Charmaine Brooks

Last updated

Charmaine Brooks
Born (1970-02-07) February 7, 1970 (age 53)
Stratford, Ontario, Canada
Genres Soft Rock, Rock, Indie
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, internet radio dj
Years active1991 present
Labels Unsigned
Website charmainebrooks.com

Charmaine Brooks is a Canadian rock singer and songwriter born in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. Charmaine began learning to play guitar at an early age, she then switched to drums, and began studying under local drummer Wayne Brown. She said " singing was not something I ever thought I could do well"

Contents

Her musical influences she credits as Melissa Etheridge, Patty Smyth (Scandal) Sheryl Crow, Lisa Marie Presley and fellow Canadians Sass Jordan, Jann Arden and Alannah Myles, whom she just might have been trying to be in her first band The Mixx who supported local Canadian groups Helix and Big House.

One of her biggest influences she credits is the 1988 movie "Satisfaction" starring Justine Bateman and Liam Neeson, and the lead guitarist in the film who played Billy, Britta Phillips

In 1995 Brooks quit The Mixx to concentrate on writing songs, before returning to performing live with She Says So, a name she says she made up herself.

"Fill Me Up", her debut CD was released in 2005, she co produced the album with good friend Kathy Luckhardt, while playing guitar (on most tracks) bass guitar and drums. The album took almost a year to record. Links to the CD were put on the internet in a bid to generate some interest; Jordismusic.com was one site that she received some response from, another was from the Melissa Etheridge Information Network, where she learnt from one of the network's members about an all women internet radio station called NTG Radio. NTG was named after Melissa's 1995 song, "Nowhere to Go". After some meetings with the station owners of NTG, Charmaine became a part of the NTG family. NTG evolved into WomenRock Radio in late 2006.

Since 2005, she has hosted her own interview show called Doing Time, in which she has interviewed female artists like Britta Phillips (her first interview), Alannah Myles, Sophie B Hawkins, Taylor Dayne, Suzi Quatro, Dilana, Storm Large and fellow Canadian Sass Jordan to name just a few. Her unique one on one interview style highlights not only the artist and their music but also the character that is Charmaine Brooks, funny, flirtatious and very contagious.

In 2007, Charmaine interviewed rocker Melissa Etheridge about her CD "The Awakening". You can hear the full interview at *

Charmaine's show, "Doing Time", is featured on www.womenrockradio.com

Track listing

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melissa Etheridge</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1961)

Melissa Lou Etheridge is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and guitarist. Her eponymous debut album was released in 1988 and became an underground success. It peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard 200 and its lead single, "Bring Me Some Water", garnered Etheridge her first Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female in 1989. Her second album, Brave and Crazy, appeared that same year and earned Etheridge two more Grammy nominations. In 1992, Etheridge released her third album, Never Enough, and its lead single, "Ain't It Heavy", won Etheridge her first Grammy Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sass Jordan</span> Canadian rock singer-songwriter

Sass Jordan is a British-born Canadian rock singer from Montreal, Quebec. Her first single, "Tell Somebody," from her debut album of the same name won the Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist in 1989. Since then, she has been nominated three more times for Juno Awards. Her album Rebel Moon Blues hit #5 on the Billboard Blues chart. Released April 28, 2023, her latest is a live album from 1994 when she toured with Taylor Hawkins on drums called Live in New York Ninety-Four.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alannah Myles</span> Canadian singer/songwriter (born 1958)

Alannah Myles is a Canadian singer-songwriter who has won both a Grammy and a Juno Award for the song "Black Velvet". The song was a top-ten hit in Canada; it was also a number one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1990.

<i>Yes I Am</i> (Melissa Etheridge album) Album by Melissa Etheridge

Yes I Am is the fourth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released by Island Records on September 21, 1993. The title is generally thought to refer to Etheridge's recent coming out as a lesbian, confirming long-standing rumors about her personal life. However, in 2018, Etheridge clarified that in fact the title for the track and album were not statements regarding her sexual identity. Yes I Am is the pivotal album that gave Etheridge national and international recognition. The rock ballad "Come to My Window" was the first single released from the album, which peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, and its video featured the actress Juliette Lewis having a nervous breakdown. This single was quickly followed by "I'm the Only One", which became a major hit in the US and reached No. 8 on the Hot 100, and "If I Wanted To", which reached No. 16.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Come to My Window</span> 1993 single by Melissa Etheridge

"Come to My Window" is a song by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released in 1993 as the second single from her fourth studio album, Yes I Am (1993). This was the first song to become a hit after Etheridge publicly announced that she was a lesbian. With the driving force of gay rights, the song gained substantial airplay on radio stations, mostly through call-in requests. The song debuted on the Billboard charts after the first week of its release, reaching number 25 on the chart. The song also charted in Canada, reaching number 13 on the RPM Top Singles chart. It was the second song from Etheridge that earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. In 2019, Billboard included "Come to My Window" in its list of the "30 Lesbian Love Songs".

