MIKE BROOKS
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Mike Brooks has been in the Reggae music business for over 50 years.
He established the Teams label with long time friend Patrick "Jah Lloyd" Francis in 1969.
However the label was not activated until the release of 'Soldier Round The Corner' in 1970.
His debut single was produced by the legendary Lee 'Scratch' Perry entitled; 'The Earth Is The Fullness' released on Harvest label in 1972. While it was not exactly a million seller, it did establish him as a major talent in Jamaica. How ever, it was a Jo Jo Hoo Kim's Channel One Studio at Maxfield Avenue, birth place of Rockers a sub genre of Reggae in Trench Town where Mike Brooks really made his mark as a producer laying rhythm tracks with the studio's famous session band The Revolutionaries between 1974-77. Among the tracks produced during this time was The Mighty Diamond's classic 'Shame and Pride' by released on the teams label co-produced with Pat 'Jah Lloyd' Francis.
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Mike Brooks can be best be described as an enigma in the Reggae music; some might even regard him as being eccentric. The man has produced so much good music over the years yet he remains one of the most accessible artists / producers in the business always on the look out for new talent totally ignoring his own profilic ability as a vocalist. Mike is in fact gifted with one of the best falsetto voices in the business that is by any one's standards. Reminiscent of the great Curtis Mayfield were Mike and american R'n'B singer he would be now surely have secured the king of accolade and financial rewards his talent truly deserves.
Mike Brook's production skills took him to Duke Reid's Treasure Isles studio where he produced "Night and Day" with another of Jamaican popular music's most phenomenal and accomplished vocalists inimitable Mr Pat Kelly. The flip side of "Night and Day" was 'Jamming So' voiced by 70's DJ music artist, the effervescent Trinity. He has also worked at Joe Gibbs studio. Mike Brook's production credits including the likes of Blacka Morvell whom he produced 'Wonderful World' Earl Chinna Smith and the Soul Syndicates 'Cool Running' (Released in Japan by Aquarius records), Hortense Ellis Born For a Purpose' Gladstone
Gladdy Anderson Holly Mount Zion BIM Sherman Down, 'Bobby Melody' Hunger and strife and Ting Lings' 'Reggae in the sun'.
releases
keep on rocking
Elijah Salomon & Mike Brooks
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Both artists released their new album this year and now coming with a brand new single in combination.
In challenging times where cost of living gets higher, wars and rumours of war are over the news and diseases are spreading.
it’s important to stay focused, do what we love and spread love. Revelation times!
This uplifting combination of foundation singer Mike Brooks and uprising Singjay Elijah Salomon encourages ones and ones to keep doing what they love and spread love no matter the struggle and the obstacles, keep your focus things will get back in place.
Keep on rocking - keep on skanking!
walking talking
Veteran Jamaican artist and producer Mike Brooks releases a new album: Walking Talking. This work includes thirteen songs with the participation of great Jamaican musicians like Kirk Benett (Beres Hammond), Dean Fraser, Bongo Herman or Delroy ‘Pele’ Hamilton (Raging Fyah), and the Swiss bands The Dubby Conquerors and One Camp Crew.
Released by One Camp Records, the collaboration with this label began in 2008 and has resulted in an international sound that ranges from roots reggae and rub a dub (Respect, Mother Earth, Positive, King Man), to ska (Ruff & Ready), soul and r’n’b (Love You For Sure, Walking Talking, Just The Hype) to dancehall (I’m A Superstar).
The lyrics speak of love, respect, happiness and even Clarks shoes, a brand for which he works as a salesman. Mother Earth was written by Jaherra Brooks, his 12-year-old daughter, and Positive is the first song he and Elijah Salomon recorded together in 2008, leading to this long lasting collaboration.
With this album, the thirtieth of his career, Mike Brooks has surpassed 50 years of activity in reggae music, since he started with the legendary Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry. In these five decades, Brooks has produced numerous artists and founded several labels, in addition to having a prolific discography.
Walking Talking is available on vinyl and on all digital platforms.
