American blues harmonica player
Don Frank Brooks (8 March 1947, in
Dallas, Texas – 25 October 2000, in
Manhattan, New York ) was an American harmonica performing artist.
Career
Brooks was a full-time harmonica player with
Waylon Jennings and was a prolific
session musician with artists that included
Jerry Jeff Walker ,
Judy Collins ,
Harry Belafonte ,
Carly Simon ,
Ringo Starr ,
Tim Curry ,
Bette Midler ,
Diana Ross ,
Billy Joel ,
Cyndi Lauper ,
Talking Heads ,
Tim Hardin ,
The Bee Gees ,
Yoko Ono and the
Plastic Ono Band , the
James Gang .
[1]
[2] He was an on stage musician on
Broadway in
Big River in 1985, and
The Gospel at Colonus in 1988, and was heard for weeks on public television on
Ken Burns' documentary series
The Civil War .
[3]
He had attended the
University of North Texas , where, among other things he had been founding member of the
Folk Music Club .
Selected discography
Mr. Bojangles –
Jerry Jeff Walker (1968)
Bein' Free –
Jerry Jeff Walker (1970);
OCLC
49314293
Don McLean –
Don McLean (1972);
OCLC
314328043 ,
762296507
Feeling the Space –
Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band (1973);
OCLC
658714473
True Stories and Other Dreams –
Judy Collins (1973);
OCLC
732331150
Newborn –
James Gang (1975)
Judith –
Judy Collins (1975)
Main Course –
Bee Gees (1975);
OCLC
767573560
Bread and Roses –
Judy Collins (1976);
OCLC
641558712 ,
695603876 ,
725513974
Rumors –
Arrogance (1976);
OCLC
9163949 ,
849647568
Songs for the New Depression –
Bette Midler (1976);
OCLC
881452364
Ringo the 4th –
Ringo Starr (1977);
OCLC
873156423
Kate Taylor –
Kate Taylor (1978);
OCLC
17321149
Guy Clark –
Guy Clark (1978);
OCLC
492480320
Peaks, Valleys, Honky Tonks & Alleys –
Michael Martin Murphey (1979);
OCLC
5187350
Loving You Is Where I Belong –
Harry Belafonte (1981);
OCLC
801726281 ,
868311571 ,
725774650
Read My Lips –
Tim Curry (1978);
OCLC
5533661 ,
657397527
Max Morath and His Ragtime Stompers ,
Vanguard VSD79440 (1980);
OCLC
7695693
Max Morath (piano,
kazoo ), Don Brooks (harmonica),
Eric Weissberg (guitar),
Bill Keith (banjo),
Dave Bargeron (tuba,
euphonium ), Ron Traxler (Ronald E. Traxler; 1935–2008) (
washboard , drums),
Kenny Kosek (violin)
Selected filmography
Family
On December 14, 1973, Don Brooks married Anne Lorch (née Anne Lesly Zinman; born 1934), originally from Philadelphia, who, in 1964, divorced Jay Wintner Lorch (born 1930) of
Dallas . With their marriage, Don Brooks gained a stepson, Leonard Nelson Lorch (born 1959).
Death
Brooks died of
leukemia October 25, 2000, in
Manhattan , aged 53.
[4]
References
^
Harmonicas, Harps and Heavy Breathers: The Evolution of the People's Instrument (updated version), by Kim Field,
Cooper Square Press (2000), pg. 149;
OCLC
43823009
^
"Brooks, Don F." , by Edgar I. Morales, Handbook of Texas Music (special ed.), Laurie E. Jasinski (ed.),
Denton :
Texas State Historical Association (2012), pps. 257–258;
OCLC
768792836
^ "Don Brooks, 53, Harmonica Player suited to Blues and Bee Gees",
The New York Times , October 30, 2000
^
Don Brooks, Studio Musician and Harmonica Player, Dies" (
AP )
Deseret News , October 31, 2009
Members
Albums Singles Related articles
International National Artists