Elkie Brooks
Elkie Brooks | |
---|---|
![]() Brooks at the Coventry Apollo in 1983 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Elaine Bookbinder |
Born | [1] Salford, Lancashire, England | 25 February 1945
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Years active | 1960–present |
Labels | Island, A&M |
Website | elkiebrooks |
Elkie Brooks (born Elaine Bookbinder; 25 February 1945) is an English rock, blues and jazz singer. She was a vocalist with the bands Dada and Vinegar Joe, and later became a solo artist. She gained her biggest success in the late 1970s and 1980s, releasing 13 UK Top 75 singles, and reached the top ten with "Pearl's a Singer", "Sunshine After the Rain" (both 1977) and "No More the Fool" (1986).[5] She has been nominated twice for the Brit Awards.[6]
Brooks is a Gold Badge Award of Merit winner from the
Life and career
Early career and Vinegar Joe
Brooks was born Elaine Bookbinder in Salford, to a Jewish family.[1][10][11] Her father's grandparents emigrated to Britain from Poland at the start of the 20th century to escape the pogroms. Her older brothers are Raymond Bookbinder and Anthony Bookbinder (Tony Mansfield of The Dakotas).
Whilst still a child, Brooks began singing at barmitzvahs and weddings; according to Brooks, her unofficial debut was a gig at a club called the Laronde on
In the 1960s, Brooks had begun singing jazz with
Solo career and chart success
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Portret_Elkie_Brooks_zangeres_Amsterdam%2C_1977_-_05.jpg/220px-Portret_Elkie_Brooks_zangeres_Amsterdam%2C_1977_-_05.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Portret_Elkie_Brooks_zangeres_Amsterdam%2C_1977_-_39.jpg/220px-Portret_Elkie_Brooks_zangeres_Amsterdam%2C_1977_-_39.jpg)
Brooks' first solo album, released on
This came before a run of 16 albums in 20 years, starting with
In 1980, Brooks performed at the
In early 1987, the song "No More the Fool" reached the top five for Brooks, and became her biggest hit single to date, with the parent album also reaching the top five. This led to her achieving another career peak, with two albums in the top ten and a single in the top ten in the same week.[19][20] More chart success ensued with the albums The Very Best of Elkie Brooks (1986), Bookbinder's Kid (1988), Inspiration (1989), Round Midnight (1993), Nothin' but the Blues (1994), Amazing (1996) and The Very Best of Elkie Brooks (1997).[17]
Later work
In March 2003, Brooks participated in the
Brooks's twentieth studio album,
In July 2017, after Brooks signed to Virgin EMI, the album Pearls - The Very Best Of, was released. It charted at No. 14, and included two new singles: "Love Ain't Something that You Can Get for Free" and the Bryan Adams-penned "Forgive and Forget." Later in the year, a remix of the 1979 album track "The Rising Cost of Love" was also released as a single. All three singles made it onto the Radio 2 'A' playlist, with "Forgive and Forget" being the network's "Record of the Week." Brooks promoted the album with several appearances on Radio 2 programmes, including the Aled Jones Show, and The One Show on BBC One. On 19 September that year, Brooks appeared at the London Palladium to mark 40 years since her first sell-out week at the venue in 1977. The show also celebrated her 40 years of success since the release of the single "Pearl's a Singer."[23]
The same year, Brooks recorded the closing theme song for the 2017 film Finding Your Feet, which starred Imelda Staunton, Timothy Spall, Celia Imrie and Joanna Lumley. The track, "Running to the Future," was released as a download-only single, and included on the soundtrack album.[24] Brooks' self-penned song "Just An Excuse" has been remixed several times, most notably appearing on the Bonobo album Migration in 2017. She has performed live since 1960; her 2021 tour, delayed from the previous year due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, was billed as her 60th Year Anniversary Tour.[25]
She is still touring, with concerts scheduled through 2023 and 2024.[26]
Personal life
