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Dianne Brooks

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Gwendolyn Dianne Brooks (January 3, 1939 – April 29, 2005), was an American soul, r&b and jazz singer. With the Three Playmates, Brooks recorded several songs in 1957. She moved to Toronto shortly thereafter. Her part in Canadian soul music history began when the group Diane Brooks, Eric Mercury and the Soul Searchers was formed. As a solo singer, she recorded two albums and several singles of her own. Her biggest solo hit was "Walkin' on My Mind" in 1969. She was also a prolific session singer. As a vocalist, she provided backing vocals on albums by a multitude of artists that include Anne Murray, Gino Vannelli and Richie Havens. She was also a song-writer.

Dianne Brooks
Birth nameGwendolyn Dianne Brooks
Also known asGwen Brooks, Diane Brooks
Born(1939-01-03)January 3, 1939
New Jersey, U.S.
DiedApril 29, 2005(2005-04-29) (aged 66)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresSoul, jazz
OccupationSinger
InstrumentVocals
LabelsVerve, Revolver, Reprise
Formerly ofThe Three Playmates, The Silhouettes, The Soul Searchers

Background

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Brooks was born in New Jersey and grew up there singing gospel music.[1][2] Things started for her at three years of age when she was singing in her New Jersey church. Taking note of Dianne's talent, her mother eventually sent her to New York City to study voice. Brooks was a teenager when she joined the group, The Three Playmates who recorded for the Savoy label.[1] In 1960, she moved to Toronto. During the 1960s, she was a member of two popular Canadian r&b / soul groups. She also appeared regularly on Canadian radio and television. Along the way, she caught the attention of Jerry Schoenbaum who founded the Verve Records label. She was offered a deal and recorded two singles for the label. One of the songs she recorded, "Picture Me Gone" was recorded by Madeline Bell who was also from New Jersey and like Brooks grew up singing gospel.[2] Like Bell, she would have a similar career, adding her backing vocals to recordings by a multitude of artists.[3][4] During the 1970s, she had a lot of work as an in-demand backing vocalist.[5]

Commenting on Brooks, Emmylou Harris once said “I know I'm a valid singer, but when I hear Dianne I feel like handing in my contract.”.[2] Ray Charles also referred to her as the greatest voice he'd heard since Dinah Washington.[1] Jack Batten of The Toronto Star once referred to her as the best soul singer in the country.[6] In reference to Brooks, Anne Murray said that she had never met someone so innovative vocally.[7]

Early career

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1950s

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With the Three Playmates

In the late 1950s, she was involved in the following recordings,

The Three Playmates was made up of sisters Lucille and Alma Beatty and Gwen Brooks (Dianne). They had a chart hit with one of the records they had released on the Savoy label. The song "Sugah Wooga" which she co-wrote with Ozzie Cadena managed to get to # 89 on the Billboard Pop Top 100.[10][11][12]

1960s

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The Orbiteers In 1962, she was featured on a recording relating to the Orbiteer toy. The song was "The Orbiteer Twist" which was a commercial. It was also her own composition. The A side of the single was credited to Dianne Brooks with Billy O'Conner and His Orbiteersmen. The B side, "My Orbiteer Will Come Back", a Randy Leeds composition was credited to The Orbiteers with Billy O'Conner and His Orbiteersmen. It was allegedly the first time Robbie Robertson had played on a released recording.[8][13][14]

The Silhouettes Brooks and saxophonist Steve Kennedy had been part of The Silhouettes who were an established group on the Toronto r&b scene. The Silhouettes had backed Eric Mercury on his single, "I Wondered Why" / "Softly", released on Clip 1122 in 1966. The group also backed and included Jack Hardin They played at venues such as Toronto's prominent music club, Friar's Tavern,[15] and the Blue Note club which was also located in Toronto.[16][17]

With the Soul Searchers Also in 1966, Brooks and Kennedy left the group to form The Soul Searchers with Eric Mercury, guitarist Terry Logan, organist William "Smitty" Smith and drummer Eric "Mouse" Johnson.[8] According to Smitty's book, A Stroke of Luck, Brooks and Kennedy were in a romantic relationship. Smith and Kennedy had an idea of putting together a group to play behind Brooks. Things began in April that year. Even though the group is referred to as the Soul Searchers, the real name was Diane Brooks, Eric Mercury and The Soul Searchers.[18] The instrumental section of the group consisted of Eric "Mouse" Johnson on drums and vocals, Steve Kennedy on tenor, baritone sax and background vocals, Terry Logan on guitar and vocals and William "Smitty" Smith on Hammond B3 organ and vocals.[19] They first played at the Memory Lane in Toronto.[18]

