Ray Brooks

Video

Oral History Information

Interview Date
Job Title
Musician, Guitarist

Ray Brooks grew up playing the blues in juke joints and small clubs all across the United States even before he was of age to drink.  He toured with Freddie King and Gene Alison (among others) and developed his own style of playing that seemed to echo his roots while adding new colors and flavors to extend the vocabulary of the blues.  He began recording in 1963 when he arrived in Los Angles as well as writing songs.  One of his tunes was featured in the Hollywood movie “Bob, Carol, Ted and Alice.”  The song is called “Burbank Brown” and has since been performed by several other artists.  All you need to know about Ray is what you can hear in one of his songs, the blues is in his blood and communicating those emotions is all in his fingers.