In the early to mid-1970s, Brooks was married to guitarist Pete Gage. On 1 March 1978, she married her sound engineer, Trevor Jordan, who had worked with Diana Ross, Rolling Stones, Luciano Pavarotti, Sarah Vaughan and many others. They live in Devon and have two sons, Jermaine (born 22 December 1979) and Joseph (born 31 December 1986).[27] Between 1981 and 2002, they lived in a mansion in a secluded area of North Devon. However, in 1998, after her accountant informed her that he had not been paying her taxes, Brooks found herself in severe debt and was reduced to living in a mobile home. After four years of increasing interest bills and loans, Brooks managed to sell her home (after being threatened with repossession) and cleared all of her debts.[27] In 2000, Brooks' management and tour promotion was taken over by her son, Jermaine, and his wife, Joanna.[28]
Discography
- Rich Man's Woman (1975)
- Two Days Away (1977)
- Shooting Star (1978)
- Live and Learn (1979)
- Pearls (1981)
- Pearls II (1982)
- Minutes(1984)
- Screen Gems (1984)
- No More the Fool (1986)
- Bookbinder's Kid (1988)
- Inspiration (1989)
- Pearls III (1991)
- Round Midnight (1993)
- Nothin' but the Blues (1994)
- Circles (1995)
- Amazing (1996)
- Shangri-La (2003)
- Trouble in Mind [with Humphrey Lyttelton] (2003)
- Electric Lady(2005)
- Powerless (2009)
Awards
The Ivors Academy[7] Formerly British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors BASCA.
Year | Work | Category | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Herself | Gold Badge Award of Merit | Won |
Songfestival van Knokke / European Song Cup [29]
(Music contest in the Belgium, 1959-1973).
Year | Award | Category | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1964 [30] | International Press Award | Best Performance | Won |
Capital Radio Music Awards 1979[31]
Year | Category | Result |
---|---|---|
1979 | Best British Female Singer | Nominated |
Melody Maker British Music Magazine. [32]
Year | Category | Result |
---|---|---|
1972 | Face of 1973 | Won |
Disc Music Poll Awards 1974
Disc was a British music magazine between 1958 and 1975, when it merged with Record Mirror.[33]
Year | Category | Result |
---|---|---|
1973 | Top Female Singer (Britain) | 8th place |
Ny Musik Svensk Musiktidning [34]
(Music magazine that circulated in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland).
Year | Award | Category | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1974 | Guldörat (Swedish Golden Ear Award) | Best Female Singer International. | Won |
The British Rock & Pop Awards [35]
Organised jointly by the Daily Mirror, (Associated Television 1976/77), BBC Radio 1 and BBC TV's Nationwide (TV programme) 1978/84.
Year | Category | Result |
---|---|---|
1977 | Best British Female Singer | Won |
1979 | Best British Female Singer | Nominated |
Guinness Book of British Hit Albums[36]
Year | Category | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | Most Charted Female Artist Albums | Most UK hit albums by a female artist 1977-1997 | Won |
Record Mirror Year End Charts
Year | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1977[37] | Albums of the Year | Two Days Aways | 74th place |
1977 | Singles of the Year | Sunshine After the Rain | 98th place |
1981[38] | Albums of the Year | Pearls | 34th place |
1982[39] | Albums of the Year | Pearls | 11th place |
1982 | Albums of the Year | Pearls II | 75th place |
1987 [40] | Singles of the Year | No More the Fool | 100th place |
1988 [40] | 1987 Chart Survey | Top Singles Artists | 92nd place |
1988 | 1987 Chart Survey | Top Albums Artists | 57th place |
Music Week Awards - Chart Performance Survey
Year | Category | Format | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1977[41] | Top Female Artist | Singles | 5th place |
1977 | Top Female Artist | Albums | 4th place |
1978[42] | Top Female Artist | Singles | 5th place |
1978 | Top Female Artist | Albums | 8th place |
1978 | Design Awards (Black and White) | Album Advertisements | 2th place |
1978 | Radio Comercial | Advertising (Don't Cry Out Loud) | 2th place |
1983[43] | Top 100 Albums | Album (Pearls II) | 77th place |
British Phonographic Industry[44] certifications:
Year | Work | Award - Format | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1978 | Two Days Away | Silver - Album | Certified |
1978 | Two Days Away | Gold - Album | Certified |
1978 | Shooting Star | Silver - Album | Certified |
1981 | Pearls | Silver - Album | Certified |
1981 | Pearls | Gold - Album | Certified |
1981 | Pearls | Platinum - Album | Certified |
1982 | Pearls II | Silver - Album | Certified |
1982 | Pearls II | Gold - Album | Certified |
1982 | Pearls II | Platinum Album | Certified |
1984 | Screen Gems | Silver - Album | Certified |
1984 | screen Gems | Gold - Album | Certified |
1987 | No More the Fool | Silver - Album | Certified |