Sometime that year, Brooks got an offer to record for herself. Due to the band supposedly not having the experience or considered to be up to the task, they didn't get to play on the recording.[18] According to Michel Ruppli's book on the Verve discography, a recording session took place in New York on November 17 of that year. Four songs were recorded with Harvey Brooks (no relation to Diane) who was producing at the time. They were "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself", "In My Heart", "Sometimes I Wonder" and "Into Something Good". The following year on March 15, two more tracks, "Picture Me Gone" and "Say Something Nice To Me" were recorded. It's possible that some of these tracks did not see a release.[8] "In My Heart" bw "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" was released on Verve Folkways 5036 around November 1966 while "Picture Me Gone" bw "Sometimes I Wonder" was supposed to be released on Verve Forecast 5055 in 1967.[20][21]

In May and June 1967 the group appeared in New York at The Scene club with The Free Spirits and Tiny Tim. The Soul Searchers were on the same bill as The Doors on various nights, with the poster saying "APPEARING WITH THE DOORS NIGHTLY for a Completely Flipped Out Evening: DIANNE BROOKS / ERIC MERCURY and The SOUL SEARCHERS".[22][23]

At some stage Brooks had left the band after falling in love with a hairdresser, leaving Mercury to be the front man.[24]

Solo career

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Revolution Records period

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Revolution Records was run by Mort Ross and Doug Riley with Terry Brown as their recording engineer.[25] The intention of Revolution Records wasn't to start off as a record company as they did. They wanted to build a recording facility with equipment superior to what other Canadian studios at the time. But with the studio having been built and ready for business later in August 1969, they recorded some demos with Brooks in the meantime. They were originally intended to be just demos. The studio owners were very impressed with what they had heard, and considered them to be "So good they had to be released". This is how Revolver Records came into being when it did.[26]

By March 1969, she was already signed to Revolution.[25] Also that month, her single "Walkin' on My Mind" had been released by Revolution's subsidiary, Revolver Records.[27] It was also being released in the United States on Ray Charles' Tangerine label.[28] Revolution's Mort Ross had travelled to New York to set up the distribution deal with Charles' label for the current record, which also involved any future releases from Brooks. A distribution deal was also set up for England with Morgan Records handling that task. For Canadian distribution, the Compo Company was chosen.[29] By April 21 the song had entered the RPM Weekly Canadian Content Chart at #10.[30] By May 2 it made it to #4 on the RPM chart. However it only got to #67 nationally.[31]

The group Motherlode was doing gigs on Friday and Saturday nights in London, Ontario. They did a demo session with Brooks as a backing vocalist. However it was decided that she wasn't needed. Also around that period, Motherlode came up with their When I Die album.[32][33]

In late September 1969, her second single with Revolution, "Show Him (He's Not Alone)" which was written by Doug Riley was released on Revolver REVS 003. The single which was backed with "Show Me" was produced by Mort Ross.[34] She also had written a song "Memories of a Broken Promise" which Motherlode had recorded and released as the follow-up to their hit "When I Die". By the end of November the song was charting in both Canada and the US.[33] The song would get to #99 on the CASH BOX Top 100 Singles chart.[35] By November 22, the song was at #4 on the RPM Canadian Content Chart and at #55 on the Canadian National chart.[36] It would eventually be one the BMI Canada Certificate of Honour winners of 1969.[37]

An article in the November 29 issue of RPM indicated that her album was soon due to make its appearance.[33] Motherlode did some instrumental backing on her Some Other Kind of Soul album. William Smith and Steve Kennedy also wrote "The Boys Are On the Case".[8]

Her other activities during 1969 until the end of the year involved performing with Doug Riley at Friar's Cub and then appearing at the Savarin Tavern with Rob McConnell's Boss Brass.[31]

By June 27, 1970, Some Other Kind of Soul was at #87 on the RPM100 album chart.[38]

