Robert Brookins
Robert Brookins | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Robert Franklin Brookins Jr.[1] |
| Born | October 7, 1962 |
| Origin | Sacramento, California,United States |
| Died | April 15, 2009 (aged 46) |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instrument(s) | Singing, keyboards, drums, guitarist, bassist |
| Years active | 1979–2009 |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | Afterbach, The Stanley Clarke Band |
Robert Brookins(October 7, 1962 – April 15, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, producer and musician. A member of the bandEarth, Wind & Firehe also worked with artists such asGeorge Duke,Stephanie Mills,Stanley ClarkeandThe Whispers.[2]
Early years
[edit]Brookins grew up inDel Paso Heights, Sacramento, California.[3]Singing, and playing keyboard and drums as a child, he formed his first band, aged 11, Little Robert & the Fondeles,[2]which won theMotown's Soul Search Contest in 1974.[2]Brookins was also an alumnus ofGrant Union High School.[3]
Musical career
[edit]
Brookins later formed a group with his brother Michael known as Afterbach.[2]The duo issued a critically acclaimed album entitled Matinee in 1981 onMaurice White'sARC Records,an imprint ofColumbia Records.[2]After such he performed as a keyboardist onPhilip Bailey's 1983 albumContinuationas well asRamsey LewisandNancy Wilson's 1984 albumThe Two of Us.[4]
Brookins then composed onDeniece Williams1984 albumLet's Hear It for the BoyandThe Isley Brothers' 1985 LPMasterpiece.[4]He also made a guest appearance onStanley Clarke's 1985 LPFind Out!,[5]and onGeorge Duke's 1985 albumThief in the Night.He then composed onRebbie Jackson's 1986 LPReactionandAl Jarreau's 1986 albumL Is for Lover.[4]
During 1986, he released his debut solo album entitledIn the Night.While the album itself did not chart on theBillboard 200,it did feature the minorR&B singles charthit, "Our Lives",[6][7]and a follow-up single, "Come to Me" also received airplay, supported by a music video featuringLaurence FishburneandTracy Camilla Johns.That same year, Brookins performed on Stanley Clarke's and George Duke's respective follow-up albums – Clarke'sHideawayand Duke's self titled LP. He went on to produceBobby Brownon his 1986 debut albumKing of Stage.
The following year, Brookins produced forStephanie Millson her 1987 LPIf I Were Your Woman.[4]Featuring four top-20 R&B chart singles (including two number ones and another top-ten),If I Were Your Womanhas since been certifiedGoldin the US by theRIAA.[8]He also composed on Nancy Wilson's 1987 albumForbidden Lover.
In 1988, Brookins released his second solo album,Let It Be Me,featuring the top-20 R&B cover of theRoberta FlackandDonny Hathawayclassic "Where Is the Love?"(a duet with Stephanie Mills) and the top-40 follow-up hit," Don't Tease Me ".[7]He worked as a songwriter and producer onJeffrey Osborne's 1988 LPOne Love-One DreamandJackie Jackson's 1988 albumBe the One.[2][4][9]Later in the year, Brookins performed onGeorge Howard's 1988 albumReflectionsand the following year, producedChristopher Williamson his 1989 LPAdventures in Paradise.Brookins also producedThe Whispers' on their 1989 albumMore of the Night.More of the Nighthas been certifiedGoldin the US by theRIAA.[10]He later produced Michael Cooper on his 1989 LPJust What I Likeand Jeffrey Osborne on his 1989 albumOnly Human.[4]
Brookins went on to collaborate with the bandEarth, Wind & Fireon their 1990 albumHeritage.He later featured on Stanley Clarke and George Duke's 1990 LP3and producedKeisha Jackson's 1991 self titled album.[4]
