Career
Brooks was a full-time harmonica player with Waylon Jennings and was a prolific session musician with artists that included Jerry Jeff Walker, Judy Collins, Harry Belafonte, Carly Simon, Ringo Starr, Tim Curry, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, The Talking Heads, Tim Hardin, The Bee Gees, Yoko Ono and the Plastic Ono Band, the James Gang. He was an on stage musician on Broadway theater, Broadway in ''Big River (musical), Big River'' in 1985, and ''The Gospel at Colonus'' in 1988, and was heard for weeks on public television on Ken Burns, Ken Burns' documentary series ''The Civil War (TV series), The Civil War.'' He had attended the University of North Texas, where, among other things he had been founding member of the Folk Music Club. He was known for his ability to bring out the best of the other performers he played along with.Step son - Leonard N. LorchSelected discography
* ''Mr. Bojangles'' – Jerry Jeff Walker (1968) * ''Bein' Free'' – Jerry Jeff Walker (1970); * ''Don McLean (album), Don McLean'' – Don McLean (1972); * ''Feeling the Space'' – Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band (1973); * ''True Stories and Other Dreams'' – Judy Collins (1973); * ''Newborn (album), Newborn'' – James Gang (1975) * ''Judith (album), Judith'' – Judy Collins (1975) * ''Main Course'' – Bee Gees (1975); * ''Bread and Roses (album), Bread and Roses'' – Judy Collins (1976); * ''Rumors (album), Rumors'' – Arrogance (band), Arrogance (1976); * ''Songs for the New Depression'' – Bette Midler (1976); * ''Ringo the 4th'' – Ringo Starr (1977); * ''Kate Taylor (album), Kate Taylor'' – Kate Taylor (1978); * ''Guy Clark (album), Guy Clark'' – Guy Clark (1978); * ''Peaks, Valleys, Honky Tonks & Alleys'' – Michael Martin Murphey (1979); * ''Loving You Is Where I Belong'' – Harry Belafonte (1981); * ''Read My Lips (Tim Curry album), Read My Lips'' – Tim Curry (1978); * ''Max Morath and His Ragtime Stompers'', Vanguard Records, Vanguard VSD79440 (1980); :: Max Morath (piano, kazoo), Don Brooks (harmonica), Eric Weissberg (guitar), Bill Keith (musician), Bill Keith (banjo), Dave Bargeron (tuba, euphonium), Ron Traxler (Ronald E. Traxler; 1935–2008) (Washboard (musical instrument), washboard, drums), Kenny Kosek (violin) * Film scores of French composer Philippe Sarde: ''Le choc'' (1982 film) & ''J'ai Épousé une Ombre'' :fr:J'ai épousé une ombre (film), (fr) (1983 film); EmArcy Records, EmArcy (F) 532-000-0; * ''Why Do Fools Fall in Love (album), Why Do Fools Fall in Love'' – Diana Ross (1981) * ''Hey Ricky'' – Melissa Manchester (1982); * ''The Bridge (Billy Joel album), The Bridge'' – Billy Joel (1986); * ''Naked (Talking Heads album), Naked'' – Talking Heads (1988); * ''Strange Kind of Love'' – Love and Money (band), Love and Money (1988); * ''Storm Front (album), Storm Front'' – Billy Joel (1989);Selected filmography
* ''Buck and the Preacher'' – (1972) * ''Fame (1980 film), Fame'' – (1980) * ''Hors-la-loi (1985 film), Hors-la-loi'' ''("Outlaws")'' (1985);Family
On December 14, 1973, Don Brooks married Anne Lorch ''(née'' Anne Lesly Zinman; born 1934), originally from Philadelphia, who, in 1964, divorced Jay Wintner Lorch (born 1930) of Dallas. With their marriage, Don Brooks gained a stepson, Leonard Nelson Lorch (born 1959).Death
Brooks died of leukemia October 25, 2000, in Manhattan, aged fifty-three.References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brooks, Don Frank 1947 births 2000 deaths Musicians from Dallas American harmonica players American blues harmonica players American country harmonica players University of North Texas alumni 20th-century American musicians Plastic Ono Band members Deaths from leukemia Deaths from cancer in New York (state) American session musicians