19 Facts About Elkie Brooks

Elkie Brooks was born on Elaine Bookbinder; 25 February 1945 and is an English rock, blues and jazz singer.

Elkie Brooks was a vocalist with the bands Dada and Vinegar Joe, and later became a solo artist.

Elkie Brooks has been nominated twice for the Brit Awards.

Elkie Brooks was born Elaine Bookbinder in Salford, to a Jewish family.

Whilst still a child, Elkie Brooks began singing at barmitzvahs and weddings; according to Elkie Brooks, her unofficial debut was a gig at a club called the Laronde on Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester, when she was 13 years old.

Elkie Brooks spent most of the 1960s on Britain's cabaret scene, a period of her life that she did not particularly enjoy.

Elkie Brooks went on to tour the United States with several bands, including the Animals.

Elkie Brooks toured the then communist Poland with Jon Lord's the Artwoods.

Elkie Brooks gained the reputation as the wild woman of rock 'n' roll, due to her wild stage performances.

In 1980, Elkie Brooks performed at the Knebworth Festival with The Beach Boys, Santana and Mike Oldfield.

In 1986, Elkie Brooks sang the title theme song for the BBC television series A Very Peculiar Practice.

In early 1987, the song "No More the Fool" reached the top five for Elkie Brooks, and became her biggest hit single to date, with the parent album reaching the top five.

Elkie Brooks continues to perform live throughout the UK and Ireland.

In 2012, Elkie Brooks released her autobiography Finding My Voice, published by The Robson Press.

On 19 September that year, Elkie Brooks appeared at the London Palladium to mark 40 years since her first sell-out week at the venue in 1977.

Elkie Brooks' self-penned song "Just An Excuse" has been remixed several times, most notably appearing on the Bonobo album Migration in 2017.

Elkie Brooks has performed live since 1960; her 2021 tour, delayed from the previous year due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, was billed as her 60th Year Anniversary Tour.

Elkie Brooks has continued to tour, with concerts through 2023 and 2024.

However, in 1998, after her accountant informed her that he had not been paying her taxes, Elkie Brooks found herself in severe debt and was reduced to living in a mobile home.