Norman
Brooks (August 19, 1928 – September 14, 2006) was a Canadian singer, best known
for his ability to sound like Al Jolson.
Singer,
songwriter, pianist, actor, born Montreal of Lebanese parents, 19 Aug 1928,
died there 14 Sep 2006. Possessing a voice naturally similar to that of Al
Jolson, Brooks began his career in his late teens, singing in the Jolson style
in Montreal nightclubs, often
in duet with his sister Annie (who as Anne Brooks
later sang in Canadian and US nightclubs).
in duet with his sister Annie (who as Anne Brooks
later sang in Canadian and US nightclubs).
During
his career he has returned frequently to Jolson routines, but he also has sung
in a more personal style. By the early 1950s he had moved from clubs to
theatres - eg, the Seville in Montreal and the Casino Theatre in Toronto. He
made two 78s for Canadian Victor at this time.
In
1953 he went to New York where he appeared in nightclubs and recorded some
sides for Zodiac, a label established expressly for Brooks. His records
"Hello Sunshine" and "YouShouldn’t Have Kissed Me the First Time”
were national hits in 1953. His song "A Sky-Blue Shirt and a Rainbow
Tie" reached No. 17 in the UK Singles Chart in November 1954.
He
was a popular nightclub and TV performer in the USA during the 1950s and 1960s.
Billed as
The Voice That Lives Again, Brooks was also the first Quebec-born entertainer
to play Las Vegas, selling out the Copa Room at The Sands Hotel and Casino 
for
44 weeks in 1959 - 60. He also performed
frequently in Canadian nightclubs and on CBC TV, and was host for CTV's
'Musical Showcase' in 1966. He appeared in 1975 on Broadway in The Magic of
Jolson and subsequently sang and played piano in New York nightclubs and
continued to tour. He performed in 1979 at PDA.
for
44 weeks in 1959 - 60. He also performed
frequently in Canadian nightclubs and on CBC TV, and was host for CTV's
'Musical Showcase' in 1966. He appeared in 1975 on Broadway in The Magic of
Jolson and subsequently sang and played piano in New York nightclubs and
continued to tour. He performed in 1979 at PDA.
Brooks'
other recordings include singles for Zodiac and for RCA's 'X' label, LPs of
Jolson material for Spin-O-Rama, Coronet, Diplomat, and Sutton, and LPs of pop
songs - some his own - for Verve, Sure, Promenade and Venus (see Kinkle's
Encyclopedia of Popular Music and Jazz for details). He sung under the name of
Charlie Everett for the Viking Record label. Brooks played Jolson in the The
Best Things in Life Are Free (1956) and had dramatic roles in The Block (1963)
and Ocean's Eleven (1965).
Charlie Everett for the Viking Record label. Brooks played Jolson in the The
Best Things in Life Are Free (1956) and had dramatic roles in The Block (1963)
and Ocean's Eleven (1965).
In
the 1970s and 1980s, when the Jolson style of entertainment fell out of style,
Brooks became another forgotten relic of a bygone era. Lung problems forced him
to pretty much retire. A heavy smoker, Brooks was 78 when he died of emphysema
at the Jean Talon Hospital on Sept. 14.
Not only was another voice of Jolson silenced then, but Norman Brooks was a great talent all his own...
(Info
edited mainly from the Canadian encyclopedia.com, canada.com & Wikipedia)
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