Karen Brooks (born April 30, 1954) is an American country music singer and songwriter who is best known for a series of singles recorded by Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash, Patty Loveless, Tanya Tucker, Russell Smith, David Allen Coe, Crystal Gayle and Exile. She recorded a duet with Johnny Cash, "I Will Dance With You", and also with T. G. Sheppard, "Faking Love", which was a number one hit on the Billboard country chart in February 1983. She also had a number of top 40 songs as a recording artist on Warner Records.
Karen Brooks | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 30, 1954 |
| Origin | Dallas, Texas, United States |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation | singer |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1982–1992 |
| Labels | Warner Mercury |
Brooks was born in Dallas, Texas, United States. She attended Justin F. Kimball High School with schoolmate Stevie Ray Vaughan (Class of '72). She was formerly married to Gary P. Nunn, with whom she had one child, a son, Lukin Tolliver Nunn. Her mother, Lynn Brooks, was a make-up artist in the motion-picture industry. During the latter half of the 1970s and the early half of the 1980s, she lent her vocals to recordings by Jerry Jeff Walker, David Allan Coe, Steven Fromholz, Gary P. Nunn, Townes Van Zandt, Anne Murray and Emmylou Harris.[1]
She remained a popular background singer for much of the late 1970s. She then headed to California to work alongside Rodney Crowell, where she eventually picked up a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records. Both "New Way Out" and "Faking Love" hit the Top 20 of Billboard.
Discography
editAlbums
edit| Year | Album | Peak positions | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country [2] |
CAN Country [3] | |||
| 1982 | Walk On | 38 | — | Warner |
| 1984 | Hearts on Fire | 40 | 21 | |
| 1985 | I Will Dance with You | — | — | |
| 1992 | That's Another Story (with Randy Sharp) | — | — | Mercury |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||
Singles
edit| Year | Single | Peak positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country [4] |
CAN Country [5] | |||
| 1982 | "New Way Out" | 17 | — | Walk On |
| "Faking Love" (with T.G. Sheppard) | 1 | 1 | Perfect Stranger | |
| 1983 | "If That's What You're Thinking" | 21 | — | Walk On |
| "Walk On" | 30 | — | ||
| 1984 | "Born to Love You" | 40 | — | Hearts on Fire |
| "Tonight I'm Here with Someone Else" | 19 | 14 | ||
| 1985 | "A Simple I Love You" | 63 | — | |
| "I Will Dance with You" (with Johnny Cash) | 45 | — | I Will Dance with You | |
| 1992 | "Baby I'm the One" (with Randy Sharp)[6] | — | — | That's Another Story |
| "That's Another Story" (with Randy Sharp)[7] | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Organization | Award | Nominee/Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Academy of Country Music Awards | Top New Female Vocalist | Karen Brooks | Won |
| 1984 | Top Vocal Duo of the Year | T.G. Sheppard and Karen Brooks | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ Karen Brooks AllMusic; retrieved 6-6-08
- ^ "Karen Brooks - Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
- ^ "Karen Brooks - Country Albums/CDs". RPM. 17 July 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
- ^ "Karen Brooks - Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
- ^ "Karen Brooks - Country Singles". RPM. 17 July 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
- ^ "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. May 30, 1992.
- ^ "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. November 7, 1992.