Listening to the Radio (lyrics and music) was composed by Suzanne Brooks in 2005 in memory of Jack Hall who hired her as his biographer in the last year of his life. She visited him weekly, including his last 6 months in a nursing home, bringing him [+]Listening to the Radio (lyrics and music) was composed by Suzanne Brooks in 2005 in memory of Jack Hall who hired her as his biographer in the last year of his life. She visited him weekly, including his last 6 months in a nursing home, bringing him catfish and spaghetti and singing jazz and gospel songs to him at his bedside. Born March 9, 1903, he died December 7, 2000. Brooks delivered his eulogy and wrote his obituary.
Who was Jack Hall? The grandson of slaves and son of Louisiana/Arkansas sharecroppers, Mr. Hall (as he was called) rose above many adversities in his life without losing his positive outlook, persistent sense of humor, resistance to injustice and faith in God. Mr. Hall was once a singer on Arkansas street corners with other members of a quartet. Learned from his grandmother, the Gospel song, "Remember Me" was his lifelong favorite. With Listening To The Radio, Suzanne Brooks does just that.
For this special CD, she asked Reggie Graham, noted Sacramento jaazz/Gospel musician and her good friend to join her. Graham has performed in John Hendricks's "The Evolution of The Blues" and with Dizzy Gillespie, the Ellington Orchestra, Stanley Turrentine, Jimmy Goins, and with Gospel artists Helen Stevenson, Arthur Jones, & Angela Christie. Musician, singer/songwriter, educator Michele Weir contributed the arrangement. In 2003 Brooks formed her own band, The Jazz Generation. The Jazz Generation musicians are a superb group, now including Chris Lee, keyboard, Rolin Shafer, keyboard and Big John Evans, drums with featured artists on bass and guitar.
Brooks has published 2 books: Ins and Outs and Escape Is Not An Option, collections of poems, short stories & essays, available at authorhouse.com and womenofcolorday.com, where CDs are also available. Books/CDs available from Creative Concepts Systems, Sacramento, CA. Fax inquiries to (916) 483-9805. CD sales support promotion of Women of Color Day and projects honoring women for outstanding contributions to their communities. Brooks is a multi-faceted individual singer, writer, actress, hula dancer, speaker, social activist, and entrepreneur. A native of Philadelphia, PA, she is a graduate of LaSalle College & Washington State University.
|
 |
Genre/Tags: 
Ringtones
Full Tracks
