Dolores "LaLa" Brooks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
La La Brooks
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Brooks in 1963
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Dolores Brooks |
| Also known as | Sakinah Muhammad |
| Born | June 20, 1947 New York, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1962–present |
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Dolores Brooks, born on June 20, 1947, is a talented American singer and actress. She is also known by her other names, Sakinah Muhammad and La La Brooks. Many people know her best as the second lead singer of the famous girl group, The Crystals. She was the main voice on their big hit songs like "Then He Kissed Me" and "Da Doo Ron Ron".
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Early Life and Music
Dolores Brooks was one of 11 children in her family. Her mother was Native American, and her father was African-American.
Dolores first showed her amazing singing talent in church. She sang gospel music there from a young age. When she was just seven, she joined her brothers and sisters in their gospel group, called Little Gospel Tears. They performed in Brooklyn, New York.
Joining The Crystals
While Dolores was attending PS 73, she was discovered during an after-school program. Dolores "Dee Dee" Kenniebrew and her mother invited Dolores to join The Crystals. She joined the group in March 1962. She became a replacement for a member who was leaving.
Life After The Crystals
After leaving The Crystals, Dolores Brooks married jazz musician Idris Muhammad in 1966. They had two sons and two daughters together. Soon after, she became a Muslim, just like her husband. She changed her name to Sakinah Muhammad. She also helped Idris write and record his music over the years.
Broadway and Touring
In 1968, Dolores appeared in the original Broadway musical Hair. She sometimes sang the song "Aquarius" in the show. Later, in 1971, she also performed in another Broadway show called Two Gentlemen of Verona.
She also toured and recorded music with many other artists. These included the Neville Brothers, Bobby Womack, and Isaac Hayes. Dolores also had small roles in movies. She sang songs for different movie soundtracks, including the 1970 film Cotton Comes to Harlem.
Reuniting with The Crystals
In 1971, Dolores reunited with some of the original Crystals members. They were Dee Dee Kenniebrew, Mary Thomas, and Barbara Alston. They toured and performed in rock-and-roll revival shows. This touring lasted until 1973. At that time, the group members decided to spend more time with their families.
Life Abroad and Return
In 1983, Dolores and her family moved to London, England. There, she and Idris continued their music careers. In 1990, they moved to Vienna, Austria. She kept singing and writing songs with Idris. She also hosted a local radio show there. They lived in Vienna until 1997.
In 1994, a singer named Andrew Edge sang backing vocals on her CD, LaLa Brooks & Friends. This album was released by BMG (Austria). Dolores and Idris divorced in 1999.
Around the year 2000, Dolores Brooks moved back to the United States. She now lives in the East Village in New York.
Today, Dolores Brooks continues to perform around the world with her musical group.
Popular Songs with The Crystals
Here are some of the well-known songs Dolores Brooks sang with The Crystals:
- "Da Doo Ron Ron" (1963)
- "Then He Kissed Me" (1963)
- "I Wonder" (1964)
- "Little Boy" (1964)
