Mike Brooks aka Mikey Brooks, Prince Michael (born Edmund Brooks, 1953, Westmoreland,

Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...

) is a

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...

singer whose career stretches back to the early 1970s.

Biography

Brooks performed regularly at the 'Idler's Rest' on Chancery Lane in Kingston, and landed a job at

Channel One Studios Channel One is a recording studio in Maxfield Avenue, West Kingston, Jamaica.Campbell, Howard (2014)Making magic at Channel One, ''Jamaica Observer'', 17 July 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014 The studio was built by the Hoo Kim brothers in 1972, and h ...

building rhythms with the group Skin Flesh & Bone.Katz, David (2000) "People Funny Boy - The Genius of Lee 'Scratch' Perry", Payback Press, His first record release was with the group The Tots (who also included

Norris Reid Norris or Noris may refer to: Places In Canada *Norris, Ontario, in Algoma District In the United Kingdom *Hampstead Norreys (or Norris), Berkshire In the United States * Norris, Illinois * Norris, Missouri * Norris, Nebraska * Norris, ...

and in Brooks' words 'a guy called Tony'), who released a single in 1975 called "Earth Is The Fullness", recorded at

Lee "Scratch" Perry Lee "Scratch" Perry (born Rainford Hugh Perry; 20 March 1936 – 29 August 2021) was a Jamaican record producer, composer and singer noted for his innovative studio techniques and production style. Perry was a pioneer in the 1970s development o ...

Black Ark The Black Ark was the recording studio of reggae and dub producer Lee "Scratch" Perry, built in 1973 and located behind his family's home in the Washington Gardens neighborhood of Kingston, Jamaica. Despite the rudimentary set-up and dated eq ...

studio, and released on Brooks' Harvest label.Larkin, Colin (1998) "The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae", Virgin Books, The band was not successful, but Brooks would often contribute to recording sessions at the Black Ark organized by

Jah Lloyd Jah Lloyd, aka Jah Lion, The Black Lion of Judah, and Jah Ali (born Patrick Lloyd Francis, 29 August 1947, died 12 June 1999) was a Jamaican reggae singer, deejay and producer. Biography Francis was born in Point Hill, Saint Catherine Parish ...

. Brooks re-emerged as a solo singer in the mid-1970s, working with producers such as

Alvin Ranglin Alvin 'GG' Ranglin (born 1942, Eden, Clarendon Parish, Jamaica)Greene (Alvin Ranglin Biography) is a Jamaican reggae singer, record producer and record label owner. Biography Ranglin started to sing in public in his teens with an Adventist Chur ...

, and achieving hits with singles such as "Guiding Star" (1977), "Come Sister Love", "Grooving", "Open The Door", and "What a Gathering". He also recorded the combination single "Who Have Eyes To See" with

Prince Far I Prince Far I (23 March 1945 – 15 September 1983) was a Jamaican reggae deejay and producer, and a Rastafarian. He was known for his gruff voice and critical assessment of the Jamaican government. His track "Heavy Manners" used lyrics about ...

. He moved to the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

, and joined the British Reggae Artists Against Famine Appeal, singing on the "Let's Make Africa Green Again" charity single. In 1990 he recorded an album with

Glen Brown Glenmore Lloyd Brown (1943 or 1944Campbell-Livingston, Cecelia (2013)Tough Times for Glen Brown", '' Jamaica Observer'', 15 July 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2014Larkin, Colin, ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae'', 1998, Virgin Books, . – 4 ...

, and followed it in 1995 with ''Hardcore Lover'', an album on which he was joined by

Delroy Wilson Delroy George Wilson CD (5 October 1948 – 6 March 1995) Greene, Jo-Ann, " Delroy Wilson Biography, allmusic.com, Macrovision Corporation was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer. Wilson is often regarded as Jamaica's first child s ...

and Pat Kelly. Brooks also worked as a producer, and along with

, set up his own 'Teams' label in the late 1970s.

Albums

*''What a Gathering'' (1976) Burning Sounds *''True Love'' (1977) Harvest *''Rum Drinker'' (197?)

Duke Reid Arthur "Duke" Reid CD (21 July 1915 – 1 January 1975) was a Jamaican record producer, DJ and label owner. He ran one of the most popular sound systems of the 1950s called Reid's Sound System, whilst Duke himself was known as The Troja ...

*''One Love'' (1983) Vista Sounds *''Respect Due'' (1985) Good Times *''Mike Brooks and Glen Brown Meet Rhythm Foundation ina Sound Clash'' (1990) Rhythm Foundation *''Hardcore Lover'' (1995) Pre *''The Good Old Days Of The 70s'' (1998) (

Joseph Cotton Joseph Cotton Jah Walton (born Silbert Walton, 1957, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica, St. Ann, Jamaica) is a reggae Deejay (Jamaican), singer active since the mid-1970s. Biography After spending a year working in the Jamaican police force, Walton t ...

and Mike Brooks) *''They Trying to Conquer'' (2000) Charm *''Anthology 1972-1985'' (2001) M10 *''Need Love'' (2002) Teams (as Prince Michael) *''Book of Reveletion'' (2003) I Sound *''The Earth Is the Fullness'' (2004) Moll Selekta *''Just The Vibes'' Moll Selekta (Mike Brooks and Various Artists) *''Break Free - Treasure Isle Classics'' (2006) Teams *''Living My Culture'' (2005)

Trojan Records Trojan Records is a British record label founded in 1968. It specialises in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label currently operates under the Sanctuary Records Group. The name ''Trojan'' comes from the Croydon-built Trojan truck t ...

*''Rise Up'' (2006) *''Cross Over'' (2006) *''The Lost Album'' Nocturne (Mike Brooks and

U-Roy Ewart Beckford OD (21 September 1942 – 17 February 2021), known by the stage name U-Roy, was a Jamaican vocalist and pioneer of toasting.Jo-Ann GreeneU-Roy Biography, AllMusic. Retrieved 11 April 2013. U-Roy was known for a melodic style ...

) *''Dub Zone'' Teams (Mike Brooks and Stamper Doctor) *''Solid Ground'' (Mikey Brooks and

The Upsetters The Upsetters was the name given to the house band for Jamaican reggae producer Lee "Scratch" Perry. The name of the band comes from Perry's nickname of Upsetter, after his song "I Am the Upsetter", a musical dismissal of his former boss Cox ...

) *''Gimme Your Love'', Harvest

References

External links

Mike Brooks at Roots ArchivesMike Brooks at ReggaeIDRebel Base interview
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brooks, Mike Jamaican reggae musicians 1953 births Jamaican Rastafarians People from Westmoreland Parish Living people