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SIXTH-GENERATION TEXAN CHRISTIAN BROOKS brings a lifetime of musical performance to his own mix of Cajun blues meets Texas honky-tonk rock, topped with a little Southern boogie. Creating an original sound that’s catchy and easy to dance to, fans keep smiling and listening to the toe-tappin’ tunes and forceful instrumentals. Brooks’ slide guitar and vocals lead the band, flavored with DAVE SMITH on guitar, MICKEY CARSON on bass, and PETER KAPLAN on drums. Brooks has a rich background in an array of genres, as he sprang out of Dallas’ well-known OAK CLIFF music community—a group that over the past 45 years has produced a string of top-name vocalists and musicians, as well as many current artists.
Like many his age, he began playing during the late 1960s rock revolution, joining with friends and learning the ropes. His next progression came when he combined with new colleagues and spent almost ten years in the contemporary Christian field, traveling and playing while he also produced concerts for a Dallas-based youth ministry. Among those he booked for performances at Dallas’ Bronco Bowl Theater were ANDRE CROUCH, BARRY McGUIRE, and PHIL KEAGGY.
During the 80s and early 90s, he played in and led a series of Dallas bands, using different versions of the groups’ original name, The Roadrunners. The Roadrunners, Snookie Duke and the Road Runners, and JONNY PEEBLES and the Roadrunners all played in the DFW Metroplex and around the state. Members of the groups during that time were, along with Brooks, TEXAS SLIM, MOUSE MAYS, GUTHRIE KENNARD, TEX WAGGONER, TOMMY CLOUD, RONNY STERLING, ROB HUNT, and Peebles.
In 1991 Brooks opened Blues Suede Shoe Leather and Boot Repair Shop in Dallas’ DEEP ELLUM district. Adding musical instrument resale to the store’s offerings, BSS became the local hangout for a myriad of musicians and other artists. Frequently shopped by many well-known music industry celebrities, politicians, and dignitaries of the day, the store was a staple in this trendy business neighborhood until 1996, when Brooks left for a five-year hiatus to New Mexico. In Albuquerque, he became the drummer for his former Deep Ellum friend, DAVID ALTICE. Joining Brother Dave and the Tempted Souls, the group recorded three CDs, with selections from one, SMELL IT COOKIN’, taking top honors in two categories (Best Blues and Best Mainstream Rock) at the 2000 MIC Awards (now the New Mexico Music Awards). After the death of Altice, Brooks adjusted to the sudden change in his life by picking up his familiar guitar again, and along the way he discovered a new love: the slide guitar, and a new talent: songwriting.
Taking advantage of the hours he spent on the road traveling from Albuquerque to Dallas, Brooks honed his slide playing and used the driving time to write songs and music that complimented his developing style. When he began playing his compositions to audiences and friends, those closest to him recognized the unique sound and sensed the need to produce and record the music.
Musical director and producer ANDY VAN ELS used his seven years with MITCH RYDER to locate and entice additional performers to the project. Among those who contributed to the recordings are South Dallas blues singer JOE JONAS; vocalist MAYLEE THOMAS; and musicians JOHN TRAHAN, DAVID EGAN, and BUDDY WHITTINGTON. CHRIS MAGUIRE of DUKE ELLINGTON’S horn section was also on board, as was TOMMY YOUNG on the Hammond Organ. The self-titled debut CD includes different musical flavors where Brooks’ guitar mixes with percussion instruments, horns, additional guitars, and even a soul chorus on one selection. Accompanying himself on one selection’s solo vocal performance, his fluid slide guitar stands alone.
Brooks is the founder of the TEXAS BLUES CLUB, was the feature story in the May, 2007 SOUTHWEST BLUES MAGAZINE, and performed at both the 30th & 31st ANNUAL DALLAS GUITAR FESTIVALS. He appeared at the 2006 & 2007 STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN MEMORIAL RIDE AND CONCERNT, and is scheduled again for this October's event, playing at the kick-off party. In early 2007 he was privileged to sit in with Alligator Records blues artist MICHAEL BURKS when Burks was featured at Fort Worth’s J&J Blues Bar, and returned to the venue again in early 2008 as the special guest of WES JEANS.
Also in the leather design business since age twenty, Brooks’ most notable piece of work is the highly visible, black suede “SRV” guitar strap created as a gift to his friend, the late STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN. The concho and leather-tasseled strap was a standard during the latter part of Vaughan’s career, shown normally attached to his treasured Number One guitar. Among other artists commissioning straps from Brooks are: BILLY GIBBONS, JUSTIN HAYWARD, DOYLE BRAMHALL, SR., DOYLE BRAMHALL II, BUDDY WHITTINGTON, JIM SUHLER, and MICHAEL BURKS.
Over the years Brooks has been either featured or listed in both local and nationally read periodicals which include TEXAS HIGHWAYS, PLAYBOY, D MAGAZINE, ESQUIRE GENTLEMAN, TEXAS MONTHLY MAGAZINE, and the DALLAS OBSERVER where he was noted as “best boot repair” for the area in the same publication’s “Goods & Services” listing. He has been featured in the DALLAS MORNING NEWS “Fashion Dallas” section, and later in its “Dallas Life Magazine” Sunday insert. Additionally, he was a part of the team that produced a custom leather design for the Dallas-based DR PEPPER COMPANY—a product that garnered the group a 1997 Clio Award. (www.christianbrooks.com)
Founder and producer of all the earlier-held Oak Cliff Reunion events, he is currently entertaining in venues and at events across the Metroplex and the state, while enjoying the warm reception he’s receiving to his CD project. Brooks and the band are continually gaining new fans along the way as their songs are sung and their music is played. Whether your preference is listening, dancing, or just singing along, CHRISTIAN BROOKS and the CHRISTIAN BROOKS BAND won’t leave you disappointed.
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