Carol Douglas “The First Lady of Disco” Speaks Out About Her Idols

Carol Douglas, is certainly the first lady of disco. She is well known for her pioneering track “Doctor’s Orders.” Born in Brooklyn, Carol was born to a musical family. Her mom was a jazz performer, Minnie Newsome, who is said to be the inspiration for Cab Calloway’s “Minnie the Moocher.” She was also the cousin of the legendary Sam Cook.

At the young age of 10 Carol Douglas was a contestant and winner on the game show “Name That Tune.” She attended a school for professional children alongside Gregory Hines, Bernadette Peters, and Patty Duke. She also did commercials and pursued an acting career appearing on The Patty Duke Show. After she got married to her high school sweetheart Ken Douglas, she pursued her musical career.

In the 1990s there was a resurgence of the retro disco era and she continued touring and making personal appearances. Currently, she is still touring and making personal appearances. A great lady she is high-spirited, positive, and a lot of fun. Stay tuned for her appearance on “Profiles with Mickey Burns”, as well as local appearances in New York City scheduled in Staten Island and Brooklyn.

Everybody has their idol and you seem to have a very special one in mind….

My male singing idol is Barry Manilow and also my female singing idol is Diana Ross.

You have chosen two legends…

I have. I have already met one and I hope to meet Barry. He’s very famous and he’s very professional. The thing is I would like us to do an acappella together and then I want to go in the studio with him and record something. So, I can have that. That’s if he’d like to, I would love that. You have to let them know who I am too. I’ve been talking about Barry Manilow ever since the Copacabana. I was just at the Copacabana myself on the 17th. I’m still performing thank God. I just turned 75 years old on April 7th.

Congratulations! You have some performances coming up, where and when?

On Saturday I will be at the Saint George Theater in Staten Island. This is for a disco extravaganza with Joe Causey who is a DJ. Then On the 30th I’ll be at Cerritos in Brooklyn. I’m doing a fundraiser there. Also, May1 I’m at the Salty Dog in Brooklyn. I’ll be doing a fundraiser for the veterans.

So you are a New York girl?

I am. I live in Harlem. I live near all of the shopping.

You lived in Paris for 3 years?

It’s beautiful. The food there is beautiful, but you don’t want to ask for seconds because they give you the same amount. It was a lot of fun and the most wonderful experience of my lifetime. They really treated me like royalty there. Carol Douglas was everywhere, posters all over, concerts, it was really lovely.

Have you had your ultimate stage fantasy aside from Barry Manilow?

My first concert ever at Madison Square Garden when my parents were still alive. They came to see me perform. They were so excited that my name was up there on the marquee. It was in lights, Carol Douglas and I was so excited. I was with Eddie Kendricks, The Tramps…. I think that was amazing my first concert at Madison Square Garden as an artist…it was an exhilarating experience.

If you could help me ask you any question on the planet what would it be and how would you answer?

I would want you to ask me my favorite color and my favorite food. My favorite color is red, and my favorite food is fried chicken. That’s why I had to leave Paris after three years. They didn’t have fried chicken.

Who was the most fun person that you’ve ever performed with?

I think Tavares, but I also liked The Tramps.

Music today is a lot different than disco, what’s your opinion of the music on the radio today?

I think it’s great. I mean this is a different era. So, you can’t expect everything to be the same. Everything changes. Even the fashions are going kind of backwards. The music is hip-hop, and rap. It’s the now generation and for now kids have to follow something. So, I think it’s great because it’s still talent. That’s what I like about it, it’s still talent.

Scheduled performances:

Saturday April 23, 2022 The St George Theater: Staten Island

Saturday April 30, 2022 Cerritos: Brooklyn

Sunday May 1, 2022 The Salty Dog: Brooklyn

Interview by Eileen Shapiro

Photo Credits: Robert Braunfeld

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Tags: barry manilow, Carol Douglas, disco, Doctors Orders, Eileen Shapiro, Madison Square Garden, The Hype Magazine