Tina Brooks

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Harold Floyd (Tina) Brooks (June 7, 1932–August 13, 1974), was an American hard bop tenor saxophonist and composer.

1 Early Years
2 Recordings
3 Discography
4 Footnotes
5 External links

[edit] Early Years

Tina Brooks was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and was the brother of David "Bubba" Brooks. He initially studied the C-melody saxophone, which he began playing shortly after he moved to New York with his family in 1944. Brooks' first professional work came with rhythm and blues pianist Sonny Thompson (1951). He then played with vibraphonist Lionel Hampton (1955). His friendship with trumpeter and composer Little Benny Harris led to his first recording as a leader. Harris played a key role in Brooks' acquiring a contract with Blue Note Records in 1958.^[1]

[edit] Recordings

He is best known for his work for Blue Note Records, for whom he recorded four sessions as leader between 1958 and 1961, and for whom he also recorded as a sideman with Kenny Burrell, Freddie Hubbard, Jackie McLean, Freddie Redd, and Jimmy Smith. McLean and Redd also appeared on Brooks' albums, and McLean and Brooks' musical performances in The Connection, a play by Jack Gelber with music by Redd, were highly regarded. Brooks was McLean's understudy in The Connection, but performed on an album of music from the play.

Because of health problems due to drug addiction, Brooks did not record after 1961. He died of liver failure.