Released in the summer of 1998, "Golddigger" is the first CD from Lonnie Brooks' son and former lead guitarist/bandleader Ronnie. Production credits go to Minneapolis veteran Jellybean Johnson, who has worked with Janet Jackson, Morris Day and the Time, Nana Hendrix and New Edition. Brooks pens all 12 songs on the CD.
Brooks first stepped on the stage when he was a scant nine years old, playing with dad in Chicago. A 14-year stint with Lonnie ended when Ronnie took off to pursue his own career. This quest of his has led to jams onstage and alongside with Stevie Ray Vaughan (whom is one of a few that Brooks dedicates the album to), Albert Collins, Luther Allison, Eric Johnson, Slash, Keb' Mo
(Kevin Moore), Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Jonny Lang.
Highlights include "Make These Blues Survive," a tribute to the blues legends and his relationship with them through his father; "Stuck On Stupid," which borrows some vibe from Freddie King's "Have You Ever Loved a Woman"; and the opening "She's a Golddigger," which reveals Brooks' pursuit of and closeness to SRV's guitar tone.
In his press material, Brooks says the following about his musical influences other than his father: "Jimi Hendrix. I can't say that I know what he's doing, but I [got] an idea…I can feel what he's doing. Stevie Ray Vaughan was definitely an influence. He was very soulful to me. He touched me in a lot of ways…My philosophy is to learn their language, as far as their playing and what they're trying to say, and then apply it to me and make it mine. It gives me more things to say, when I'm saying what I want to say."
www.ronniebakerbrooks.com
This review is copyright © 2000 by Matt Alcott, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved.
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