Pattie Brooks
Encyclopedia
Pattie Brooks is an American singer most frequently associated with the disco era. She was born in Fort Riley
, Kansas
to a military family. Her first break came in 1968 when she auditioned for the chorus on The Smothers Brothers
Comedy Hour". In the next decade she became a sought-after backing singer, appearing on the Bobby Darin
Show and touring with, among others Helen Reddy
. She sang backing on Donna Summer
's "I Remember Yesterday" album.
label was 1977's Love Shook (the album was credited as Pattie Brooks & The Simon Orchestra), and the whole album peaked at #2 on the US Dance Chart. Pattie remained with Soussain and in 1978 recorded her biggest club hit, "After Dark". This was selected to be part of the soundtrack to the film Thank God It's Friday
and as the soundtrack topped the club play charts, Pattie's contribution was up there with friend and stablemate Donna Summer's "Last Dance" as the most celebrated tracks. "After Dark" was the mainstay of Pattie's second album (now with sole billing) Our Ms Brooks. In 1979 Pattie moved away from Soussain as her third album Party Girl was produced by Bunny Sigler
of Instant Funk and Salsoul fame. The result was a far more varied album that encompassed funk, pop and a big ballad as well as pure disco. While the album spawned no huge singles it did include "Got Tu Go Disco", the title song from a notorious Broadway flop musical. In 1979 Pattie branched out from disco by singing "Close Enough For Love", the title song to the Vanessa Redgrave
movie Agatha
. By 1980 the disco backlash had taken effect in the USA, and Pattie's fourth and last Casablanca offering Pattie Brooks was very much a pop-soul affair, produced this time by Michael Smith. No hits were forthcoming and Pattie left Casablanca.
, including two duets with its star Dan Aykroyd
. In the mid 1980s Pattie released singles on the Easy Street label, including a contribution to the 1985 Emilio Estevez
movie That Was Then... This Is Now
. In 1988 she surfaced on another label, Waterwheel with the maxi-single "Function At The Junction". At this point Pattie returned to backup singing and advertising jingles.
Her daughter Yvette Marine is a member of the Mary Jane Girls
.
Fort Riley
Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 100,656 acres in Geary and Riley counties and includes two census-designated places: Fort Riley North and Fort...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
to a military family. Her first break came in 1968 when she auditioned for the chorus on The Smothers Brothers
Smothers Brothers
The Smothers Brothers are Thomas and Richard , American singers, musicians, comedians and folk heroes. The brothers' trademark act was performing folk songs , which usually led to arguments between the siblings...
Comedy Hour". In the next decade she became a sought-after backing singer, appearing on the Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin , born Walden Robert Cassotto, was an American singer, actor and musician.Darin performed in a range of music genres, including pop, rock, jazz, folk and country...
Show and touring with, among others Helen Reddy
Helen Reddy
Helen Reddy , often referred to as "The Queen of 70s Pop", is an Australian-American singer and actress. In the 1970s, she enjoyed international success, especially in the United States, where she placed fifteen singles in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Six of those 15 songs made the Top 10...
. She sang backing on Donna Summer
Donna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
's "I Remember Yesterday" album.
Casablanca Records Career
In the mid-1970s Brooks came to the attention of disco producer Simon Soussain and her solo recording career was born. Her first of four albums on the CasablancaCasablanca Records
Casablanca Records was an American record label started by Neil Bogart, who partnered with Cecil Holmes, Larry Harris, and Buck Reingold in 1973, and based in Los Angeles. The label was formed after all of them had left Buddah Records and secured financing by Warner Bros. Records to start the venture...
label was 1977's Love Shook (the album was credited as Pattie Brooks & The Simon Orchestra), and the whole album peaked at #2 on the US Dance Chart. Pattie remained with Soussain and in 1978 recorded her biggest club hit, "After Dark". This was selected to be part of the soundtrack to the film Thank God It's Friday
Thank God It's Friday
The triple album was, unlike the movie, a commercial success. It contained contributions from some of the biggest names in disco at the time, including Donna Summer, Diana Ross, Thelma Houston, The Commodores, and many others....
