joneses.[14]

Personal life

Fields and his wife Christine are the parents of four adult children. They reside in Plainfield, New Jersey.[17][18][19]

Discography With The Expressions Let's Talk It Over (1979) No.TitleLength1."Wanna Dance" 2."Let's Talk It Over" 3."Mighty Mighty Love" 4."Flim Flam (Instrumental)" 5."She's A Love Maker" 6."You're My Weakness" 7."Everybody Gonna Give Their Thing Away, Pt.1" 8."Everybody Gonna Give Their Thing Away, Pt.2"