Dudley Brooks (December 22, 1913 – July 17, 1989) was an American jazz pianist, arranger, and composer.
Brooks was born on December 22, 1913, in Los Angeles, California. [1] [2] While under contract to Paramount Studios, Brooks spent considerable time working as a session piano player at the Radio Recorders studio in Los Angeles. [3] 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. [4] Presley was also under contract to Paramount Studios where he was filming movies to include Girls! Girls! Girls! and Blue Hawaii. [5] 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: [3]
Brooks, one of several African Americans who worked with Presley, downplayed allegations that Presley was a racist. [6]
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. [7] [8] [9]
Brooks died in his hometown of Los Angeles in 1989. [1] [10]