REMEMBERING LONNIE
R
By Rosalind Cummings-Yeates
Lonnie Brooks obert Johnson may have penned Chicago ’ s signature tune , “ Sweet Home Chicago ” but it was Lonnie Brooks , with a searing version that throbs with style and soul , who recorded the definitive version . He was Louisiana-born and Texas-bred but Lonnie Brooks helped broaden the Chicago blues landscape with a career that spanned 60 prolific years . His charismatic showmanship and signature blend of Louisiana and Chicago blues was unlike anything seen or heard before . As the patriarch of the Brooks blues dynasty with his talented sons Ronnie and Wayne , Lonnie Brooks ’ musical impact will continue for decades to come .
Born Lee Baker , Jr . in 1933 , in the tiny town of Dubuisson , Louisiana , Lonnie was exposed to the musician ’ s lifestyle at a young age . His grandfather , Joe Thomas , was a popular banjo player who played at local parties and events and young Lonnie often accompanied him , watching him entertain appreciative crowds . Although he wouldn ’ t officially start his musician ’ s career until he was in his ‘ 20s , his grandfather ’ s influence left a deep impression . By the time he moved to Port Arthur , Texas in the ‘ 50s , he had learned to play guitar skillfully enough to earn a gig playing
with zydeco king Clifton Chenier . He snagged his first hit in 1957 with the Gulf Coast swamp boogie , “ Family Rules .” Under the name Guitar Junior , he developed his crowd-pleasing showmanship and scored another regional hit , “ The Crawl .”
With a bunch of popular Southern hits that created high demand for his brand of bayou blues , Lonnie toured Texas and Louisiana dance halls , theaters and juke joints , eventually catching the attention of Sam Cooke when they played on the same bill . Recognizing the freshness of Lonnie ’ s sound , Sam suggested that he move to Chicago to expand his career . Lonnie moved to Chicago in 1959 , staying with Sam and his family as he discovered the ins and outs of the city . “ Sam Cooke brought my dad to Chicago . Sam took him around to VJ and Chess Records , he really hooked him up ,” recalled Ronnie Baker Brooks of his dad ’ s introduction to the Chicago blues scene . One of the first things that he learned was that there was already a guitarist using the name Guitar Junior . He changed his name to Lonnie Brooks and started incorporating the Chicago blues into his swamp boogie sound . He picked up the foundation of Chicago blues style by doing session work . Lonnie played on the Jimmy Reed classic , ‘ Big Boss Man ’’ and “ You Don ’ t Have To Go ,” honing his sound throughout the ‘ 60s into what would become a dazzling mix of spark and skill .
By the time the ‘ 70s hit , Lonnie had established himself as a Chicago bluesman with a singular style . Not only did he pump his music with an undercurrent of bouncy Louisiana and Texas rhythms but his explosive delivery made his shows unforgettable . Noted for sometimes playing his guitar with his mouth and always bringing the good-time swagger of a bayou juke joint to his performances , Lonnie Brooks was a true original . “ Very early on , my dad coached us ( Ronnie and Wayne ) on the importance of writing our own material and creating our own identity ,” remembered Ronnie about his father ’ s focus on carving out an individual sound and style .
Lonnie produced 11 albums and dozens of singles during his high-powered career . From his riveting appearance on the Living Chicago Blues anthology to his standout debut Bayou Lightning , and the searing Hot Shot ( both on Alligator ), Lonnie Brooks made his presence known . And that was just on record . His legendary live shows required buckets of water and a fire extinguisher to soothe the heat from Lonnie ’ s flame-throwing guitar riffs and intense singing . Touring the world throughout his career , Lonnie won the prestigious Grand Prix du Disque Award at the 1980 Montreux Jazz Fest . He took his place among blues royalty during a ground-breaking 1993 national tour featuring B . B . King , Buddy , Guy , Koko Taylor , Junior Wells and Eric Johnson . In 2010 , he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame .
As a noted family man , Lonnie ’ s proudest legacy was guiding his sons Ronnie and Wayne in his footsteps as a blues original . “ It ’ s an honor to be his son , he taught me everything I know but not everything he knows ,” said Ronnie . Fittingly , Lonnie ’ s last recorded appearance was on Ronnie ’ s new album , Times Have Changed ( Provogue ). Deftly reworking the ‘ 60s R & B hit , “ Twine Time ” into a roof-raising , Lonnie Brooks party anthem , the tune ’ s joyful spirit memorializes the essence of the great blues man . His life and legacy lives on through his music and his sons .
18 illinoisentertainer . com may 2017