Paul Field (musician)

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Paul Field


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Background = solo_singer, general manager of operations
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Born = birth date and age|1961|5|3
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Occupation = general manager of operations
Years_active = 1979–1990 (The Cockroaches)
1996–present (The Wiggles)
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Associated_acts = The Cockroaches
The Wiggles
URL = [http://www.Thewiggles.com.au The Wiggles]
Current_members =
Past_members = Paul Field
John Field
Anthony "Tony" Field
Jeff Fatt
Phil Robinson
Tony Henry
Peter Mackie
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Paul Field (born May 3, 1961) is an Australian musician and businessman. He is best known as one of the founding members of the Sydney pop music group The Cockroaches and as general manager of operations for the children's music group The Wiggles.

Field is a high school teacher by training; he has a diploma from Australian Catholic University and a diploma of religious education from Aquinas Academy in Sydney.cite news | last = Elliott | first = Tim | title = It's a wiggly, wiggly world | work = The Sydney Morning Herald | date = 2007-01-07 | url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/employment-news/its-a-wiggly-wiggly-world/2007/01/12/1168105147808.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 | accessdate = 2008-06-24] In 1979, while still in secondary school (St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill, a prestigious boarding school), he and his brothers John and Anthony formed the pop group The Cockroaches. Paul Field served as lead vocalist for the band, which enjoyed some success in Australia with five albums and three top 40 hits. [cite web | title = The Cockroaches | work = MySpace.com | url =http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=49947217 | accessdate = 2008-06-24]

In September 1988, while The Cockroaches were on tour in Queensland, Field's eight-month old daughter died of SIDS.cite news | last = Stapleton | first = John | title = Death of little girl gave birth to the Wiggles | work = The Australian | date = 2008-06-07 | url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23824252-16947,00.html | accessdate = 2008-06-24] Her death "had a devastating effect on everyone involved", but The Cockroaches went back on tour to "create a sense of normality" and because he "had bills to pay".cite news | last = O'Neill | first = Helen | title = Double Take | work = The Australian | date = 2008-06-07 | url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23819732-5012694,00.html | accessdate = 2008-06-24] By early 1989, however, "nothing was ever the same again"; Anthony Field left the band to attend Macquarie University to study Early Childhood Education, [ cite web | title = About Us | work = The Wiggles Official Website | url = http://www.thewiggles.com/us/about/ | accessdate = 2007-08-01] and The Cockroaches disbanded. Anthony formed The Wiggles in 1991, with Murray Cook, Greg Page, and fellow Cockroaches band member Jeff Fatt, and they dedicated their first album to his niece.

In 1996, at the request of his brother Anthony, Field became The Wiggles' general operations manager. At first, he booked venues at unusual settings throughout Sydney, New South Wales, and Eastern Australia,cite news | last = Scott | first = Paul | title = Kid Rock | work = The New York Times | date = 2006-04-02 | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/02/magazine/02wiggles.html?ei=5088&en=d27772b7fecca51c&ex=1301630400&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=all | accessdate = 2008-06-24] "mainly pre-schools, RSLs and theatres". By 2007, he produced and directed their videos and oversaw their consumer products. As general manager of The Wiggles, Anthony Field has said, "I totally trust Paul; he is an honest man".

Field has expressed an appreciation for the development of The Wiggles coming out of the tragedy of his oldest daughter's death. "When I think of how much joy [The] Wiggles have brought to children, it's good to know that out of an event so horrifying, something good has come", Field has said. Field has his daughter's name tattooed on his right arm, and the names of his four other children on his left arm, something his younger brother Anthony has emulated when he had the names of his three children tattooed on his arms. Field's children have appeared in several of The Wiggles' videos and television programs.

References