Randy Brooks

Randolph E. Brooks (March 28, 1917 – March 21, 1967) was an American jazz trumpeter and bandleader.

Brooks began on trumpet at age six, and by the age of 11 was discovered by Rudy Vallee, and appeared on his Fleischman Hour radio show, and became a permanent member where he played thrilling trumpet solos, but was not allowed to play with the brass section of the band. By the time he was eighteen he was working with Jerry Blane for an entire summer in western New Jersey, followed by Gene Kardos and then Ruby Newman at the Rainbow Room in New York City. He was then hired by Hal Kemp with whom he cut his first records for the Victor label in 1939. After Kemp's death late in 1940, he stayed with the band when Art Jarrett took leadership of the group. By June 1942, he had moved on to Claude Thornhill, followed a few months later by Bob Allen, but within a year he was playing with Les Brown, before founding his own band in early 1945. John Benson Brooks (no relation) contributed arrangements to the ensemble, and Stan Getz played in it in 1946. Among his hits for Decca Records were "Tenderly", "Harlem Nocturne", and "The Man With The Horn", but his swing-based style and large ensemble were out of step with the times, and his success eroded toward the end of the decade.

He married Ina Ray Hutton and moved to Los Angeles, where he suffered a stroke and was unable to continue as a musician. He died at the age of 49 of smoke inhalation in a fire at his Sanford, Maine, apartment. He is buried in Oakdale Cemetery in Sanford, Maine, beside his parents.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 15, 1919 (Sanford), Died March 21, 1967

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1938 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: trumpet

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 39 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-021819 10-in. 3/25/1938 Cry, baby, cry California Ramblers ; Myron Hanley ; Kay Ray Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-021820 10-in. 3/25/1938 Little Lady Make Believe California Ramblers ; Myron Hanley ; Rhythm Quads Jazz/dance band, with vocal quartet instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-021821 10-in. 3/25/1938 Two shadows California Ramblers ; Myron Hanley ; Kay Ray Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-021822 10-in. 3/25/1938 College humor California Ramblers ; Myron Hanley ; Rhythm Quads Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-021823 10-in. 3/25/1938 (I'm glad) I waited for you California Ramblers ; Myron Hanley Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-021824 10-in. 3/25/1938 Stolen heaven California Ramblers ; Myron Hanley Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-046077 10-in. 1/5/1940 Thank your stars Bob Allen ; Hal Kemp Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-046078 10-in. 1/5/1940 I've got no strings Janet Blair ; Hal Kemp Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-046079 10-in. 1/5/1940 Give a little whistle Hal Kemp Orchestra ; Smoothies Jazz/dance band, with mixed vocal ensemble instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-046080 10-in. 1/5/1940 Playmates Hal Kemp Orchestra ; Smoothies Jazz/dance band, with mixed vocal ensemble instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 72954 10-in. 6/25/1945 Land of the loom Randy Brooks Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 72955 10-in. 6/25/1945 I'd do it all over again Randy Brooks Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 72964 10-in. 7/2/1945 No more Toujours l'amour Randy Brooks instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 72965 10-in. 7/2/1945 I'd do it all over again Randy Brooks instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 72966 10-in. 7/2/1945 I'm gonna love that guy Randy Brooks instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 72995 10-in. 8/3/1945 I'm gonna love that guy Randy Brooks ; Marion Hutton instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 72996 10-in. 8/3/1945 Benny's comin' home on Saturday Randy Brooks ; Marion Hutton instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 72997 10-in. 8/3/1945 Holiday forever Randy Brooks instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 73020 10-in. 8/29/1945 A kiss goodnight Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 73021 10-in. 8/29/1945 Benny's coming home on Saturday Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 73171 10-in. 12/3/1945 Thunder rock Randy Brooks Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 73208 10-in. 12/3/1945 Harlem nocturne Randy Brooks Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 73209 10-in. 12/3/1945 I never thought I'd sing the blues Randy Brooks Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 73210 10-in. 12/3/1945 In a moon mist Randy Brooks Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 73211 10-in. 12/3/1945 Don't let me dream Randy Brooks Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
(Results 1-25 of 39 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Brooks, Randy," accessed November 25, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/305749.

Brooks, Randy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/305749.

"Brooks, Randy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/305749

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