1970s

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Along with Emmylou Harris and Anne Murray, she provided backing vocals to Canadian folk singer Bob Carpenter's album, Silent Passage which was released in 1975.[39] In 1976, her Back Stairs Of My Life album was released. It also included the song "Down the Backstairs of My Life". It was written by Eric Mercury and William Smith. Smith was also one of the backing musicians, playing keyboards. The album also included the songs "Kinky Love" and "Brown Skin Rose".[40][41] They were released on a single with "Kinky Love" as the A side. The single managed to get into the Canadian Top 40. It also got some airplay in the US.[42] Also in 1976, she and William Smith contributed to the music on Richie Havens' The End of the Beginning album with her along with Smith and others providing background vocals.[43] Sharing background vocal duties with Patti Brooks and Brenda Russell, she was one of the hand picked singers to sing on Dusty Springfield's tenth studio album It Begins Again which was released in 1978.[44]

1980s

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According to the Cash Box article dated April 18, 1981, her single was one of the new releases the Town House record label which was formed by Las Vegas-based real estate developer William Levitt.[45] The single, "Go Away" bw "Drums" was produced by Nat Kipner.[46][47]

1990s to 2000s

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On October 1, 1996, the Toronto Blues Society announced that she was to share the stage in November that year with artists that included Blues Talent Search winner Robin Banks, rock diva Lee Aaron, Chris Armstrong, Juno nominee Georgette Fry, Melanie Jean, Andrea Koziol, and Jani Lauzon.[48]

Death and legacy

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Brooks died in Toronto on April 29, 2005, at age 66, from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.[49]

Brooks' daughter Jo-Ann aka JoAnne Brooks VanderMeer died from health complications on March 7, 2019, at age 65. She was also a singer.[50][51][52] Her daughter Lindsay Bell is also a singer.[53]

Posthumous releases

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In 2021, an album of eight songs, From the Heart & Soul, was released by Panda Digital. Musicians playing on the album included Don Grusin and Jack Lee on keyboards and piano, Doug Riley on piano, Al Ciner, Chris Corrigan and Rob Walsh on guitar, Paul Stallworth on bass. The drummers were, Joe Carrero, Claudio Slon and Bob McLaren. The songs on the album were, "Trying to Get to You", "Give Me One More Chance", "I'm Carrying", "Can't Get Enough of You", "All I Need is You", "Out Love is Here to Stay", "Venice Breeze" and "But Not for Me". Digital[54] The first five tracks on the album are from two different L. A. sessions. One was from 1978 and the other from 1980.[55] The other three tracks were recorded with the Doug Riley Trio, live at George's Spaghetti House in 1983. A track of special note was "All I Need Is You".[56] The Jazz Week chart showed plays from September 13, 2021, to January 10, 2022, with the last recorded position of 283.[57] Even though brief, the review by George W. Harris of Jazz Weekly was good with the reviewer saying she floated over the bassline of "Trying To Get To You" and slinked on the slow cover of "I'm Carrying", a Paul McCartney song.[58]

