LOUIS BROOKS/ Nashville R&B
Born Louie O'Neal Brooks on 19 March 1911 in Nashville, Tn he was the son of a noted New Orleans sax-player who gave his thirteen children the taste for the music (eleven played an instrument!). We don't know how and when Louis' father settled in Nashville but there - probably during the 1940's - Louis formed a band, The Hi-Toppers that were regularly playing in clubs like the Sugar Hill. Brooks was "rocking the house" with his wide range of tenor sax playing, backed by his combo with Lowell Phillips tickling the ivories, Ollie Brown on bass and Billy Sherrill on drums with featured young vocalists Larry Birdsong, Helen Hebb or Earl Gaines and even a young Latimore!. Their reputation was solid enough for the Hi-Toppers to be hired by local labels like Bullett, Republic or Tennessee to play studio sessions behind R&B Nashville artists such as Christine Kittrell or Rudy Greene.
Under his name (Louis Brooks and His Hi-Toppers), Brooks recorded several instrumentals and some vocals featuring Earl Gaines. They hit very high in 1955 with the first version of 24 hours of the day, then named It's love babywhich climbed up to # 2 on the R&B Charts and would be covered by many artists like Ruth Brown, Hank Ballard and rerecorded by Earl Gaines under his name after he'd quit Louis Brooks' band.
It seemed that this success opened a lot of touring possibilities for The Hi-Toppers but Brooks was making a good living working by day at the First National Bank of Nashville and didn't want to try the hectic and unsecure life of a full time professional musician. During the 60's, Louis focused to raising his family and disbanded the Hi-Toppers sometime during this decade. He would never record again and died at his Nashville home 5 May 1993.
We have been able to gather all Brooks' recordings under his name, minus two rare tracks (One slow rock; It's driving me mad ) and unfortunately the copy of Please understand that we have is cut short at about half time. Since, our friend Earthbound has given us a .mp3 copy of Please Understand and It's drivin' me mad. Thanks a lot, Earthbound.
If anyone has those numbers, a .mp3 copy would be a welcome addition to this post. Thanks to Andy G. and Robert Goodman for sharing their 45s.
If anyone has those numbers, a .mp3 copy would be a welcome addition to this post. Thanks to Andy G. and Robert Goodman for sharing their 45s.
This article is largely based on David Whiteis book Southern Soul blues, Blues/ A regional experience (Bob Eagle/ Eric Le Blanc) and the website Black Cat Rockabilly.
Gérard HERZHAFT
Louis Brooks, t-sax; Lowell Phillips, pno; Ollie Brown, bs; Billy Sherrill, dms. Nashville, Tn. 1951
01. Almost boogie
02. Wine hangover
Louis Brooks, t-sax; Lowell Phillips, pno; Ollie Brown, bs; Billy Sherrill, dms. Nashville, Tn. 1952
03. Keep pushing
One slow rock
Louis Brooks, t-sax; Lowell Phillips, pno; Ollie Brown, bs; Andy Davis, dms. Nashville, Tn. 1954
04. Waddle trot
05. Bus station blues(vcl: Andy Davis)
06. Double shot
07. Time out
Louis Brooks, t-sax; g; Lowell Phillips, pno; Ollie Brown, bs; Earl Gaines, dms. Nashville, Tn. mars 1955
08. It's love baby (24 hours of a day)(vcl: Earl Gaines)
09. Chicken shuffle
10. Can't keep from cryin'(vcl: Earl Gaines)
11. Baby, baby, what's wrong(vcl: Earl Gaines)
Louis Brooks, t-sax; Earl Gaines, t-sax; Skippy Brooks, pno; g; Ollie Brown, bs; Andy Davis, dms. Nashville, Tn. août 1955
12. A long time ago(vcl: Earl Gaines)
13. I don't need you know(vcl: Earl Gaines)
14. Please understand(vcl: Earl Gaines) (fragment)
It's drivin' me mad
Please Uniderstand / It's drivin' me mad are there:
https://www98.zippyshare.com/v/GhR9AcE8/file.html
Please Uniderstand / It's drivin' me mad are there:
https://www98.zippyshare.com/v/GhR9AcE8/file.html
Louis Brooks, t-sax; band. Nashville, Tn. 1957
15. X-Cello rock
16. Gonna stop foolin' myself(vcl: Earl Gaines)
17. Don't you know
18. B.R. Drag
Louis Brooks, t-sax; band. Nashville, Tn. 1958
19. Overton Lea Drive
20. Frisco
Louis Brooks, t-sax; band. Nashville, Tn. 1959
21. Ridin' home