Donnie Brooks (born John Dee Abohosh; February 6, 1936 – February 23, 2007)[1] was an American pop music singer.[2] Brooks is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Early life
Born in Dallas, Texas, Abohosh moved to Ventura, California in his teens, where he was adopted by his stepfather and took the name John D. Faircloth. He discovered a singing voice at a young age and recorded a few minor hits with several small record labels under the stage names Johnny Jordan, Dick Bush (which sole single "Hollywood Party" was his first for Era), and Johnny Faire,[1] the latter gaining some sales with "Bertha Lou" in early 1959, while a cover version by Clint Miller charted nationally.
Career
Brooks was still without a recording contract in 1958 when he played a set at a El Monte Legion Stadium show, singing two songs that included Ray Charles' hit "What'd I Say". Encouraged by friends Dorsey and Johnny Burnette, he stayed in the music business and in late 1959 he made his first recording using the name Donnie Brooks. His first single, "Li'l Sweetheart", received a lukewarm reception, but his March 1960 single, "Mission Bell" on Era Records, became a major hit; it peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[3]
His follow-up single, "Doll House"/"Round Robin" (a double-sided hit single with a color picture sleeve on Era Records), peaked at No. 31 in December 1960. In an interview for a 2006 concert he performed at Sherman Indian High School in Riverside, California (posted on YouTube),[4] Brooks revealed that he was the voice of the opening theme to the cartoon series George of the Jungle. He also sang the themes to the cartoon series Super Chicken and Tom Slick. In addition to "Mission Bell", Brooks produced recording artists Merrilee Rush ("Angel of the Morning"), Cannibal & the Headhunters ("Land of 1000 Dances"), Len Barry ("1-2-3," "Bristol Stomp", "You Can't Sit Down"), and Jewel Akens ("The Birds and the Bees"). Brooks also produced "30 Years of Rock and Roll", a touring live show featuring all of the above-mentioned performers along with Dennis Yost of the Classics IV, Larry Raspberry of the Gentrys, and Tiny Tim.[citation needed]