Brookins went on to play onWayman Tisdale's 1995 LPPower Forwardand produced Tisdale's 1996 albumIn the Zone.[4]In the Zonereached No. 7 on theBillboardContemporary Jazz Albumschart and No. 9 on theBillboardJazz Albumschart. He later appeared on George Duke's 2000 LPCool.[11][12]He also became Earth, Wind & Fire's keyboardist and musical director.[13]He went to perform on the band's 2003 albumThe Promise.[4]
Death and legacy
[edit]Writing forAllMusic,Andrew Hamilton said: "The often overused term multi-talented is true to its definition when referring to Robert F. Brookins."[2]
On April 15, 2009 Brookins died from a heart attack.[14][15][3]He was survived by a son.[14]Since his death, an annual concert has been held in Sacramento in his honour.[16]In 2019, the city's Nuevo Park was renamed Robert Brookins Park.[13][17]
Solo discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Record label |
|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B [7] | |||
| 1986 | In the Night | – | MCA |
| 1988 | Let It Be Me | 37 | |
| 2002 | Something You Can Make Love To | – | MusicSoft Works |
| "–" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||
Singles
[edit]| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Record label |
|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B [7] | |||
| 1986 | "Our Lives" | 95 | MCA |
| 1987 | "If You Only Knew" | – | |
| "Come to Me" | – | ||
| 1988 | "Where Is the Love"(withStephanie Mills) | 18 | |
| 1989 | "Don't Tease Me" | 39 | |
| "–" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||
References
[edit]- ^"Renaming Nuevo Park as Robert Brookins Park".Granicus. June 11, 2019.RetrievedSeptember 3,2020.
- ^abcdefgHamilton, Andrew."Robert Brookins – Artist Biography".AllMusic.RetrievedOctober 20,2014.
- ^abc"Remembering Sacramento Native, Robert F. Brookins".Sac Cultural Club. April 15, 2013. Archived fromthe originalon October 21, 2014.RetrievedOctober 20,2014.
- ^abcdefghi"Robert Brookins – Credits".AllMusic.RetrievedMay 26,2018.
- ^Ginell, Richard S."Stanley Clarke – Find Out!".AllMusic.RetrievedOctober 20,2014.
- ^"Robert Brookins -In the Night(1986) ".Apple Music.RetrievedMay 28,2022.
- ^abcd"Robert Brookins – Awards".AllMusic. Archived fromthe originalon March 13, 2016.RetrievedOctober 20,2014.
- ^"Gold & Platinum: Stephanie Mills: If I Were Your Woman".Recording Industry Association of America.RetrievedJuly 4,2020.
- ^Sanders, Charles L. (July 1989)."Sounding Off – The Best in Recorded Music".Ebony.Vol. 44, no. 9.ISSN0012-9011.
- ^"Gold & Platinum: The Whispers: More of the Night".Recording Industry Association of America.RetrievedJuly 4,2020.
- ^"Wayman Tisdale: In the Zone Chart History – Jazz Albums".Billboard.RetrievedJuly 5,2020.
- ^"Wayman Tisdale: In the Zone Chart History – Contemporary Jazz Albums".Billboard.RetrievedJuly 5,2020.
- ^abDing, Jaimie (June 22, 2019)."He's the 'DNA of R&B.;' Now Sacramento is naming city park after Robert Brookins".The Sacramento Bee.Archived fromthe originalon June 23, 2019.RetrievedMarch 28,2020.
- ^ab"Robert Brookins Soul Music Tribute".Sac Cultural Club. May 1, 2009.RetrievedAugust 24,2018.
- ^Ross, Kevin (April 16, 2009)."Singer/Producer/Songwriter Robert Brookins has Died".Radio Facts.RetrievedAugust 24,2018.
- ^"Always Remembered: Robert F. Brookins Black Music Month Celebration".Sacramento365. June 1, 2013. Archived fromthe originalon October 21, 2014.RetrievedOctober 20,2014.
- ^"Robert Brookins Park (formerly Nuevo Park/Paseo Nuevo Park)".City of Sacramento.RetrievedNovember 25,2023.