1987 | No More the Fool | Gold - Album | Certified |
1998 | The Very Best of Elkie Brooks | Silver - Album | Certified |
1998 | The Very Best of Elkie Brooks | Gold - Album | Certified |
2013 | The Best of Elkie Brooks | Gold - Album | Certified |
References
- ^ a b c d "Elkie Brooks - Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "Reviews 2". Elkiebrooks.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
- ^ Button, Simon (27 May 2017). "Whatever happened to Vinegar Joe singer Elkie Brooks | Life | Life & Style". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- ^ Denselow, Robin (9 September 2005). "Elkie Brooks, Cabot Hall, London". The Guardian.
- ISBN 978-1904994107.
- ^ "Elkie Brooks, the British Queen of Blues". Independent Television. 22 April 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Ivors Academy". 13 October 1999. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ Hunt, Keith (6 September 2013). "Elkie's star is still shining". Kent Online. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
- ^ "Elkie Brooks cancels Huddersfield concert after losing voice". News report. Examiner.com. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
- ^ "About". Elkiebrooks.com. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ a b c "Elkie Brooks". Jewishlivesproject.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ Interview on Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 4, Wednesday, 31 March 2010.
- ^ Denselow, Robin (9 September 2005). "Elkie Brooks, Cabot Hall, London". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ^ Roberts, Jo (17 December 2014). "'British Queen of Blues' Elkie Brooks is coming to the Britannia Theatre, Chatham". Kent Online. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "Elkie Brooks - Manchester's evergreen rock chick turns 70". Lancashire Life. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "Elkie Brooks: UK Top 10 hits". Chartwatch.co.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ a b c "The Official Charts Company – Elkie Brooks". The Official Charts Company. 5 May 2013. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013.
- ^ "Rock Concerts". Knebworth House. 20 July 1974. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 - Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 31 January 1987. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 31 January 1987. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- ^ Gore, Will (12 July 2010). "Elkie to make a splash at Pools". Wimbledon Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ^ "North Devon Journal, Elkie Brooks autobiography signing at Waterstones. 30 August 2012". Archived from the original on 12 May 2014.
- ^ "Elkie Brooks 'Pearls: The Very Best Of Elkie Brooks' - Music News". Music-News.com. 13 April 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- ^ "'Finding Your Feet' Soundtrack Details - Film Music Reporter". Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ "Elkie Brooks 60th Year Anniversary Tour 2020". Buxtonoperahouse.org.uk. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
- ^ "UK Tour dates 2023". Elkiebrooks.com. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ a b Finding My Voice, Elkie Brooks autobiography. The Robson Press, 2012
- ^ "Contact Us". Elkiebrooks.com. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
- ^ "Record Mirror" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- ^ "Cash Box" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- ^ "Radio Capital Awards" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
- )
- ^ "Disc" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "Record & Radio Mirror" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
- ^ "British News Paper Archive". Retrieved 17 February 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Wikimedia" (JPG). Upload.wikimedia.org. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ "Record Mirror" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ^ "Record Mirror" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ^ "Record Mirror" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ^ a b "Record Mirror" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ^ "Music Week Awards" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
- ^ "Music Week Awards" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
- ^ "Music Week Awards" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ^ "BRIT Certified". Bpi.co.uk. Retrieved 6 January 2021.