Elkie Brooks

British rock'n'roll singer-songwriter, pianist, drummer and composer, known as Britain's No. 1 female album artist of the ‘80s and ‘90s.

Elaine Bookbinder was born to a nice Jewish family with a love of music. She took singing lessons, taking particularly to jazz and blues. She left school at age 15 and eventually got her first gig at a Manchester nightclub. She didn’t like her name, so she changed it to Elkie (Elaine in Yiddish) Brooks (shortened from Bookbinder).

In 1964 and 1965 she signed with two different record companies, but had no hits. In the late ‘60s, she joined the band Dada, critically acclaimed but not a commercial success. From its ashes emerged Vinegar Joe with Brooks as its female singer. Her wild on-stage performances drew a cult following among students. When Vinegar Joe ended, Brooks went to the U.S. By the mid-70s she was back in Britain as a solo artist signed by A & M. After her debut album, "Rich Man's Woman," came another album and two top ten hits. Three more albums followed, and then the milestone hit album, "Pearls," followed by "Pearls II’’ which sold nearly half a million copies. Politics at A&M made her decide to end her contract in a long legal battle. She had a No. 5 hit and a sell-out tour, but her new label gave up on her.

In 1978 Brooks married Trevor Jordan. A successful sound engineer, he was the support and encouragement that she needed. Another two albums followed, the second of which featured eight of Brooks’ songs and her talented teen-aged son, Jay Jordan.

Brooks off-stage is devoted to her family. She lives in the remote countryside with her husband, two children, three dogs, and a variety of other birds and animals. She cooks for relaxation and pleasure.