| Harvey Brooks | |
| Birth Date: | February 17, 1899 |
| Birth Place: | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Death Date: | June 17, 1968 (aged 69) |
| Death Place: | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genre: | Jazz |
| Instruments: | Piano |
Harvey Oliver Brooks (February 17, 1899 - June 17, 1968) was an American pianist and composer. He is the first black American to have written a complete score for a major motion picture: Mae West's film I'm No Angel (1933).[1]
Brooks toured and recorded with Mamie Smith in the early-1920s, then settled in California. Beginning in 1923, he and Paul Howard co-led the Quality Four, a quartet with vocalist named after the Quality Cafe at 12th and Central in Los Angeles. Its members included Paul Howard on clarinet and tenor saxophone.[2]
Brooks recorded with the Quality Four and Howard's Quality Serenaders. He remained a member of both until 1930. Brooks was the music director for Les Hite’s orchestra from 1931 to 1935. In this role, he worked for Hollywood film studios, composing soundtrack music. Brooks later worked as a leader of his own band, played in Kid Ory’s band (from 1952), and performed and recorded with Teddy Buckner (1955–1956) and Joe Darensbourg (1957–1960). Beginning 1961, he became a member of the Young Men of New Orleans (dixieland jazz group), which he led in the last year of his life.[3] [4] [5] [6]
In season three of the Netflix TV series Big Mouth, Brooks is shown mentoring a young Duke Ellington.[7]
50877-1 - Stuff (stomp), Lionel Hampton (vocal), music by Brooks, Victor (V–38122–B)
George Orendorff (trumpet), Lawrence Brown (trombone, arranger), Charlie Lawrence (clarinet, alto sax, arranger), Paul Howard (tenor sax, director), Harvey Brooks (piano), Thomas Valentine (banjo, guitar), James Jackson (tuba), Lionel Hampton (drums, vocal)
Live, American Music Records (1957) (re-released 1997)
Musicians: Mike Delay (trumpet), Warren Smith (trombone), Joe Darensbourg (clarinet, soprano sax, vocal), Harvey O. Brooks (piano), Al Morgan (bass), George Vann (drums, vocal), Richard Kenner (vocal)
music by Harvey O. Brooks
lyrics by Gladys DuBois and Ben Ellison
(uncredited)
sung by Mae West
music by Harvey O. Brooks
lyrics by Ben Ellison
(uncredited)
played on a piano and sung by Mae West
music by Harvey Brooks
lyrics by Gladys DuBois and Ben Ellison
(uncredited)
sung by Mae West at the end and during the closing credits
music by Harvey O. Brooks
lyrics by Gladys DuBois and Ben Ellison
(uncredited)
played on a record on which Mae West sings
music by Harvey O. Brooks
lyrics by Gladys DuBois and Ben Ellison
(uncredited)
sung by Mae West
words & music by Harvey O. Brooks & Ellis Lawrence Walsh
music by Harvey O. Brooks
music by Harvey O. Brooks
music by Harvey O. Brooks
see Federal court case over "covering"
music by Harvey O. Brooks
music by Harvey O. Brooks
music by Harvey O. Brooks & Ellis Lawrence Walsh