Doris A. Fields aka Lady D will be our special guest as she performs at the Born & Bred Concert Series at The Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center on January 20th with Creek Don’t Rise, Heavy Hitters and The Bob Thompson Unit. Lady D took some time to talk to us about her inspirations and what to expect from her show.
You can get your tickets to the concert series and the Born & Bred Readers Poll Best of 2023 Awards Ceremony by clicking here: The Robinson Grand
BB: Where in West Virginia do you hail from?
DF: I’m based in Beckley, WV but I grew up in Chesapeake in Kanawha County.
BB: Who are some influences on your music and writing style?
DF: My earliest influences were Lena Horne and Ella Fitzgerald and then my idols became Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight and Natalie Cole.
BB: How has being from/living in West Virginia influenced your music?
DF: Being from West Virginia has influenced my music a great deal, especially in the past 20 years. I’ve drawn more from the realness of who I am and where I’m from rather than trying to copy the stars that I loved.
BB: What can people expect from your show?
DF: It’s always fun to perform with different artists like Aristotle. We’ll be doing a great mash-up of two very well-known tunes from different eras that I’m sure people will enjoy it. On the other hand, I’ve performed with Bob Thompson on many occasions so there’s a comfort zone there that makes me feel at ease with a jazzier sound.
BB: Who are some West Virginia artists you’re listening to?
DF: At the moment, I’ve been listening to Aristotle Jones. I also love to listen to my collection of cds from jazz pianist Jenny Wilson of Morgantown.
BB: What else are you listening to currently?
DF: I love bluesman, Eddie Cotton and I still listen to all of Chaka Khan’s music.
BB: What inspired you or took you down the path of music?
DF: I have wanted to be a singer since I was three years old. Everything I’ve done since then has always led me to music and performing in some way.
BB: What is one song you want people to listen to from your catalog if they were to say, “Hey what do you sound like?”
DF: So far, I think I’m most proud of my 2021 album, “Disturbing My Peace.” There’s a tune on there called “Karma is a Bitch.” I love that whole album and I actually included an insert that asked people to listen to the lyrics carefully and warned that there are no love songs on that album. It was inspired by all the happenings of 2020.
