In Memoriam: Prof Fielder

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Trumpeter and educator William Butler Fielder (1938-2009) was a Meridian, Mississippi, native and a musical king maker. "Prof," as he was affectionately known, hailed from a musical family. His mom, a Fisk Jubilee Singer, played violin and piano; his dad played cornet; his older brother, Alvin, plays drums.

Al recalls, "At age 9, Bill studied piano and soon switched to my dad's 1920 CG Conn cornet. Mother made sure Bill had private lessons with William Davis, a Jackson State professor who played in Cab Galloway's band with Dizzy. Bill attended Toogaloo Prep, a private boarding school, where the good habits he learned from my parents and Davis were reinforced. Dad wanted Bill to …