R. Victor Fields ’75 died on December 1, 2025, in Oakland, California.
(The following was provided by the Los Angeles Times on December 19, 2025:)
R. Victor Fields ’75
World class jazz musician and loving father Victor Fields (born Robert Victor Fields) was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts. Victor’s love of music was shaped by his mother, Edith Fields, a singer and a Julliard-trained pianist. Victor deeply cherished his grandparents, Mabel and Joseph English.
In his youth, Victor lived in Los Angeles, and attended Oxford Street School and Budlong Street School. At Worcester Academy, Victor was a star basketball player, served as a Worcester Academy trustee for twenty years, and founded the Worcester Academy Association of Black Alumni (WAABA). Victor would go on to attend Bowdoin College, where he met his wife of forty-four years, Regina Lynn Bryant, to whom he was deeply devoted.
Victor owned a State Farm office in Oakland, California, where he met one of his best friends, and lifelong supporter of his music career, Jim Molina. It was during this time Victor studied with renowned classical voice coach David Tigner.
Victor used his business savvy to study the music industry and become a Billboard-charting recording artist. In 1992, he founded his independent record label Regina Records. Victor recorded his debut album “Promise” (2000) with acclaimed producer Kashif (George Benson, Whitney Houston). “52nd Street” (2002) was the beginning of a lifelong collaboration with music director Chris Camozzi.
Victor performed at the Los Angeles Jazz Society’s 20th Annual Jazz Tribute honoring John Levy in 2002. Mr. John Levy managed a star-studded roster that included Joe Williams, Herbie Hancock, Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughan, Roberta Flack, and finally, Victor Fields. Levy recognized Victor as “not just a jazz singer, he’s a song stylist… a wonderfully gifted tenor with a style all his own.”
“Victor” (2005), “Thinking of You” (2006), “The Lou Rawls Project” (2015), and “Christmas with Victor” (2024) complete his catalogue of six studio albums. Lou Rawls once called Victor Fields “the man with the Golden Voice.” Victor has shared the stage with Isaac Hayes, Cameo, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Maysa, and Melba Moore. He performed at Yoshi’s in Oakland, Capitol Jazz Festival in D.C., and the Playboy Jazz Festival at The Rose Bowl. His albums feature artists like Gerald Albright, Tollack Ollestad, Scott Mayo, Nelson Braxton, Chris Botti; a galaxy of collaborations – too many to name, but cherished deeply.
Victor lived his life dedicated to love, charity, and correcting injustice, performing at a number of benefits throughout his life for various causes. He was an alumni and avid supporter of the educational organization A Better Chance. He was wise, generous with his counsel, and deeply spiritual: a Nichiren Buddhist, transcendental meditator, and Rosicrucian.
Victor is survived by his wife, Regina Lynn Bryant-Fields, their child, Regina Victoria Fields, his sister, Nancy Foster, his two nephews, five grand-nephews, and a number of cousins and friends who loved him dearly.