Arabella Fields

Arabella Fields (also known as Bella Fields, the Black Nightingale), (January 31, 1879 – after 1931) was an Afro American singer, who toured Europe widely. In the summer of 1894, 34-year old baritone singer, James C. Fields and his 15-year old wife, Isabella 'Bella' Middleton joined a vaudeville troupe organized by R.A. Cunningham heading for Europe. She is thought to be the first black-American artist to record in Europe, making recordings of songs by Stephen Foster. She spoke fluent German and was successful with German audiences singing lieder and yodeling. According to her US passports (1894–1912), Arabella Fields was born in Philadelphia. However no early records on her life before arriving in Europe have surfaced. During her early years in Europe, she was advertised as Isabella Middleton, which seems to have been her birth name. The 1894 and 1902 passports of James Fields (her first husband/manager), mentions Bella Fields as his wife.