Irving Fields, New York City's oldest working musician, celebrates 100th birthday
NEW YORK (WABC) -- New York City's oldest working musician, Irving Fields, is celebrating his 100-year milestone.
He's has been performing since 1922, and he still has two jobs here in Manhattan.
On Friday, he blew out his candles at Nino's Tuscany Italian Steakhouse on 58th Street, because where else would a world class pianist celebrate his centennial birthday but tickling the ivory keys?
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney honored Fields for being a New York institution.
He plays at Nino's nightly, as it's just a two-minute walk from his apartment. He can play anything, and celebrities come regularly.
Check out his impromptu ditty about Channel 7:
This week, he received birthday card wishes from famous New Yorkers and politicians, including Mayor Bill de Blasio and presidential candidate Donald Trump.
"Donald has sent me a birthday car everu year for years," he said. "Reaching this milestone birthday is truly wonderful."
Fields wrote a catchy hook to make Miami Beach Rumba a hit in the 50s, and he's played everywhere from the Mermaid Room to Copacabana to the Taj Mahal. In the 80s, he was a fixture at the Plaza Hotel's Oak Room. And he just keeps getting better.
"I took advantage of learning every day," he said. "I was afraid. Now, I take a chance and it works."
Fields is married to his sweetheart Ruth, and has two children and grandchildren. He loves to eat ice cream sundaes and drink martinis, and he has no plans to ever retire.
"Do something, but do what you love," he said, "If you love it, you'll be happy. That's what its all about."
Fields is the youngest of six from Brooklyn, and he began playing piano at age 8. By 18, he was traveling the world as a piano man on cruise ships, and while in Havana, he fell in love with Latin music.
He had hits in the 40s and 50s and has released about 100 albums, including a new one coming out called "100 and Still Tickling the Ivory." He also just wrote a new song called "Here's to the Lady" about the Statue of Liberty.
And his birthday wish is to have another 100 years, just like the first.
