Lonnie Brooks and Family….The Royal Family of Chicago
Blues
By: Clyde Richardson
Photo by: Beth Shandles
published:9/18/05
Friday night, 9/9/05, I had the pleasure of seeing Mr.
Lonnie Brooks play at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago.
I was actually there to do an interview with Mr. Brooks
but we all got a bit side-tracked and that’ll have to
be for another issue. Let me tell you why we were side-tracked.
Mr.
Brooks showed up at the agreed upon time and came and
sat with my wife, Diane, and I at a regular table. He
said we’d have to go upstairs to do the interview because
it was a lot quieter. Once up there, we just started
with small talk. One-by-one the band started showing
up and they all politely introduced themselves and said,
“Hello, Boss.” They all treated Mr. Brooks with the
respect he’s earned over a lifetime. One of them actually
slipped a slightly vulgar word in and he was immediately
advised that there was a lady in the room. Let me ask
you, in today’s world, how many men are actually gentlemen
enough to even mention that to someone? So, the conversations
and stories went on for some time and because it was
all off-the-record, it will remain as such.
Shortly
after, the rest of the band arrived, which includes
Wayne Baker-Brooks (Lonnie’s son), then his other son,
Ronnie Baker-Brooks comes in because he wanted to see
his Dad play. As polite as Mr. Brooks is, equally so
are Wayne and Ronnie. Everyone introduced themselves
to the outsiders invading their space (but made us feel
like real family). We met Jellybean Johnson, Producer
from Atlanta currently working on a project with Ronnie,
Marty, Sandy, Jesse, Brett, Mike, Brian and the famous
(infamous) Gus, a long time friend of Mr. Brooks.
The
manners, the patience and all the love for each other
that was exhibited that night, will be long remembered
by both my wife and I. It made me feel that there are
some thing’s that are truly right in this world and
Mr. Brooks’ family is one of them for sure. When he
went onto the stage, it radiated to his audience, as
well. I kind of liken them to the royals of England,
making them “The Royal Family of Chicago Blues.”
