Biography
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Born
6 February 1936
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Died
2007 (aged 70)
Aka Donnie Brooks
Aka Dick Bush
(John Dee Abohosh, February 6, 1936 – February 23, 2007) was an American pop music singer. Brooks has been enshrined in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Born in Dallas, Texas, Abohosh moved to Ventura, California in his teens, where he was adopted by his stepfather and took the name John Faircloth. He discovered a singing voice at a young age and recorded a few minor hits with several small record labels under the stage names Johnny Jordan, Dick Bush, and Johnny Faire, the latter gaining some sales with "Bertha Lou" in early 1959, while a cover version by Clint Miller charted nationally. Encouraged by friends Dorsey and Johnny Burnette, he persevered in the music business and in late 1959, he made his first recording using the name Donnie Brooks. Called "Li'l Sweetheart," it received a lukewarm reception, but his March 1960 hit single, "Mission Bell" on Era Records demonstrated a quality voice in an upbeat song that made it to #7 on the Billboard chart.
His follow-up, "Doll House"/"Round Robin" (a double-sided hit single with a color picture sleeve on Era Records) peaked at #31 in May 1960. Although he continued to record through the 1970s, he never again achieved the same level of success. In 1971, Brooks played the role of Christ in the rock opera "Truth of Truths" for Oak Records. The record was produced by Ray Ruff. Brooks toured with other performers from the early rock and roll era in oldies revival shows.
Brooks died of a heart attack following a long illness on February 23, 2007. He was 71.
There was a special memorial service and rockabilly show in his honor on Sunday, March 26, 2007 at the Elks Lodge in Burbank, California.
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