April 13 Benefit Pays Special Tribute to Legendary Blues Legend Ruth Brown

On Sunday, April 13 at 2:00 p.m. in the main showroom of the Orleans Hotel, the Joe Williams Music Scholarship Fundraiser will introduce song stylist/songwriter Victor Fields to the Las Vegas community.

Las Vegas resident Jillean Williams, widow of the jazz vocal legend Joe Williams, orchestrated Victor Fields’ debut for the annual gala event. Mrs. Williams first saw Fields perform at last year’s Los Angeles Jazz Society “20th Annual Jazz Tribute.” The society honored, among others, the accomplishments her husband’s long-time manager and confidant, John Levy, one of the most the most respected and internationally known personal managers in the world of jazz. Impressed by Victor’s talent, Mrs. Williams perceived this as the perfect two-fold opportunity: a Las Vegas debut for Fields and as a vehicle to pass along the mic, left silent by her husband’s untimely death, to the next generation of jazz-inspired balladeers.

Victor Fields’ pays homage to the memory of Joe Williams on the song Five-Two Blues, a Fields original on his latest CD, 52nd Street. Other tunes on the CD include original inspired material, an interpretation of Thelonious Monk’s ’Round Midnight and a version of Dizzy Gillespie’s classic A Night in Tunisia. Collaborations on the CD feature Gerald Albright, Claudia Villela, Chris Botti, Mark Levine, Chris Camozzi, and Nelson Braxton.

Levy explained, “Victor Fields is not just a jazz singer, he’s a song stylist! He is a wonderfully gifted tenor with a style all his own; no imitation here, just Victor, sounding like Victor. He uses phrasings with a jazz melody undertone and incorporates elements of rhythm and blues. He is versatile and his interpretation of great classic songs is fresh.

“I have had the good fortune to guide the careers of the crème de la crème, so I know what makes a great musician. Victor’s gift is that good! My good friend Lou Rawls called Victor ‘the man with the golden voice’.”

Personal manager John Levy is himself legendary and recognized Fields’ talent, immediately adding his name to a stellar roster of more than 85 artists he has managed in his luminous 50+ years. Levy’s stable of clients has included the likes of Grammy winners Nancy Wilson, Cannonball Adderley, Brook Benton, Roberta Flack, Herbie Hancock, Donny Hathaway, Eddie Harris, Johnny Hartman, Shirley Horn, Freddie Hubbard, Ahmad Jamal, Etta Jones, Yusef Lateef, Ramsey Lewis, Abby Lincoln, Herbie Mann, Les McCann, Wes Montgomery, George Shearing, Dakota Staton, Stanley Turrentine, and Sarah Vaughan.

The impressive gala event will also showcase the talents of Grammy and Tony award winner Dee Dee Bridgewater, jazz duo The Cunninghams, composers Artie Butler and Johnny Pate will appear, as well as the Community College of Southern Nevada (CCSN) Vocal Jazz Choir. Dr. Tom Ferguson will lead the CCSN All-Star Jazz Band, which will accompany the vocalists. Cork Proctor, master of ceremonies for the evening, will bring his comedic talents to the program.

A special tribute to blues legend Ruth Brown will be given during the program. Brown, a long-time friend of Joe Williams and performer on a past Music Scholarship Fundraiser concert, will be presented a special award for her contributions to the Community College of Southern Nevada and the community.

Tickets for the April 13 Fifteenth Annual Joe Williams Music Scholarship Fundraiser are $30.00 per person, for reservations call the Orleans Hotel Box Office at 702/365-7075.

The Joe Williams Music Scholarship Fund was established in 1989 by the legendary jazz baritone. Since its inception, the Fund has raised more than $100,000 to assist deserving CCSN music students to achieve their musical goals. To date, more than 400 music students have received awards from the Fund to further their musical studies at CCSN.

For additional information on Victor Fields, visit the website at http://www.victorfields.com/johnlevy.

For additional information on John Levy, go to http://www.lushlife.com/johnlevy.