Login
Login

Dudley Brooks

{{for|the photo editor|Dudley M. Brooks}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Dudley Brooks

| image = Dudley Brooks and Elvis Presley.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Dudley Brooks and Elvis Presley at Radio Recorders studio

| birth_date = December 22, 1913

| birth_place = Los Angeles, California

| death_date = July 17, 1989 (aged 75)

| death_place = Los Angeles

| genre = Jazz, rock and roll

| occupation = Pianist and songwriter

| instrument = Piano

| label = Multiple

| past_member_of = Elvis Presley, Kay Starr

}}

Dudley Brooks (December 22, 1913 – July 17, 1989) was an American jazz pianist, arranger, and composer.

Biography

Brooks was born on December 22, 1913, in Los Angeles, California.[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0111968/ "Dudley Brooks"], Internet Movie Database (IMDb).[http://www.discogs.com/artist/Dudley+Brooks?noanv=1 "Dudley Brooks"], Discogs.com.

While under contract to Paramount Studios, Brooks spent considerable time working as a session piano player at the Radio Recorders studio in Los Angeles.Jorgensen, Ernst (1998), Elvis Presley: A Life in Music. New York: St. Martin's Press, pp. 84, 86, 89, 95, 99, 101, 104-105, 130, 133, 136. For many years, Radio Recorders was one of the best known recording studios in the country and hosted performers such as Charlie Parker, Louis Armstrong, and Elvis Presley.{{Citation |last=Roy |first= James |author-link= James V. Roy |title =Radio Recorders |date=March 2004 |url=http://www.scottymoore.net/studio_radiorecorders.html |accessdate = 2008-01-19}} Presley was also under contract to Paramount Studios where he was filming movies to include Girls! Girls! Girls! and Blue Hawaii.[http://www.seeing-stars.com/studios/ParamountStudios.shtml "Paramount Studios"], Seeing Stars: The Ultimate Guide to Celebrities and Hollywood. Paramount, to ensure Presley's recordings and movies stayed on schedule, regularly provided studio musicians to Radio Recorders. As a result, Brooks developed a professional relationship with Presley that spanned decades. Together, they collaborated on many albums and movies to include:

Brooks, one of several African Americans who worked with Presley, contradicted allegations that Presley was a racist.Bertrand, Michael T. (2000), Race, Rock, and Elvis. Champaign, Illinois: University of Chicago Press, p. 220.

During his career, Brooks also composed a number of songs often in collaboration with other songwriters. Among his works is the well-known Christmas song "(Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man with the Bag". Made popular by Kay Starr in 1950, the song has been covered by many artists to include the Brian Setzer Orchestra and Vonda Shepard.Hindman, James and Ray Roderick (2003). A Christmas Survival Guide: A Miniature Christmas Spectacular! New York: Samuel French, Inc., p. 4.Metcalfe, Phillip (2005). Christmas's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Kris Kringles, Merry Jingles and Holiday Cheer. Washington D.C: Potomac Books, p. 208.Atkinson, Terry (December 3, 2000), "TV Shows Breed Christmas Albums", The Post-Tribune (Gary, Indiana) (Entertainment News Service), p. D-5.

Brooks died in his hometown of Los Angeles in 1989.[http://www.death-record.com/l/176368871/Dudley-A-Brooks Dudley A Brooks: Los Angeles, California]{{Dead link|date=January 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brooks, Dudley}}

Category:1913 births

Category:1989 deaths

Category:Musicians from Los Angeles

Category:20th-century American jazz composers

Category:African-American jazz composers

Category:African-American jazz pianists

Category:American male jazz pianists

Category:American jazz organists

Category:American male organists

Category:American music arrangers

Category:Jazz arrangers

Category:20th-century American keyboardists

Category:20th-century African-American musicians