Lee Fields

Biography

Elmer Lee Fields (born April 26, 1950) is an American soul singer, sometimes nicknamed "Little JB" for his physical and vocal resemblance with James Brown. He has recorded with Kool and the Gang, Hip Huggers, O. V. Wright, Darrell Banks, and Little Royal. Fields has also worked with musicians 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. He recorded his first single in 1969 and is still active. His recent work is with The Expressions, including the albums Faithful Man (2012), Special Night (2017), and It Rains Love (2019). In 2014, he provided additional vocals for the James Brown biographical movie, Get On Up.

Early life

Fields was born in Wilson, North Carolina, United States, 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". He moved to Plainfield, New Jersey at the time of his marriage, in his late teens.

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 single, "Let's Talk It Over×Let's Talk It Over1979 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1Wanna Dance5:20A2Let's Talk It Over3:00A3Mighty Mighty Love3:10A4Flim Flam3:28B1She's a Lovemaker4:10B2You're My Weakness3:36B3Everybody Gonna Give Their Thing Away, Pt. 12:40B4Everybody Gonna Give Their Thing Away, Pt.24:40" b/w "She's a Love Maker". Fields released "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 1970s Fields spent cutting singles for Angle 3 Records, including "The Bull Is Coming" b/w "Funky Screw". In 1979 he released a full-length album with Angle 3 called Let's Talk It Over.
In the 1980s, disco became increasingly popular, at the expense of soul. Venues that had previously booked Fields now booked DJs instead. Fields moved into real estate in Newark, New Jersey, in order to provide for his family.

Blues and dance music (1990s–2008)

In the 1990s, 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.
Later that year Fields signed to Desco Records founded by Gabriel Roth and Phillip Lehman. Sharon Jones, who was signed to Desco also at that time, sang backup for Fields on an early single. 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 Desco and in 1999, released 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×Problems1 October 2002 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Problems3:162The Right Thing3:343Rapping with Lee3:564Bad Trip3:255Get on the Good Foot3:546I Don't Know Where I'm Going2:557Clap Your Hands3:018Honey Dove3:249I'm the Man3:0710You Made a New Man Out of Me3:23, on Soul Fire. In early 2005 he performed on "Stranded In Your Love" included on Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings' Naturally' LP. Another duet, "Will You Be True", was included on the 2014 remaster of Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings' debut album, Dap Dippin' with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.
In 2006 French House DJ Martin Solveig approached him to do a dance track. They toured in France and recorded the songs "Jealousy", "Everybody", "I'm a Good Man", and "I Want You".

The Expressions (2009–present)

Truth and Soul Records recorded a single with Fields that later became "Honey Dove". Lee Fields & The Expressions released "My World" for Truth and Soul in 2009. In 2011 he followed up with the album titled Treacherous×Treacherous13 May 2011 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1We're Here To Turn It Out3:532I've Been Hurt4:133I Want To Get With You4:084Living For The Gusto3:535Man Hunt3:496He Doesn't Care About You5:057At The End Of The Day3:468Dance Like You're Naked4:269I Want You So Bad4:5210We're Here To Turn It Out (Instrumental)4:37. After releasing Faithful Man in 2012 with Truth and Soul, the singer toured globally. He then released two albums Emma Jean×Emma Jean31 May 2014 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracksA1Just Can't WinA2MagnoliaA3ParalyzedA4Standing by Our SideA5Eye to EyeA6In the WoodsB1All I NeedB2It Still Gets Me DownB3Talk to SomebodyB4Stone AngelB5Don't Leave Me This Way in 2014 and Special Night in 2017 (on Big Crown Records by former Truth and Soul co-founder Leon Michels).
In January 2019, Lee Fields & The Expressions released their latest single, "It Rains Love". Fields released an album, also entitled It Rains Love, in April 2019.
In 2022, Fields released Sentimental Fool, his full-length debut for Daptone Records. In 2023, Daptone released Fields' single "Waiting on the Sidelines×Waiting on the Sidelines2 June 2023 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Waiting on the Sidelines4:042You Can Count On Me4:09".
In 2025, Fields was listed among the special guests for Alabama Shakes' 2025 reunion tour.

In popular culture

Fields' songs have frequently been sampled by R&B and hip hop artists such as J. Cole, Slum Village, Travie McCoy and Travis Scott sampled the track "All I Need" from the album Emma Jean×Emma Jean31 May 2014 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracksA1Just Can't WinA2MagnoliaA3ParalyzedA4Standing by Our SideA5Eye to EyeA6In the WoodsB1All I NeedB2It Still Gets Me DownB3Talk to SomebodyB4Stone AngelB5Don't Leave Me This Way on his song "Antidote".
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.
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. Fields's track "Honey Dove" was featured during Law & Order: Special Victims Unit's thirteenth season in 2011 (Episode 10, "Spiraling Down"). The track "Honey Dove" was featured in Season 6 of American Dad in 2011 (Episode 12, "You Debt Your Life"). The song "Wish You Were Here" featured in the second season of the legal drama Suits in 2012 (Episode 8, "Rewind"). In 2014, Fields provided additional vocals for the James Brown biographical movie, Get On Up. 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. A brief excerpt of "It Rains Love" can be heard during the end titles of the 2020 BBC series Trigonometry. In 2023, the song "Forever" was featured in highest rated Super Bowl LVII commercial, also titled "Forever," for the dog food company The Farmer's Dog. Fields' recordings were referenced in several episodes of the 2023 American Arnold Schwarzenegger television series, FUBAR.
A feature documentary about Fields, Lee Fields: Faithful Man, directed by Jessamyn Ansary and Joyce Mishaan, screened at DOC NYC. The film was set for TVOD release in February 2024.

Personal life

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

Problems (2002)

Lee Fields and The Expressions released the album Problems×Problems1 October 2002 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Problems3:162The Right Thing3:343Rapping with Lee3:564Bad Trip3:255Get on the Good Foot3:546I Don't Know Where I'm Going2:557Clap Your Hands3:018Honey Dove3:249I'm the Man3:0710You Made a New Man Out of Me3:23 in 2002 with Truth and Soul Records.

My World (2009)

My World is an album released in 2009 with Truth and Soul Records, in collaboration with the group The Expressions.

Faithful Man (2012)

Lee Fields released the album Faithful Man in 2012 with Truth and Soul Records.

Emma Jean (2014)

Lee Fields released the album Emma Jean×Emma Jean31 May 2014 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracksA1Just Can't WinA2MagnoliaA3ParalyzedA4Standing by Our SideA5Eye to EyeA6In the WoodsB1All I NeedB2It Still Gets Me DownB3Talk to SomebodyB4Stone AngelB5Don't Leave Me This Way in 2014 with Truth and Soul Records.

Special Night (2017)

Lee Fields and The Expressions released the album Special Night in 2017 with Big Crown Records.

It Rains Love (2019)

Lee Fields and The Expressions released the album It Rains Love in 2019 with Big Crown Records.

Sentimental Fool (2022)

Lee Fields released the album Sentimental Fool×Sentimental Fool28 October 2022 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Forever3:152I Should Have Let You Be3:003Sentimental Fool3:054Two Jobs3:225Just Give Me Your Time3:096Save Your Tears for Someone New2:527The Door3:018What Did I Do3:459Without a Heart3:5910Ordinary Lives3:1611Your Face Before My Eyes1:5912Extraordinary Man3:15 in 2022 with Daptone Records.