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Richie Fields' earthy country baritone has already given this up-and-coming singer/songwriter two well-received singles and a number 1 video (Y'all Wire). He's toured along the Eastern Seaboard and beyond for several years and is known for his energetic live shows. Now, with well-known producer, J. Gary Smith, and respected Nashville management and publicity teams guiding him, Richie is ready to take his career to the next level. He goes in to the studio in February to record a much-anticipated Summer CD release, and then hits the road for tour dates and promotions that will keep him busy through December of this year.
“I’ve always been driven,” says Richie. “And my new team shares my passion for the music." Fields' passion drove him to devote all of his energies into writing and performing in January 2006. "It was a big decision," Richie says. "But not one I regret." Fields’ focus is paying off and the word is spreading about this talented entertainer. Richie’s as likely to seduce you with a powerful ballad as move you with an up-tempo country song; with just a few notes he’ll have you rocking, two-stepping, slow-swaying or crying in your beer. His music draws you in to the party and keeps you close ‘til the lights are low.
And it’s when the lights are low that you’ll see a glimmer of the “closet romantic” in Fields. An admirer of Brooks & Dunn, The Eagles, Keith Urban and Brad Paisley, he’s also touched by songs like “I Believe” (Diamond Rio) and movies like The Notebook. Richie’s debut single (“Man Enough To Cry”) reflects this soulful side of his personality, while his current single takes on more of an edge. “Devil In The Mirror" (Larry Williams, Kim Williams, Wayd Battle) is a gripping Southern Rock-tinged tale of a man fighting to stay in control, while battling the demons within - and it's bringing this entertainer new fans every day.
The recognition is gratifying for Fields, who began singing part-time while still in college. “My roommate was in a duo,” Fields says. “One day, his band mate caught me singing along to ‘Fire And Rain’ by James Taylor.” Richie was asked to join the band, and was soon playing college club dates. He quickly learned the nuances of harmonies and his incredible vocal range allowed him to take on many of the high notes. “I didn’t start out singing lead,” says the Maryland native. “I started out by finding the harmony lines, and that helps me to this day. Now, when I’m working up songs for my live shows, I know exactly what I want to pull out of them.”
For Fields, knowing what he wants has always been the easy part, and on the whole, he’s made getting what he wants look pretty easy, too. In reality, though, his success is the by-product of hard work. “I was gifted with natural athletic ability and was a pretty good student,” he says. “But I became better, over time, by practicing more, and by hitting the books.” Richie credits his parents with instilling that strong work ethic in him at an early age. During high school, in addition to his athletic and scholastic endeavors, Fields also found time to edit the school newspaper - and work on the Ocean City Boardwalk, where he served up some of the area’s renowned French Fries. “Those were eight-hour shifts, so I had a lot going on,” he says with a laugh. “But I wanted to do it all, and I worked hard enough that I was able to do just that.”
With his drive and talent, it's no surprise that Richie’s already making a name for himself with his music – the man is a living, breathing success story. He’s a two-letter high school athlete (football, starting QB and baseball, 3B) who graduated from Swarthmore College with a degree in Economics. He’s a ballplayer who took a shot at the Majors, and a forward-thinking entrepreneur who launched a successful company in 1994.
Richie has come a long way from the playing fields of his youth in Salisbury and Ocean City (Maryland) and Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. He now lives in rural Marriottsville, Maryland (west of Baltimore) on a few acres with a big family, where he maintains the marketing company he founded. He started writing songs seriously 10 years ago, and it was a huge breakthrough for him musically. Remarried in 2002, Richie is the proud father of five (three boys, two girls) and two stepchildren; the son and daughter of his Denmark-born bride, Mette. “I’ve never been happier than I am right now. I’m in a good place,” says the entertainer. “I only wish the days were longer.”
In between performing and family commitments, Fields divides his time between workouts (“I’m still a fitness nut!”), songwriting, booking shows and answering emails directed to his MySpace page. “It’s so important to me to maintain those connections,” he says. “These are the people who are watching my video, coming to my shows and buying my music. I care what they think and I need to know what resonates with them.” 01/31/09
