Ronnie Baker Brooks
Ronnie Baker Brooks
Ronnie Baker Brooks (born January 23, 1967) is an American Chicago blues and soul blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He was a respected club performer in Chicago, before recording three solo albums for Watchdog Records. The son of fellow Chicago blues musician Lonnie Brooks, he is the brother of another blues guitarist, Wayne Baker Brooks.
He was born Rodney Dion Baker in Chicago, Illinois. At the age of nine, he first appeared on stage playing guitar alongside his father. In 1985, Brooks graduated from Hales Franciscan High School learned to play bass guitar, and joined his father's band in 1986. Two years later, Alligator Records released Brooks's father's live album, "Live from Chicago: Bayou Lightning Strikes", which included Ronnie Baker Brooks's guitar work. He was then part of Alligator Records' 20th Anniversary Tour and performed alongside Koko Taylor, Elvin Bishop, and Lil' Ed Williams. By 1998 Brooks had gone solo, and his debut album "Gold Digger", was released the same year on the Watchdog record label. It was produced by Janet Jackson. Brooks was nominated for a Blues Music Award in 2000 for 'Best New Artist'. His second album, "Take Me Witcha", followed in May 2001.
Brooks's most recent album was "Torch" (2006). The album included guest contributions from Lonnie Brooks, Eddy Clearwater, Jimmy Johnson, Willie Kent, and Al Kapone, and was produced by Jellybean Johnson. When, on occasion, Ronnie's younger brother Wayne Baker Brooks joined him and his father on stage, they were billed as the Brooks Family Band.
In August 2010, Brooks co-wrote three tracks with Chris Beard for the latter's "Who I Am and What I Do" on Electro Glide Records.
Brooks lives in Dolton, Illinois, and is a regular at Artis' Lounge on Chicago's South Side.
(Ronnie Baker Brooks at Riverfront Blues Fest 2008)