Brooks was born on December 22, 1913, in Los Angeles, California.[1][2]
While under contract to Paramount Studios, Brooks spent considerable time working as a session piano player at the Radio Recorders studio in Los Angeles.[3] For many years, Radio Recorders was one of the best known recording studios in the country and hosted performers such as Charlie Parker, Louis Armstrong, and Elvis Presley.[4] Presley was also under contract to Paramount Studios where he was filming movies to include Girls! Girls! Girls! and Blue Hawaii.[5] Paramount, to ensure Presley's recordings and movies stayed on schedule, regularly provided studio musicians to Radio Recorders. As a result, Brooks developed a professional relationship with Presley that spanned decades. Together, they collaborated on many albums and movies to include:[3]
^"Paramount Studios", Seeing Stars: The Ultimate Guide to Celebrities and Hollywood.
^Bertrand, Michael T. (2000), Race, Rock, and Elvis. Champaign, Illinois: University of Chicago Press, p. 220.
^Hindman, James and Ray Roderick (2003). A Christmas Survival Guide: A Miniature Christmas Spectacular! New York: Samuel French, Inc., p. 4.
^Metcalfe, Phillip (2005). Christmas's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Kris Kringles, Merry Jingles and Holiday Cheer. Washington D.C: Potomac Books, p. 208.
^Atkinson, Terry (December 3, 2000), "TV Shows Breed Christmas Albums", The Post-Tribune (Gary, Indiana) (Entertainment News Service), p. D-5.
