Books for Thought Series: Going Back to T-Town
Join us for our next Books for Thought program of 2026 with Carmen Fields, daughter of the jazz musician and big band leader Ernie Fields.
There was a time when countless music patrons in the Midwest, South and Southwest went to dances and stage shows to hear a territory band play. Territory bands traveled from town totown, performing jazz and swing music, and Tulsa-based musician Ernie Fields (1904-97) led one of the best. His daughter, Carmen Fields, tells the story of his emergence less than a decade after Tulsa’s infamous race massacre, to chase his musical dream.
The book details his successes, disappointments and perseverance that kept his group alive from the early jazz era to the 1960s. This enlightening account of how Ernie fields navigated the hurdles of racial segregation during the Jim Crow era, gives a before now missing account of American popular music and African American history.
ABOUT OUR AUTHOR & FEATURED BOOK
A fixture in the greater Boston journalism community for over 30 years, Carmen Fields has broad experience in both print and broadcast journalism; journalism education and corporate and non-profit media relations. Additionally, Fields is a SAG-AFTRA affiliated actor and voice-over artist.
The Tulsa, OK native earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Lincoln University (MO) and a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University. Other achievements include Harvard University’s Nieman Fellowship and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Salem State University.
BOOKS FOR THOUGHT SERIES
Books for Thought introduces the local community to literary themes and scholars that engage them in critical thought, encourage the examination of race in our society, and motivate them to continue learning. All major topics will be centered on the Black population in relation to social, economic, and political themes. This initiative will host gatherings throughout the year in and outside of the History Center in accessible Tulsa locations. The schedule of events will include a speaker (author), audience Q&A, and a book signing. Some sessions will be modified by offering special benefits to individuals who have committed to a membership with the History Center. This series exists within an ecosystem, encouraging attendees to build an ongoing relationship with the Museum while intentionally engaging our organizational partners. Support from our neighbors is critical to the success of this program, as they will help inform our audiences, moderators, locations, and speakers.