The unlikely and continuing musical journey of a lifetime … so far
Guest Column by Gregg Field, 2018 Emmy Winner: Outstanding Music Direction, “Tony Bennett: The Library of Congress – Gershwin Prize for Popular Song”
Gregg Field holds his Emmy for his musical direction on “Tony Bennett: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Poplar Song.” A multiple Grammy winner, this marks Field’s first Emmy win. [Courtesy Gregg Field]
I had no idea how or why as a teenager I fell in love with Tony Bennett’s music. It happened sometime in the early seventies. I was a young kid playing drums in my high school jazz band in the San Francisco east bay area with all the dreams of making it as a pro someday.
Tony Bennett would regularly appear two or three times a year at the Fairmont hotel Venetian Room in San Francisco. Whenever he was in town, I would drag my girlfriend, who would have much preferred to be at the Fillmore to Tony’s buttoned down, coat and tie concert. Continue reading →
Congratulations to Los Angeles music director Gregg Field for taking home a 2018 Creative Arts Emmy for his work on the PBS special “Tony Bennett: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.”
While no stranger to accolades — Field has several Grammy Awards under his belt, including Latin Grammy Producer of the Year — this marks the multi-talented musician’s first Emmy nomination and win.
The program premiered in January 2018 on PBS stations nationwide and honored Tony Bennett as the first “interpretive singer” to be the recipient of the Gershwin Prize. With Bruce Willis as host and Gregg Field as music director, the special was taped Nov. 15, 2017 at the Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. and featured performances by Bennett as well as Chris Botti, Michael Bublé, Gloria Estefan, Michael Feinstein, Savion Glover, Josh Groban, Wé McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Vanessa Williams, 2009 Gershwin Prize honoree Stevie Wonder, and Wynton Marsalis. During the ceremony, Bennett was presented the Gershwin Prize by Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden and a delegation of members of Congress.
Members of the American Federation of Musicians union Local 47 in Los Angeles, New York AFM Local 802, and Boston AFM Local 9-535 traveled to perform the special event alongside members of the D.C. AFM Local 161-710. The house band, contracted by JoAnn Tominaga (47), included Field on drums, Shelton Berg (47) on piano, Edwin Bonilla (802) on percussion, Ernest Hamilton (47) on bass, Dean Parks (47) on guitar, and Randy Waldman (47) on keyboard. The horn section comprised D.C. 161 -710 members Fred Irby III and Aaron Broadus on trumpet, Joseph Jackson on trombone, and Brent Birckhead and Scott Silbert on sax. The Tony Bennet band featured musicians from Los Angeles and Boston AFM Local 9-535: Tom Ranier (47) on piano, Gray Sargent (9-535) on guitar, Marshall Wood (9-535) on bass, and Harold Jones (47) on drums. Susan Kelly (161-710) served as music librarian. This goes to show — musicians truly are stronger when standing together!
About Gregg Field
A longtime member of AFM Local 47, Field is one of the industry’s most versatile and highly sought-after producers, drummers and educators. A veritable who’s who of the music world are among his musical collaborators, including Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Andrea Bocelli, Seal, Michael Bublé, Kelly Clarkson, Jason Mraz, Jeff Beck, Herbie Hancock, Count Basie, Plácido Domingo, Ella Fitzgerald, LeAnn Rimes, Natalie Cole, John Williams, Steve Miller, Arturo Sandoval, Carole King, Brian Wilson, Shania Twain, Olivia Newton John, and many more.
Field has appeared on 32 Grammy-nominated recordings, seven of which have been awarded the coveted Grammy. Not only a highly respected musician, he is a busy record and television producer. In November 2010 he was awarded the coveted Latin Grammy “Producer of the Year” as well as Latin Grammys for producing and engineering the Arturo Sandoval album “A Time For Love.”
Additionally, Field has performed with numerous symphonies worldwide including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Boston, Nashville, Seattle, Pittsburgh and the National Symphony in Washington D.C. In 2006, he was invited by President Bush to perform at the White House. Field has served as a Recording Academy Governor and Trustee and Chairman of the Grammy Producers Committee. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music Board of Councilors.