Discography

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Singles
With the Three Playmates
Act Release Catalogue Year Notes #
The Playmates
(Gwen, Lucille, Alma) 		"It Must Be Love" / "Giddy-Up-A-Ding-Dong" Savoy 45-1523 1957 [59][60]
The Three Playmates "Sugah Wooga" / "Lovey Dovey Pair" Savoy 45-1528 1957/1958?
The Three Playmates "Give Your Love to Me" / "(Do-oo, Do-oo) I Dreamed" Savoy 45-1537 1957/1958? [61][62]
Solo singles Canada
Act Release Catalogue Year Notes #
Dianne Brooks "The Orbiteer Twist" / "My Orbiteer Will Come Back" RCA Victor 57-3292 1962 Side 2 The Orbiteers
Dianne Brooks "In My Heart" / "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" Verve Folkways KF-5036 1966 or 1967
Dianne Brooks "Walkin' on My Mind" / "Need To Belong" Revolver REVS 001 1969
Dianne Brooks "Show Him (He's Not Alone)" / "Show Me" Revolver REVS-003 1969
Dianne Brooks "Kinky Love" / "Brown Skin Rose" Reprise Records RPS 1366 1976
Solo singles USA
Act Release Catalogue Year Notes #
Dianne Brooks "In My Heart" / "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" Verve Folkways KF 5036 1967
Diane Brooks "Picture Me Gone" / "Sometimes I Wonder" Verve Forecast KF 5055 1969
Dianne Brooks "Walking on My Mind" / " Need To Belong" Tangerine TRC 993 1969 Released in Canada on
Revolver REVS 001
Dianne Brooks "Kinky Love" / "Brown Skin Rose" Reprise Records RPS 1366 1976
Dianne Brooks "Go Away" / "Drums" Town House 1051 1981 [46][63][64]
USA Albums unless specified otherwise
Act Song title Release info Year Notes #
Dianne Brooks Some Other Kind of Soul Revolver RLPS 503 1970 with Lenny Breau
Bob Ruzicka / Dianne Brooks Bob Ruzicka Dianne Brooks Radio Canada International LM 404 1974 Canada release
Also released on CBC Radio Canada LM 404
Dianne Brooks Back Stairs of My Life Reprise MS 2244 1977 [65]
Dianne Brooks From the Heart & Soul Panda Digital 2021 Digital[54]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Canukistan Music - Dianne Brooks, Walkin' on My Mind / Need to Belong - 7", by Michael Panontin
  2. ^ a b c Writing on Music, JULY 6, 2020 - Gone But Not Forgotten: ‘Picture Me Gone FIONA MCQUARRIE
  3. ^ Discogs - Madeline Bell, Discography, Credits, Vocals
  4. ^ Discogs - Dianne Brooks, Discography, Credits, Vocals
  5. ^ FUNKMYSOUL.GR - Dianne Brooks – 1976 – Back Stairs Of My Life
  6. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 12 No. 5, September 20th, 1969 - Page 12 - Revolver ad, Page 13 - DIANNE BROOKS' NEW SINGLE
  7. ^ All of Me by Anne Murray, Michael Posner · 2009 - Page 140
  8. ^ a b c d e citizenfreak.com (© Museum of Canadian Music) - Brooks, Dianne - Some Other Kind of Soul Information/Write-up
  9. ^ a b Savoy Records discography Jazzdisco.org. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  10. ^ Doo-Wop - The Playmates (2) aka The Three Playmates
  11. ^ Top Pop Records, 1955-1970: Facts about 9800 Recordings Listed in Billboard's "Hot 100" Charts, Joel Whitburn · 1972 - THREE PLAYMATES
  12. ^ Discogs - The Three Playmates – Sugah Wooga / Lovey Dovey Pair
  13. ^ Billboard, May 5, 1962 - Page 20 BILLBOARD MUSIC WEEK, INTERNATIONAL NEWS REPORT, CANADA, Toy & Disk Tie Circles in Orbit By STAN FISHER Montreal Star
  14. ^ Discogs - Dianne Brooks, The Orbiteers (2), Billy O'Connor & His Orbiteersmen* – The Orbiteer Twist
  15. ^ Heritage Toronto - Friar's Tavern Commemorative Plaque, 2017
  16. ^ A Stroke of Luck by William D. Smith 2008, ISBN 0615235654 - Page 279
  17. ^ The Canadian Encyclopedia - Doug Riley
  18. ^ a b c A Stroke of Luck by William D. Smith 2008, ISBN 0615235654 - Pages 278 to 280 Diane Brooks
  19. ^ FYI Music News, Sep 06, 2019 - Eric Mercury - Electric Black Man - A Conversation By Bill King
  20. ^ Global Dog Productions - 45 Discography for Verve Folkways/Forecast Records
  21. ^ The Clef/Verve Labels: The MGM era, Michel Ruppli, Bob Porter · 1986 - Page 513 DIANNE BROOKS
  22. ^ Mildequator.com - - The Doors | Steve Paul's The Scene 1967, Variations
  23. ^ The Doors | Steve Paul's The Scene 1967, Print ad #2
  24. ^ FYI News, Sep 06, 2019 - Eric Mercury - Electric Black Man - A Conversation by Bill King
  25. ^ a b Cash Box, March 8, 1969 - Page 66 Canada
