Dudley Brooks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dudley Brooks
Dudley Brooks and Elvis Presley at Radio Recorders studio
Background information
Born	December 22, 1913 Los Angeles, California
Died	July 17, 1989 (aged 75) Los Angeles
Genres	Jazz, rock and roll
Occupation(s)	Pianist and songwriter
Instruments	Piano
Labels	Multiple
Associated acts	Elvis Presley, Kay Starr

Dudley Brooks (born December 22, 1913 – died July 17, 1989) was a talented American musician. He was a jazz pianist, someone who arranged music, and a composer who wrote songs. Brooks worked with many famous artists, including the legendary Elvis Presley.

Dudley Brooks' Life and Music

Dudley Brooks was born in Los Angeles, California on December 22, 1913. He became a very busy piano player in recording studios. One of the most famous studios he worked at was Radio Recorders in Los Angeles. Many big stars recorded there, like Charlie Parker, Louis Armstrong, and Elvis Presley.

Working with Elvis Presley

Dudley Brooks worked a lot with Elvis Presley. Elvis was making movies and recording songs at the same time. Brooks often played piano for Elvis's recording sessions. This led to a long friendship and working relationship between them. They worked together on many of Elvis's popular albums and movie soundtracks, including:

• A Date with Elvis
• Blue Hawaii
• Elvis for Everyone
• Elvis' Gold Records Volume 4
• Elvis Sings Flaming Star
• Elvis' Christmas Album
• Fun in Acapulco
• G.I. Blues
• Girls! Girls! Girls!
• It Happened at the World's Fair
• Kid Galahad (movie soundtrack)
• Jailhouse Rock
• Let's Be Friends
• Loving You
• Peace in the Valley
• Pot Luck
• Roustabout
• Something for Everybody
• Viva Las Vegas (movie soundtrack)
• Wild in the Country (movie soundtrack)

Brooks, who was African American, worked closely with Presley. He did not agree with claims that Elvis was unfair to people of different races.

Writing Famous Songs

Besides playing piano, Dudley Brooks also wrote many songs. He often worked with other songwriters. One of his most famous songs is the Christmas classic, "(Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man with the Bag". The singer Kay Starr made this song popular in 1950. Many other artists have recorded it since then, like the Brian Setzer Orchestra and Vonda Shepard.

Dudley Brooks passed away in his hometown of Los Angeles in 1989. He was 75 years old.

See also

• List of jazz arrangers

Images for kids

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  Dudley Brooks working in a Los Angeles piano bar around 1985