Lee Fields

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Image courtesy of Razzmatazz.

The fierce voice of Lee Fields is a masterclass in soul, a true example of an artist who has remained at the top for decades. Fields is one of the few active soul performers who began releasing music in the 1960s and continues to captivate audiences today. Born in 1950 in Wilson, North Carolina, his fire continues to burn brightly, and he embraces the present with joy and energy.

Fields’ catalog is prolific, dating back to the late 1960s, when he began building a repertoire ranging from James Brown-esque funk to lo-fi blues and contemporary southern soul. His main fan base emerged in the 1970s among funk enthusiasts, thanks to a series of singles for small labels that became cult classics and collector’s items. He earned the nickname "Little JB" because his look, singing style and groove were reminiscent of James Brown.

In the 1990s, Fields was reborn as a soul-blues singer, a sensation on the southern circuit who captivated audiences. By the end of the decade, however, demand for his work from prominent hip-hop and British rare groove artists expanded his reach. Emerging as a beacon of deep funk, he released new singles that equaled or surpassed his 1970s achievements, renewing his raw energy and power. From Problems (2002) to Emma Jean (2014), Fields consistently released outstanding recordings that placed him at the forefront of the revival of classic Black music.

That momentum has continued into the present. His last three albums—It Rains Love (2019), Let's Get a Groove On (2020) and Sentimental Fool (2022)—testify to his enduring artistry. Fields embodies the present in every performance, carrying the torch after the passing of Sharon Jones, his former backing vocalist, and Charles Bradley, whom he took on his first tour, and remaining at the helm of soul and funk music.

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