Lonnie Brooks Biography
Lee Baker Junior, 18 December 1933, Dubuisson, Louisiana, USA. Brooks took up the electric guitar while living in Port Arthur, Texas, playing as Guitar Junior with Clifton Chenier and Lonesome Sundown. His first solo record was the local hit "Family Rules", made for Eddie Shuler's Goldband label in 1957. At this time, he also wrote and recorded "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down" (with Barbara Lynn on backing vocals) and "The Crawl", which was revived 30 years later by the Fabulous Thunderbirds. These tracks were reissued on a Charly album in 1984. Guitar Junior moved to Chicago in 1959, recording and touring with Jimmy Reed. He made an unsuccessful single for Mercury Records ("The Horse") before changing his stage name again, to Lonnie Brooks. During the 60s, Brooks performed in the Chicago area, making singles for Midas, Palos, USA and Chess Records, where "Let It All Hang Out" was a local hit. In 1969, he made an album for Capitol Records, but his career only began to develop when he toured Europe with Willie Mabon in 1975. There, he recorded in France for Black And White and in 1978 he signed to Chicago blues label Alligator Records. Recording regularly, he has built up a large following on the Midwest college and club circuit, and made several trips to Europe.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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