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His Mother claims it all started with the sounds of gospel music outside a South Memphis church, or his tenure at Graceland Elementary school. His Dad thinks he got it from his Grandpa Chick who still sings in the church to this day, mostly to stay awake. His Grandmother swears he got it from her sister Constance, an opera singer at the New York Met in the 40’s.

But nobody told Brad Brooks any of this when he started his musical adventure in Tucson Arizona.

As a young child of the 70’s Brad got to listen to Travis Edmonson live at the Ramada Inn pretty much as often as he could sneak out of his room.(His father Roy managed the hotel) Travis Edmonson was one half of the folk duo “Bud and Travis” from 1960 to 1965 and is considered one of the pioneers of Tucson music from Linda Ronstadt to Calexico. Beginning in ’83 Brad started to forge his own musical identity in Tucson with The Buddy System and The Distant and through 1990 was the lead singer for the punk/funk outfit Pollo Elastico. Garnering a large following with the release of “Jarupa Mae” and playing with the likes of Primus, Faith No More, Firehose and The Meat Puppets. By the end of ’90 in an alleged stolen van, an out of tune red piano from Tucson Thrift, and harmonica lessons from Craig Schumacher, Brad moved to San Francisco to be close to his young daughter and start another chapter.

In March of ’91 Mike Semple and Timo Frost moved from Tucson as well, and with the late Spat Thomas formed Reckonball and performed at the Nightbreak, I-Beam, and Kennel Club, opening for Motorhead, Sister Double Happiness, 4 Non Blondes, and The Fluid, as well as spilling many a drink with The Jackson Saints and Motherlode.
In ’94 Dolorosa was formed with Former 4 Non Blonde Roger Rocha, former member of My Life with the Thrill Kill Cult drummer Adam Aaronson and Liquid Sky bassist Joey Dibono, recording an as yet released record with Michael Rosen, and funded by Linda Perry. Sharing bills with Chuck Prophet, Jim Campalongo, and the Mockingbirds throughout the Bay Area, Anne Maze from Benjamin Kite String later was added after Joey’s departure.

By ’96 with the demise of Dolorosa, Brad began to formulate what would become his solo adventure, with the release of “Sanctified Into Astroglide” in July of 2000.Put together with some of the cream of Bay Area musicians, including Paul Hoaglin, Stephanie Finch, Les James, and a host of other extraordinary musicians, “Sanctified Into Astroglide” was just the beginning of his brand of piano and acoustic based pop acumen.