<i>Nikolo Kotzevs Nostradamus</i> 2001 studio album by Nikolo Kotzev

Nikolo Kotzev's Nostradamus is a rock opera in three acts written by Nikolo Kotzev about the life and times of Nostradamus. It was released in a 2-CD set in 2001; it has been performed live for the first time in Sofia, Bulgaria, on November 18th and 19th, 2016. Several members of Kotzev's main project, Brazen Abbot, also appear on this album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Velvet (song)</span> 1989 single by Alannah Myles

"Black Velvet" is a song written by Canadian songwriters Christopher Ward and David Tyson, and recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Alannah Myles. It was released in January 1990 as one of four singles from Myles' 1989 eponymous album from Atlantic Records. It became a number-one hit for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1990 and reached number one on the Album Rock Tracks chart, as well as number ten in her native Canada and number two on the UK Singles Chart. The power ballad also reached number one in Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland and was a major success in several other countries. It contains blues verses with a rock chorus.

Philip Sayce is a Welsh-born-American-Canadian guitarist, singer, songwriter, performer, and producer.

The Juno Awards of 1990, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 18 March 1990 in Toronto at a ceremony in the O'Keefe Centre. Rick Moranis was the host for the ceremonies, which were broadcast on CBC Television.

<i>Rockinghorse</i> 1992 studio album by Alannah Myles

Rockinghorse is the second studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Alannah Myles, released on October 13, 1992, by Atlantic Records. It spawned five singles, "Song Instead of a Kiss", "Tumbleweed", "Our World, Our Times", "Living on a Memory", and "Sonny Say You Will". The album was nominated for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm the Only One</span> 1993 single by Melissa Etheridge

"I'm the Only One" is a song by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge from her fourth studio album, Yes I Am (1993). It was released as the first single in September 1993, reaching number 12 in Canada and number 26 in the Netherlands. In the United States, it was slow to gain momentum, but after the success of "Come to My Window", it was re-released, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in January 1995. It remains Etheridge's biggest hit on either chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Souvenirs</span> 1989 single by Melissa Etheridge

"No Souvenirs" is a song by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, release as the second single from her second album, Brave and Crazy, in August 1989. Despite peaking at number 95 on the US Billboard Hot 100, the song experienced more success internationally, reaching number 30 in Australia and number four in Canada, where it became her highest-charting single until "I Want to Come Over" reached number one in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bring Me Some Water</span> 1988 single by Melissa Etheridge

"Bring Me Some Water" is the debut single of American singer Melissa Etheridge. It was released in 1988 and became a hit in several countries, reaching the top 20 in Australia, New Zealand, and on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Like the Way I Do</span> 1988 single by Melissa Etheridge

"Like the Way I Do" is a song by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released as the second US single from her first album, Melissa Etheridge (1988). In the United Kingdom, "Don't You Need" was released as the second single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angels Would Fall</span> 1999 single by Melissa Etheridge

"Angels Would Fall" is a song by American musician Melissa Etheridge, released as the first single from her sixth album, Breakdown (1999), in August 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Out of Our Minds (song)</span> 2009 single by MAdM

"Out of Our Minds" is a song by Canadian alternative rock musician, Melissa Auf der Maur, written by Auf der Maur, long-time collaborator and producer Jordon Zadorozny and Priestess drummer Vince Nudo. The song was released as Auf der Maur's fourth single, and first from her second studio album of the same name, on November 9, 2009 as a free digital download.

<i>Fearless Love</i> Album by Melissa Etheridge

Fearless Love is the 11th studio album by American rock musician Melissa Etheridge, released on April 27, 2010 by Island/Def Jam Music Group, produced by John Shanks. Etheridge said in an interview the album is "about being fearless. It's about choosing love over fear. It's a way, a philosophy of living life that suits me well." The album was recorded at the Document Room in Malibu, and Hensons Studios in Hollywood, CA. It features twelve tracks on the standard release and two bonus tracks on the deluxe edition.

<i>This Is M.E.</i> Album by Melissa Etheridge

This Is M.E. is the thirteenth studio album by American rock/pop musician Melissa Etheridge, released on September 30, 2014 by Etheridge's own label ME Records, which is distributed by Primary Wave Records. It features eleven tracks on the standard release and four bonus tracks on the Target exclusive version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Is (Alannah Myles song)</span> 1989 single by Alannah Myles

"Love Is" is the debut single by Canadian singer/songwriter Alannah Myles, released in Canada in 1989. In the rest of the world, it was released as the follow-up to her worldwide hit "Black Velvet" in 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Little Secret (song)</span> 1994 single by Melissa Etheridge

"Your Little Secret" is the first single and title track from American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge's fifth studio album of the same name (1995). The song was released to US radio stations on October 9, 1995.

References

Citations