“The Arts in all forms, breeds empathy, compassion, sympathy, collaboration, communication and life skills like concentration, complex thought, scrutiny, questioning authority and self expression. Without these tools and skills we have no way to express our emotions which get bottled up and build a violent and depressed society.“

Doña Oxford: The Art of Expression

Doña Oxford is an actress — a series regular in the new TV comedy Car Lot by “Barbershop” writer Mark Brown. A musician who has played with rock legends Keith Richards, Buddy Guy, Levon Helm, Bob Weir, Hubert Sumlin, Son Seals, Lonnie Brooks, Sam Lay, Jimmy Vivino, Kenny Neal, Shirley Dixon, Shemekia Copeland, Popa Chubby, Bernard Allison, Willie Kent, Jody Williams, Jimmy Johnson, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Creed guitarist Mark Tremonti, and her idol, former Chuck Berry sideman and Father of Rock & Roll Piano, Johnnie Johnson! She has also played on countless TV and Film scores such as Norbit, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, and Girls Trip, and she has composed Original Score and Theme Songs for Film, Television, Broadway and Commercials. Also an acting coach, Doña’s 20 year career in Arts Education began at the Empire State Institute for the Performing Arts, where she quickly grew from student to performer and instructor. Her dedication to The Artist through classic theater arts training, is her inspiration for the new ESTA Los Angeles.

(Photo: Doña Oxford)

In a dramatic scene reminiscent of the life story of many a blues legend, Doña Oxford was born in a parking lot in the back seat of an old Chevrolet. Although the event perhaps falls short of qualifying as the stuff of fable (since it occurred not in the Mississippi Delta, but outside a hospital on New York City’s ritzy Upper West Side), Doña’s impatience to enter the world was an early indication of the guts, determination, heart and soul with which she imbues her music. Doña has toured all over the world, bringing her amazing keyboard playing and vocals with this many accomplishments, one would think that Doña Oxford must be satisfied. Not so! In addition to playing around the world and indulging her diverse interests (Doña is an accomplished drummer, graphic artist and auto mechanic), and she has performed on many Major Motion Picture soundtracks.

Interview by Michael Limnios                         Archive: Doña Oxford, 2012 Interview

How has the music influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your music life the most?

Music is a universal language. I have been fortunate to tour in over 27 countries and able to communicate to millions of people through music. When you are able to ’touch’ someone with your music and see their emotion on their face, there is no better feeling than that.

A moment that changed my music life was meeting my idol, Johnnie Johnson, who played piano for Chuck Berry for 30 years. Watching him play and studying his style took me on a who other path in my musical journey and helped me to focus on the sound and style that I wanted to play. Prior to that I was floundering and playing different styles, but had no conviction in my music. it was all just notes on a keyboard. Johnnie Johnson help me to understand the meaning within the notes.

Where does your creative (musician/screenwriter) drive come from?

Art is expression. I truly believe the reason there is so much violence in the world today is because we have removed arts education from schools. We focus on competitive sports and not of expressing our emotions. If I don’t have an outlet to express myself I get very depressed.

Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues?

Blues is the ultimate expression. it’s allowing our vulnerability to cry out the pain. And it’s the most basic, fundamental music we have. Without the Blues there is no Rock & Roll, there is no Rap, there is no modern Country. We must preserve our foundation.

“Music is a universal language. I have been fortunate to tour in over 27 countries and able to communicate to millions of people through music. When you are able to ’touch’ someone with your music and see their emotion on their face, there is no better feeling than that.” (Photo: Doña Oxford)

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past?

I’m not a fan of digital format or of creating with AI tools. The music of the past had flaws. Flaws are good!! Flaws are what make music REAL and in the moment. And when you hear recordings you are hearing that actual present moment. It’s beautiful.

What are your hopes and fears for the future of music?

While I think technology can be a good thing that helps make it easier for all people to express themselves, I am not looking forward to an all digital music world. I love the greasy, down to earth, home style, flawed, real, in the moment music. I don’t like music that is perfect or too clean.

What does to be a female artist in a Man’s World as James Brown says?What is the status of women in music?

I think the young people today laugh at that question. In most band situations today it doesn’t matter if you’re a man or a woman. It’s, who can play it better.

But I do think in the blues scene it’s still an issue. And your question proves that point.

Unfortunately the blues fans of today, who are predominantly white males, are a bit close minded and just want the purity of the old days, of which they were never even a part of.  I think it's ridiculous, misogynistic and a little bit racist.

What is the impact of preforming arts on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?

The Arts in all forms, breeds empathy, compassion, sympathy, collaboration, communication and life skills like concentration, complex thought, scrutiny, questioning authority and self expression. Without these tools and skills we have no way to express our emotions which get bottled up and build a violent and depressed society.

“Music is in every fiber of society. The world doesn’t run with music. It’s combined with every part of our day. Everything from the rhythm of the metro train to TV commercials and film underscore. Music isn’t just upfront, it’s in the background of every part of our lives. Birds chirping, the crosswalk signal, the blender when you make a smoothie. It’s all around us. Don’t take it for granted.” (Photo: Doña Oxford)

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

Dizzy Gillespie once said, “They don’t pay me to play all the notes, they pay me to play the rests. I think the space between the notes is just as important.

What are you doing to keep your music relevant today, to develop it and present it to the new generation?

Sadly not much. After my last turbulent tour and then covid, and then the election of Donald Trump, if I’m honest, my heart is not in ‘pursuing a career’ like I used to have. I’m very happy now teaching young people what I’ve learned in my career and am focusing on other outlets like acting, dancing, directing plays and writing screenplays to keep my creative juices alive. The music business is just not the same since Covid. There’s less places to play and I’m just not interested in busting my back to barely make $50 for a 3 hour concert. Which is sadly the going rate now.

The relationship between music and other forms of art – such as painting, video art and cinema - has become increasingly important. How do you see this relationship yourself and in how far, do you feel, does music relate to other senses than hearing alone?

Music is in every fiber of society. The world doesn’t run with music. It’s combined with every part of our day. Everything from the rhythm of the metro train to TV commercials and film underscore. Music isn’t just upfront, it’s in the background of every part of our lives. Birds chirping, the crosswalk signal, the blender when you make a smoothie. It’s all around us. Don’t take it for granted.

Doña Oxford - Home

(Photos: Doña Oxford)