  26. ^ Billboard, May 24, 1969 - Page C-34 Radio Legislation Should Better Recording Studios
  27. ^ Billboard, March 15, 1969 - Page 64 From The Music Capitals of the World, College Music Contest Opens Talent Hunt
  28. ^ Cash Box, March 8, 1969 - Page 68 Canada
  29. ^ Billboard, May 24, 1969 - Page C-34 Radio Legislation Should Better Recording Studios
  30. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 8, Week of April 21st. 1969 - Page 4 RPM Weekly Canadian Content Chart
  31. ^ a b Canaukstan Music - Dianne Brooks, Walkin' on My Mind / Need to Belong - 7" by Michael Panontin
  32. ^ Blitz, No 43 / July–August 1982 - Page 16 (middle column) THE KENNY MARCO STORY: GRANT SMITH AND THE POWER/MOTHERLODE
  33. ^ a b c RPM Weekly, Volume 12 No. 15, November 29, 1969 - Page 5 ROSS GAINS CONTROL OF REVOLUTION
  34. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 12 No. 5, September 20th, 1969 - Page 12 Revolver ad, Page 13, DIANNE BROOKS' NEW SINGLE
  35. ^ Tropicalglen.com - CASH BOX Top 100 Singles Week ending NOVEMBER 22, 1969
  36. ^ RPM Weekly, 12 No. 14, November 22nd. 1969 - Pages 6-7
  37. ^ Billboard, May 23, 1970 - Page 60 Announcing the 1969 winners of the second annual BMI CANADA LIMITED CERTIFICATES OF HONOUR
  38. ^ RPM Weekly, Volume 13 No 19. June 27th. 1970 - Page 13-14 RPM100 Albums
  39. ^ Canukistan Music - Bob Carpenter, Silent Passage, Reprise - 1975 by Mike Milner
  40. ^ La Bible de la Westcoast Music, 23/06/2020 - Dianne Brooks "Back Stairs Of My Life" (1976) -Soul / Soft Rock-
  41. ^ Second Hand Songs - Original, Down the Backstairs of My Life by Eric Mercury, VERSIONS, Down the Back Stairs of My Life written by Eric Mercury, William D. Smith
  42. ^ citizenfreak.com (© Museum of Canadian Music) - Brooks, Dianne
  43. ^ WorldCat - The end of the beginning, Author: Richie Havens; Darryle Johnson; Steve Cropper; Jeff Baxter; Willie Weeks;
  44. ^ The Quietus, May 25th, 201 - Features, "I Prefer Their Later Work": 40 Brilliant Albums At The End Of Artists' Careers by Patrick Clarke - Dusty Springfield - It Begins Again(1978)
  45. ^ Cash Box, April 18, 1981 - Page 28 MERCHANDISING, TownHouse Bows With 45s, LPs And Midprices
  46. ^ a b 45Cat - Dianne Brooks - Discography, USA
  47. ^ citizenfreak.com (© Museum of Canadian Music) - Brooks, Dianne - Some Other Kind of Soul, Information/Write-up
  48. ^ Toronto Blues Society, October 1, 1996 - Dianne Brooks
  49. ^ "Dianne Brooks". Canadian Bands. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  50. ^ Twitter, Downtown Yonge BIA - We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the talented JoAnne Brooks VanderMeer, daughter of Dianne Brooks ...
  51. ^ FYI Music News, March 15, 2019 - Music News Digest, March 15, 2019 by Kerry Doole - JoAnn Brooks, Toronto singer and actor, died on March 7 of health complications, at age 64.
  52. ^ Facebook, Friar's Music Museum, 11 March 2019 - We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the incredibly talented JoAnne Brooks VanderMeer ...
  53. ^ FYI Music News, March 15, 2019 - Music News Digest, March 15, 2019 by Kerry Doole - JoAnn Brooks, Toronto singer and actor, died on March 7 of health complications, at age 64.
  54. ^ a b Toronto Cultural Media Network, That Canadian Magazine, October 21, 2021 - Dianne Brooks: From the Heart & Soul By Raul Da Gama
  55. ^ the Whole Note, 28 October 2021 - From the Heart & Soul - Dianne Brooks Written by Cathy Riches
  56. ^ Art & Culture Maven, September 20, 2021 - Classic RnB | Dianne Brooks: From the Heart & Soul (Panda Digital 2021)
  57. ^ JazzWeek, 2021/08 - Dianne Brooks — From the Heart & Soul Airplay
  58. ^ Jazz Weekly, November 25, 2021 - REVIEWS, TWO OLDIES BUT GOODIES: Dianne Brooks: From the Heart & Soul, Norm Amadio Trio: After Hours 1966 by George W. Harris
  59. ^ 45Cat - The Playmates (Gwen, Lucille, Alma) - Discography, USA
  60. ^ Discogs - The Playmates (7), Discography, Singles & EPs
  61. ^ 45Cat - The Three Playmates - Discography, USA
  62. ^ Discogs - The Three Playmates Discography, Singles & EPs
  63. ^ 45Cat - Dianne Brooks - Discography, Canada
  64. ^ Discogs - Dianne Brooks, Discography, Singles & EPs
  65. ^ Discogs - Dianne Brooks, Discography, Albums
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