and as the soundtrack topped the club play charts, Pattie's contribution was up there with friend and stablemate Donna Summer's "Last Dance" as the most celebrated tracks. "After Dark" was the mainstay of Pattie's second album (now with sole billing) Our Ms Brooks. In 1979 Pattie moved away from Soussain as her third album Party Girl was produced by Bunny Sigler
Bunny Sigler
Walter "Bunny" Sigler is a pop and R&B songwriter and record producer who has done extensive work with the team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and who was instrumental in creating the "Philly Sound" in the early 1970s. He is nicknamed "Mr...
of Instant Funk and Salsoul fame. The result was a far more varied album that encompassed funk, pop and a big ballad as well as pure disco. While the album spawned no huge singles it did include "Got Tu Go Disco", the title song from a notorious Broadway flop musical. In 1979 Pattie branched out from disco by singing "Close Enough For Love", the title song to the Vanessa Redgrave
Vanessa Redgrave
Vanessa Redgrave, CBE is an English actress of stage, screen and television, as well as a political activist.She rose to prominence in 1961 playing Rosalind in As You Like It with the Royal Shakespeare Company and has since made more than 35 appearances on London's West End and Broadway, winning...
movie Agatha
Agatha (film)
Agatha is a 1979 drama thriller film directed by Michael Apted, starring Vanessa Redgrave, Dustin Hoffman and Timothy Dalton, and written by Kathleen Tynan...
. By 1980 the disco backlash had taken effect in the USA, and Pattie's fourth and last Casablanca offering Pattie Brooks was very much a pop-soul affair, produced this time by Michael Smith. No hits were forthcoming and Pattie left Casablanca.
Post Disco Activity
She returned in 1982 on the Mirage label with a fifth album In My World, produced by Sandy Linzer. The album reflected the popular styles of the time, and produced a moderate club hit in the dance-rock tinged "Doctor Ruth" and a minor R&B hit in the ballad "Every Time I Turn Around". This turned out to be Pattie's last album, although she remained active in terms of one-off singles. In 1983 she was signed by Backstreet Records, releasing the minor club hit "Get It On And Have A Party" and featured prominently on the soundtrack to the film Doctor DetroitDoctor Detroit
Doctor Detroit is a 1983 comedy film, written by Bruce Jay Friedman, Robert Boris and Carl Gottlieb. The film stars Dan Aykroyd, Howard Hesseman, Lynn Whitfield, Fran Drescher, and Donna Dixon, with a special appearance by James Brown. The film was directed by Michael Pressman.James Brown performed...
, including two duets with its star Dan Aykroyd
Dan Aykroyd
Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, musician, winemaker and ufologist. He was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, an originator of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and has had a long career as a film actor and screenwriter.-Early...
. In the mid 1980s Pattie released singles on the Easy Street label, including a contribution to the 1985 Emilio Estevez
Emilio Estevez
Emilio Estevez is an American actor, film director, and writer. He started his career as an actor and is well-known for being a member of the acting Brat Pack of the 1980s, starring in The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire...
movie That Was Then... This Is Now
That Was Then... This Is Now
That Was Then... This Is Now is a 1985 drama film based on the novel of the same name by S. E. Hinton. The film was directed by Christopher Cain, distributed by Paramount Pictures, and stars Emilio Estevez, who also wrote the screenplay, and Craig Sheffer....
. In 1988 she surfaced on another label, Waterwheel with the maxi-single "Function At The Junction". At this point Pattie returned to backup singing and advertising jingles.
Revival
In 2006 the Nu Improved label remixed Pattie's greatest hit "After Dark" and issued a CD single with up to the minute remixes, the single was well received and spent several weeks on the US club play chart.Her daughter Yvette Marine is a member of the Mary Jane Girls
Mary Jane Girls
The Mary Jane Girls were an American R&B, soul, funk and disco group in the 1980s. They were protégées of singer Rick James. They are known for their hit songs "All Night Long", "Candyman" and "In My House".-Formation:...
.
See also
- List of Number 1 Dance Hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart