This included playing bars and theaters in the Chicago area.

Fields confined his act to pantomime so that he could play international theaters.

Since then he has traveled around the United States playing various house concerts, theaters, small clubs and colleges.

They opted to go out without any backing band, playing theaters in what would later be termed an unplugged format.

In the late 1930s he formed his own band and played theaters into the 1940s.

By the time he was fifteen, he had joined a Philadelphia area combo, playing local theaters and clubs while attending high school.

"I'll be able to play large clubs and small theaters for the next 20 years," he said.

The foundation's awards are an annual reminder that most musicians don't spend their careers playing big theaters and arenas.

The musical continues to play theaters throughout the South.

First-class touring companies would play only major theaters in major cities.