PHOTOS OF RONNIE BAKER BROOKS BY KURT SWANSON
E-MAIL: kurtswanson@juno.com

Ronnie expands on his musical legacy with a new and exciting flair of his own. He is a veteran musician with a young man's hunger and passion.


Ronnie is the son of blues rocking, Alligator Records recording star Lonnie Brooks. He first stepped on stage when he was nine years old, playing with Lonnie at Pepper's Lounge in Chicago. Ronnie recalls, "Dad told me if I learned to play 'Messin' With the Kid' and 'Reconsider Baby,' he would allow me to perform with him on stage to celebrate my birthday." Ronnie did learn the songs, performed with his dad, captured the audience and was bitten by the blues bug. "That's one birthday I'll never forget!" says Ronnie.

Ronnie joined Lonnie's band full-time in 1986 and has grown to be an accomplished guitarist, singer and songwriter. Until he struck out as a solo artist in January 1999, Ronnie opened his Dad's live gigs with a blistering set of his own and closed each show playing a few acoustic numbers with Lonnie.

Ronnie made his recording debut in 1988 on Lonnie Brooks' Live From Chicago - Bayou Lightning Strikes. Ronnie is also featured on Satisfaction Guaranteed and the Alligator Records 20th Anniversary Tour. On that album and tour he played with Elvin Bishop, Lil' Ed Williams, Katie Webster and Koko Taylor.

Ronnie played his first solo gig in 1992 at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival filling in for Lonnie who was ill at the time. The following night he also soloed in Memphis while one of his idols, Albert King, watched approvingly from backstage. "The pressure was great," Ronnie says. "I was worried about Dad, and I knew I had big shoes to fill; but when Albert King appeared to show his support, I knew then I was on the right track." He made the jump to permanent solo status after a New Year's Eve gig (December 31, 1998) at Buddy Guys Legends in Chicago.~hwkey.com


Ronnie has jammed on-stage with many blues giants such as Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Luther Allison, and Buddy Guy. He has worked alongside talented artists including Junior Wells, Eric Johnson, Jonny Lang, Slash, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Keb' Mo'.


"The importance of crossing cultural barriers is one of the most important lessons I've learned," says Ronnie. "I loved playing with my Dad, but I know I can make it on my own. I am determined to keep the family legacy, to keep the blues alive."


Ronnie released his debut solo album, GOLDDIGGER, on his own Watchdog Records label in the summer of 1998. Minneapolis veteran Jellybean Johnson, who has worked with mega superstar Janet Jackson and pop funksters The Time, plus Nona Hendrix and New Edition, produced it. Ronnie wrote all 12 songs on the CD.


"GOLDDIGGER is a well-crafted collection of self-penned songs that feature great vocals and first-rate musicianship." --Warren Linhart, Blues Connection Magazine


A gloriously diverse, modern blues-rock album, GOLDDIGGER's centerpiece is a searing slow blues called "Stuck on Stupid." Ronnie's duet with his dad on "Make These Blues Survive" is a speedy shuffle that talks about the challenges of taking the blues into the future. Other songs on GOLDDIGGER deliver buoyant blues-rock with whirling, Hendrix-like overtones; a straight-ahead blues shuffle, a blistering slide guitar workout; a dreamy acoustic pop number and a couple heavy crunch rock tunes. It is solid evidence that Ronnie Baker Brooks has the potential to be a major blues-rock force.

Ronnie's second CD Take Me Witcha, debuted in 2002 on the Watchdog Records label.
The follow up DVD, Ronnie Baker Brooks - Live!, was released in 2003, also on Watchdog

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OFFICIAL WEBSITE http://www.ronniebakerbrooks.com
Booking: http://www.hwykey.com/