I'm A Superstar
Mike Brooks zurück mit Vorab-Single als unvergleichlicher Sänger
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Mike Brooks, Sänger und Produzent aus Jamaika wohnhaft in London, läutet mit der neuen Single „I’m a Superstar“ die Wartezeit auf sein Soloalbum „Walking Talking“ ein, welches im Frühsommer dieses Jahres erscheinen wird.
“Clarks in the morning, Clarks in the afternoon, Clarks at nighttime, too”. Diese Zeilen muss man für die Bewohner und Bewohnerinnen Jamaikas sicherlich nicht weiter erläutern. Im europäischen Raum fragt man sich aber vielleicht, was das genau bedeutet. Clarks ist eine Londoner Schuhmarke. Eine Schuhmarke, die auf dem karibischen Inselstaat einen hohen Stellenwert besitzt.
Alle jene, die in Jamaika Clarks tragen, haben auch den «Style» und sie brennen darauf, die neuen Modelle zu tragen. Doch was hat dies mit Mike Brooks und seiner neuen Single zu tun? Dazu muss man einen Blick in seine Jugend werfen. Seit er 15 Jahre alt ist, macht er Musik und verkauft nebenbei die beliebten Schuhe aus London, verschifft sie in blauen Mülltonnen nach Jamaika und vereint so schon
seit Jahren seine beiden Leidenschaften – das Sängerdasein und die Tätigkeit als Verkäufer. So kann Mike Brooks dem Wunsch der Jamaikaner*innen nachkommen und bringt ihnen das Gefühl mit, jede*r einzelne könne sich mit den neusten Schuhen als Superstar fühlen. Denn wie Mike Brooks singt: die Schuhe werden immer und überall getragen.
Das Video zur Single erzählt genau diese Geschichte. Auch der Schuhhersteller war vom Song so begeistert, dass dieser gleich ein Video dazu machte. Produziert wurde der Song, welcher die zweite Single vom neuen Album ist, von Elijah Salomon. Hier könnt ihr das Ganze sehen und hören. Geniesst es und fühlt den Style!
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Die 7" Vinyl Single gibts im Shop.
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Digital Download / Streaming
Ruff & Ready
Reggae artist Elijah Salomon honors Ska with the release of “Drive” and “Ruff and Ready.” Both songs honor the festive tradition of Ska.
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Released on his One Camp Records record label, the two-song offering plays on the ‘swing’ of Ska. The first song, “Drive” performed by Elijah tells the tale of a person filled with joy, happy that he is moving forward in life with nothing holding him back. Elijah sings “I change the oil and I push the car back / me full ah joy caw me deh pon track / pushing forward / nothing caan stop ….” Using the car as a metaphor, Elijah explains how positive energy can push a person forward.
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The second release on the riddim comes from Mike Brooks. His song “Ruff and Ready” takes a playful look at the physique of an attractive lady and the state he must be in to handle such a woman. This song is structured in such a way that you will sing along to its repetitive lyrics!
The project has been pressed on vinyl with 200 limited edition copies. “Drive” is on side ‘A’ and “Ruff and Ready” is on side ‘AA.’ Both songs were produced by Elijah Salomon and the One Camp Crew. Sonically, you will be thrilled by the prominence of the saxophone. Who else but Mr. Dean Fraser to offer this sweet Ska sound?! Additional members of this ensemble include Eric Gut (Drums), Yhonni De Miranda (Bass), Roberto Honegger (Guitar), Julio Martins (Piano), Bongo Hermann (Percussion) and Seydou and Tamara Waterloo as backing vocalists.
P.S. Does the artwork look familiar? It was created by none other than famed Jamaican Cartoonist Clovis!
Tapalapa Riddim
One Camp Records presents the new riddim sampler Tapalapa Riddim featuring Queen Ifrica, Mike Brooks, Exco Levi, Elijah Salomon, Mr Tie, Sophia Brown, De Luca, Jah Ringo, Joe Ariwa & The Dubby Conquerors. Produced by Elijah Salomon & Ronald Thompson. This classic riddim is a must for every DJ and music lover! The sampler will be released on CD and digitally on June 1st 2018. You can order it here: